The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-25
PEOPLE AROUSED.
They Searched For an Unknown
White Fiend Sunday.
Had He Been Found There
Would Have Been a Lynching.

If the crowd of angry men who were
searching for fiend in the west part Of
town yesterday evening had found their
man another case Of lynching would
have been recorded in Topeka The
crowd searched high and low and went
several miles into the country west of
the city limits. but they were unable to
find the man they were looking for. An
attempt to assault a little girl was the
cause Of their anger.
little Ester Grotewol, the seven-year-
old daughter of w. E. Grotewol, left
home yesterday afternoon before 3
o'clock in company with two other little
girls to attend the meeting of the junior
league in the Martin church Her home
is at 1916 West street. When the chill
dren had gone a short distance they met
a man who stopped them and talked
pleasantly to them. He singled out little
Ester and talked to her. while the other
children went on being afraid to talk to
a stranger. He told her that he want ed
her to go around the corner with him
and get shirt which was hanging on
a line that belonged to him He said he
wanted to put it on and go up town
The shirt, he said, was hanging in the
yard at Mr.. POrter'S, 1924 West street.
He offered her two rings which were on
his fingers and peanuts and candy. The
little girl accepted his offer for she said
he appeared to be such a nice man.
When they got in the yard he caught her
and carried her to the barn where he
climbed to the loft. She was not fright
eued. for all the time he was assuring
her that she was such good little girl
that she should have the candy and pea
nuts.
According to the story told by little
Ester she did not get frightened until
they We're in the loft and the man took
a large knife from his pocket. She then
conceived the idea that he was drunk
and she was greatly frightened. for she
fears only policemen and drunken men.
He turned to look through a hole in
the side of the barn, and as he did SO the
child had enough presence Of mind to
slide down the hole from the loft.
She said that when she looked back
after getting down that she saw the man
looking down at her. and she at once
ran to the home of her aunt, Mrs. George
Grant, and told her what had happened.
The other children were there and they
all went at once to the home of the
OF calling the police or telling the neigh
bors.
When Mr.. Grotewol reached home, a
little after o'clock. he found the fam
lily ALMOST in mysteries. They managed
to tell him what had happened and he
at once ran to the barn. OF course he
found nothing there for the man had
ample opportunity to get away. He then
notified the police and with a crowd of
friends started On a search for the man.
The children describe the man as
wearing a white hat light suit Of
clothes and side whiskers His chin was
clean shaver and he carried a basket. |
A man answering the same description
was seen by a number of citizens going
west after the time of the attempt on
the little girl had been made.
The police and the sheriff as we'll a S /
the neighbors kept up the search during
the evening but they were unable to
find the man.