The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-18
S0LES ARE TOASTED
FAMILY OF MIsERs TORTURED BY A
R0BBER GANG.
Mrs. Rebeccs Blakesley and Her Daughter
and Two Sons, are Seized by = Gang of
Twelve Men - They sleep-Roys Beaten
Into Inseusibiiity and the Mother and
Daughter Subjected to the Fire Ordeal
to Make Them Tell Where Their Money
isl Five Thousand Dollars Secured -
News of Crime and Catastrophe.

News Of Crime and Catastrophe.
Findiay, Ohio, April 1.-THE famous
Elakssley family, living three miles
from this city, were robbed and tortur-
ed at 3 o'clock this morning by twelve
masked robbers The family consists OF
Mrs. Rebecca Blakesley, Elizt Blages-
ley. daughter, and john and Smith
Blakesley, sons. They are the possesors
valuable oil fields and are known as
nise-s Common report, for years they
hoar6ed money in the house. The burg
lars broke into the bedroom where all
Four people were sleeping and desper-
ate fight ensued. Both John and Smith
were beaten into insensibiAty and Mrs.
BlakesIsy and daughter were bound
hand and foot. Torches were applied TO
their feet to make them reveal the hid
Ing place Of their treasure. without avail.
scnae OF the robbers meanwhile were
ransacking the house and found in a
bureau draw $1,000 in bills and three
gold watches. Eliza was the first 10 re-
Isss.- herself from bondage and summon
&c help from the city. Jonn Blakesley Is
In a critical condition and it is feared ne
1cilI die. Smiths head was cut open
and the feet OF both women are badly
burned.
DONE FOR BY A BURGLAR.
Adrian. Mich. April 17.-Lafayette
Ladd, one Of the most prominent citi-
zen. of this city. was shot and fatally
wounded by burglar at o'clock this
morning. The robber escaped and there
Is no clue as TO his identity.
SENTENCED TO HANG.
Georgetown, Del, April Thames NJ.
Gordy. VINO was convicted on Thursday
OF the murder of Mrs. Mary Lewis, was
today sentenced to be hanged on June II
next.
WOODS, THE SWINDLER.
Pittsnurg, Pa, April 1.-THE hearing
of c. I.inf5-d Woods, defendant in the
insurance swindling case. was had be-
fore Alderman King, OF the South Side,
this morning The court room was
crowded with interested spectators. who |
came expecting sensational develop |
,nents. but in this they were disappoint- |
ed At the conclusion of the testimony |
Woods was held for court in default of |
$4,000 bail II had been asserted that |
Lieutenant Edward s. Farrow of New
York. whose name had been frequently |
mentioned N connection with the case, |
would oe present at the hearing but he |
failed 10 put in an appearance. The |
Mutual Reserve Life association was |
represented by Superintendent Harper. |
III his testimony he identified the appli-
cation of David L. Duffy for $1,000 in
surance and said there were about thirty
or forty others, aggregating $4,000, on
file II the home office, all Of the same
kind. and all making c. L. Woods & Co. |
beneficiaries. This aroused the CON-
pany's suspicious and upon investigation |
q was found thai. all of these people |
were doctors of Woods. Three addition
al ilfornations Rave been made against |
Woods, but no new warrants were is
sred.
RED CHDIS' IS CAUGHT.
Chicago, April 1.-THE police depart
htent has. received word that Red
Chris" Strock. one of tie Shraage bond
who forfeited his bail bonds in
this city, is under arrest at Port Town
send, Wash. He will be brought back 10
this city. At Port Townsend he is
known under the name of William Glea-
son and his identity was discovered by
z ccident. Detectives have been search
sng for Strock for months. but he has
70 evade them. There was a
reward for his capture.
BooDLTNG CHARGED.
Cincinnati. Ohio. April 17.-John W.
Prendergast, health officer of Cincinnati,
was today held TO answer TO the grand
jury in the sum of $1,000 by Magistrate
Winkler on a charge of attempting to Sc
cure money from the Frassr Tablet COM
pany. 10 suppress prosecution by the
pure food commissioner of the state.
WARRANT FOR SPALDING.
Chicago. April 17.-Judge Dunno To-
dar issued Il bench warrant for the ar
sr Of the University of Illinois. The
charge Is embezzlement The warrant
VAS issued on complaint OF George y. q
Morgan. president Of the Chicago club
IF the University OF Illinois. Bail was
hXsd at S25, 200.
THE FRANK WOODS Is SAFE.
Milwaukee, Wis, April 17.-Advices ,
rom st. Joseph, Mich. state that the
steamer Franak Woods. concerning ,
Thoce safety grave fears were felt. en-
tered port this morning all right She
reataered the storm in the open lake.
her captain deeming i; imprudent to at
tempt 70 make 1arbor.
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