The sun., 1901-11-13
BURGLARS, IN HER MIND ONLY.
BUT ALL VAN NEST VILLAGE RAN
OUT TO SAVE MRS. KINSELLA.
Club, Carving Knife and Pistol Equipped
Posse Organized. Police Turned Out.
Doors smashed-''Thieyes" Were the
Cat, Anxious 10 Reach Her Kittens.


Doors smashed-''Thlevcs" Were the
Cat. Anxious 10 Reach Her Kittens.
Nerves and the pranks OF pet cat caused
Mrs. Helen Kinsela, who lives on Theriot
avenue. at Van Nest In The Bronx, TO be-
lieve that burglars were in the house last
Sunday night. The whole village was
aroused, posse was organized, and a
general search was started for robbers
who didn't exist.
Mr.. kinsela went to New Jersey q few
days ago on business which would keep
him away a week. and his wife was left
alone with her three thildren. There
have been several robberies In Van Nest
recently, and after her husband left Mrs.
Kinsella thought Of burglars and nothing
else. The more she thought, the more
nervous she became She barricaded her
self In the house every night, and took all
possible precautions against invasion by
thieves, but she became sure that they'd
come some night and rob her.
On Sunday night Mrs. Kinsella dreamed
that they had come and they were in the
house. In her dream she saw a burglar
enter the room with an axe and walk over
to where her smallest child was lying In
the crib, The robber wore a mask and
carried q dark lantern. He was the very
worst burglar since Bill Sykes. She saw
him raise the axe-in her dream--and she
was powerless to move to prevent her
child from being murdered. She could
not even scream.
Then she awoke. There wasn't any
burglar In the room and her child lay In
bed unharmed, but the dream had fright
ened her so that she could not compose
herself. As she listened she heard a noise
downstairs and then she was positive that
burglars were at work. At last she mus
tered up enough courage TO 60 to the win
dow and yell
-Murderl PoHcel- she screamed. Then
she fell back fainting on the floor,
The woman's cries for help were heard
by one of the neighbors who was just re-
turning from Manhattan He knew that
Mrs. kinsella's husband was away. and the
first thing he thought Of was a burglary,
He hustled around spreading tho alarm,
and in a few minutes he had a posse or
ganzed and armed with pistols, carving
knives and clubs, ready for the robbers.
The posse went TO Mrs. Kinsela's house.
First they made a search of the grounds,
but could find no trace OF robbers. Then
they went 10 the open window from which
Mrs. Kinsella had called for help, and asked
her to open the door. There was no re-
sponse and they stood there wondering
what TO do. In the meantime somebody
had gone to the WestChester police stati on
and announced that citizens In Van Nest
had captured a band Of burglars, 40 please
hurry up with plenty OF men TO bring the
miscreants to the station. Three police
men were sent. BY the time they arrived
AT the house. the whole village was aroused,
and the streets were full Of folks anxious
TO get their hands on the robbers.
Al the kinsella house, the posse after
long debating what to do decided TO break
down the door and enter. because the
whole family might be murdered. The
door was smashed In and thorough search
made Of the lower floors results nil.
When the searchors got 10 the second floor
they heard the baby CRYING. II one Of the
front rooms They called to Mrs. kinsella.
but there was no response.
Smash in the door quick said some
body
They did The door was broken in and
the woman was found unconscious on the
floor near the window. Clingng 90 her were
the two oldest children, so scared that they
cou Id not speak.
II took several minutes 10 bring Mrs.
kinsella TO Consciousness and then she was
unable To talk for some time Meantime
the house was searched from top to bottom;
no burglars and the mystery deeper than
enough 20 talk and some one asked her
Why she had called for help. She told
about her fears Of burglar. Of her dream
and finally of the NOISE she had heard.
Then n search was started afresh.
"Tabby,' the family's pet cat was try
ing 10 get into the cellar window. She
had given birth 10 litter of kittens tho
might before and had been locked out while
they were inside the house.