The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-21
UNHAPPY
WANDERER.
Poor Mrs. 'sSandy" Short Found
Tramping AimIessly
Around Topeka Business Streets
on Sunday Night.
THINLY CLAD IN RED.
She Had Made Her Escape From
BedWelI's Asylum
On Saturday Night By Climb
ing From the Window.

Mrs. Sandy Short, the unfortunate
woman, who a few weeks ago, was
found a raving maniac in her room in
an old brick tenement on East Seventh
street, and was afterward declared in
sane by the probate court, escaped from
Bedwells insane asylum near Topeka
cemetery Saturday night about II
o'clock and wandered aimlessIy about
the business streets of Topeka
Sunday night about o'clock she
stood on the corner of Sixth and Kan
sas avenue near the Bank of Topeka.
She presented a most fOrlOrn appear
ance. Her tall. slim body was clothed
and over her face she wore thick
black veil. A small plain hat covered
her head. She glanced first in one
direction then in another, seeming to be
looking for someone.
Finally she turned about and started
west on the north side of Sixth street.
She walked slowly and often turned
about, hesitating, as if uncertain of her
intentions. Mr.. and Mrs. Gilbert Gar
rison, who live east of this city near the
Bedweu asylum, passed the woman
Mrs. Garrison exclaimed: THAT is
Mrs Sandy Short. believe she has
escaped from Bedwel's.''
The man turned about and immedi-
ately recognized the tall figure as that
of Mrs. Short. He walked rapidly to-
ward her. Here" said Mr.. Garrison,
Mrs. Short, you must go with me.
What are you doing out here alone at
night?"
The woman shrank from him and
tried to get away, but Mr.. Garrison
held her arm firmly. She struggled
violently for a moment but soon ceased
and said: I am not insane. When
they took me out there I was a little
deliriOus, and had a cold in my eyes,
but was not crazy. They have been
cruel to me and I won't go back. 1
am going to go to Christ hospital where
they will treat me right
Mr. Garrison urged her to go with
him and his wife back to Bedwells
but she hesitated. At this time Frank
Cooley, engineer at the court house,
came to Mr.. GarrisOn's assistance.
Mrs Short, you must so with US
quietly" said he. The woman looked
first at Mr.. Garrison, then at Mr..
Cooley, and said:
But 1 am not insane. They have per
hospital"
If you will go with us quietly" said
Mr.. Cooley I'VE will take you out there
alone, but if you make a disturbance
we will have to call an officer
I'll 60 back with you said Mrs
Short, but I know they will make me
take all of that medicine and it will kill
me-
During the conversation an East
Sixth street trolley car had passed them
and as the next car would not come I'M
til thirty minutes later Messrs. Gar
r1sOn and Cooley decided to walk to
BedwelPs- East on Sixth street Mrs
Short was led by the two large, strong
men, while Mrs. Garrison and her
child followed.
When the party reached the street on
Wnlcn BedWeIIS asylum is located, Mrs.
Short made a sudden dash and broke
away from her captors. She ran as fast
as she could, and screamed francticaIly.
The two men were in close pursuit. It
was but a question of a short distance
until the insane woman was overtaken
she was Gained and then taken to the
asy lum where she was placed in a room
winch was strongly barred, and a spec
aaI guard was placed in charge.
Where have you been, Mrs. Short?''
asked Mrs Bedwen when the woman
was brought in.
I was just up on the HILL said she
7 went over to see a coIored family,
there
Why did you leave?"
20, 1 wanted to get out, that was
Further than this Mrs. Short would
not discuss her escape.
Her escape from the asylum Saturday
night was mysterious Her room was
the front one on the second story of the
main building. Heavy iron bars were
fastened inside the window In some
way Mrs. Short secured either a screw
driver or some other instrument with
which she removed four screws which
were three inches in length. How she
did this is a mystery. as even with a
large screw driver it would REQUIRE con-
siderable strength to loosen them. The
attendant left Mrs. Short about IL
o'clock She had not retired, but walk
ed the floor uneasily, as was her Gus
tom. The attendant retired in a room
next to that occupied by Mrs Short
me insane woman removed the bars,
tore up sheet and tied the ends to-
gether, fastening the one end to the
bars OF another window and letting the
other hang out of the window to within
a few feet of the ground. In this way
she let herself out of the window and
made her escape 1t was not discover
ed until Sunday morning when Mr.
Bedwel went into the front ward and
noticed the rope made of bed clothing
hanging out of the window. and that
the bars were gone. A search was be-
gun for Mrs Short and the police de-
partment was notified. The search