People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-12-02
A Narrow Escape,

"a i'oiAOn LSNdpC.
A short distance out OF Wichita
Wednesday night, an old man 70 years
o. age and mentally unsOuDd, walked
from a moving south bound Rock
Liand train and only by the most
miraculous circumstance was saved
from a horrible. death. As
he stepped through a testibuIe door
on the platform Of the train The doors
closed and caught his coat. He was
dragged for distance of half mile
with his feet on the ground, when he
was rescued from his perilouS position.
The traiDmen discovered that he was
insane and telegraphed for Sheriff
Heskett to meet the train at Yelling
ton and take charge Of him. He is 10
jail awaiting the arrival of James E.
Bowling, an attorney Of Springfield,
Iii, who was Notified of the old mans
cOndition by County Attorney Rogers
Thursday morning.
The mans name is F. Leeke. file
speaks with a strong Teutonic accent.
From papers found ia his possession
ne is evidently very wealthy, and
from his conversation he was evident.
ly a railroad contractor 10 the Father
land and served in the German army
before coming to America. 1t is evil
dent that he has had trouble with his
sous, whom he says are all after his
money aud property.
On the old mans person was found
two $50 bills, five notes for 81 ,44O each,
given to secure fve.year lease on a
fine farm containing nearly section
of land near Springfield, ILL.,, in Sang
anon county, and a Springfield bank
deposit slip for over 5000. The man
WAS travelling on ticket from Daven.
port, Ia, to Dallas, Tex. The officers
believe that he h9s been in hiding for
some time from his sons. who we're
endeavOring to have him sent TO an
asylum. He was very chary about
allowing the authorities to search
him, and attempted to conceal bis
identity. He gave his name at first
as Steven A. Douglas, but when
searched sand confronted with the
papers bearing the name of +. Leeke,
reluctantly admitted that that was
his name. He has lucid intervals,
when he talks nationally, but FIRE.
Quently becomes deliriOus and speaks
of persecution by his sons.
Leeke says his wife is dead. He
thinks he is in Dallas, Tex, and stares
stupidity when told that be is in We'll
lington, Kas. He doesn't understand
it. He seems possessed of desire tu
know if the people here will take his
property and money away from him,
"as they do in Illinois," but doesn't
seem to comprehend when assured
that he will not be robbed.
The case is pathetic one. The
old n'sinsanity is evidently due t.
brOOdlng over the thought that his
children are trying to rob him. This
morning while County Attorney
Rogers was examining his papers he
pointed to them and said, to quiet TIT
mans grief over believing that he bad
been made poor by his children:
"Why, you're all right. Those pa.
pers and the farm-there's lots Of
money in them"
"Yes," responded the old man sadly,
"but they do me no good. My boys
take everything and not let me have
the benefit Of them"
Mr.. Rogers ELECTED from Leeke the
fact that he employed an attorney by
the year 10 look after his interests.
The attorneys name is James E.
Bowling. Mr.. Rogers notified Dow.
ling next morning of the condition Of
Leeke, and at 3 O'Clock that afternoon
received the following reply:
Ivan D. Rogers, Wellington, Kans.
Detain f. Leeke. Will 90 at once,
Treat him kindly.
JAS. E. BOWLING.
Mr.. Bowling will probably arrive in
Wellington this evening. Leeke
may be removed from the Jail to a
hotel and guard placed over him
until Dowling arrives. He cannot
walk, as his feet are bruised and
swollen tn twice their natural size,
from being dragged by the train that
night.