Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-03
AWOKE TO FACE BURGLARS.
MASKED ROBBERS INVADE THE
HOME OF LOGAN O. swOPE.
They Were Cool Fellows and Took
Their Time in PIundering the
HOuse-TOok n $3.50 Ring
From Mrs swOpe,

Two very nervy burglars. with handker-
chiefs over their faces for masks, robbed
the home of Logan o. Swope in Independ-
ence early yesterday morning. With the
aid of ladder the robbers scaled the
portico and the family was not made aware
of their -unwelcome presence until Mr..
Swope felt the cold steel barrel of re-
volver pressed against his temple as he
lay in bed. Mrs. Swope was awakened
by the flash of dark lantern just a mo-
ment before the burglars threw their
guns down on Mr.. Swope.
Robbers exclaimed Mrs. Swope, and
invcIuntarily threw up her hands. The
flash of a solitaire diamond ring as it
sparkled under the rays of the dark lantern
caught the attention of the burglar as he
forced his weapon against Mr.. Swope
head.
My husband is asleep" exclaimed Mrs.
SwOpe, fearing that the burglar would Kill
her husband before he should awake.
Keep still and don't awaken him or I'll
kill you" was the gruff answer. and a
pistol muzzle was showed almost into her
mouth to emphasize the remark. Burglar
number two put in an appearance, ana
while his pal held revolvers over Mr.. and
Mrs. Swope. he lighted the gas
Across the hall was the sleeping room or
the children, and TO the rear of this was
the room Of Colonel mo Moss .biidrG6 Hinton Msr
not awakened, neither was Mr.. Hunton,
while the burglars rified the premises. Mr..
Swope had just returned from St Joseph
on a business trip, and when his wife told
the burglar that her husband was asleep
MIR. Swope caught on to the situation. and
for a time fegned sleep, but was alert
enough from the painful position In whlch
he was placed to see every act OF the purs-
One of the burglars picked up Mr.
Swope's trousers and found S4 in currency
and silver His fine watch and chain were
taken from underneath his pillow. Nnile
burglar held the
and Mrs. SwOpe'S heads, the Other went
through the house and picked up two pallIs
of tne eyeglasses and other small arilcles
of value. Then he returned and ordered
Mrs. Swope TO give up the diamond ring
the robber coolly turned the pistol toward
her head and she drew the ring-a StJO gem
from her finger and passed IT over. Ihe
burglar then went to the dresser near me
bed and gaZed admiringly at himself in the
glass. Presently he turned TO Mrs. Swope
and asked if there was any VINE IN the
house. negative answer from Mrs.
Swope brought an oath from the robber.
After viewing himself again the roooeT
then warned his captives that II they at
tempted to make noise or give an alarm
until after 6 o'clock in the morning they
would return and kill them
The burglars were of a facetious turn
of mind and were inclined to joke with one
another.
Swope left the room and. going TO the
south hallway, descended the stairs and
went out the south door. In a Few mo-
ments. Mr.. Swopa sprang to the telephone
and called up the county jail Jailer Potts
responded with City Marshal Hulse, but
by the time they arrived the burglars were
well out of the way. Mr. Swope. in the
meantime had awakened Colonel Hunton
and as Mrs Swope was coming up the
stairs Colonel Hunton mistOok Mrs. SwOpe
for a returning burglar and, grabbing a
heavy glass. let the missile fly, narrowly
missing Mrs Swope's head.
Mr.. Swope had a good chance to size
up his visitors. He says they were men
of medium size: one of them was "A small
thin man. in comparison TO his pal. He
did not know whether they were smooth
shaven or not. owing to the masks. Mr..
Swope considers himself lucky that he got
off as lightly as he did. The burglars
could have carried away diamonds to the
extent of several hundred dollars. None OF
the silverware was taken.