The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-30
SHERIFFS FORCE
IN BATTLE.
Irate Parents 0bjnct to Arrest
of Children.
BUTCHER KNIFE WELDED
Girl Is Captured but Boy ES-
CapeS.
BUTCHER KNIFE WELDED

and Mr. and Mrs J. c. Thornberg an,
Mrs. May Direndorfer OF the other. I
IS said that gun plays were made OF
both sides and that a butcher knife wa.
hourished by Mr. Thornberg. The re
suit Of all the excitement vas that Mr.
Thornberg IS in the county Jail on tn,
charge Of resisting an officer and threat
ening to kill him; that his step-daugh
ter, Lena Richardson. aged Il. is ais,
/ in jair awaiting a hearing in the probate
court. where an attempt VIII be mad,
10 take her out OF the control Of her
parents, who are deemed unit TO govern
! her and that Mrs. Difendorrer has
/ vanished with her s-year-oId son. whom
! the officers also desired TO bring before
/ the probate court
Mrs. Ella Glenn Shields. police matron
yesterday secured state warrants in the
probate court for the possession OF Lena
Richardson and Clifton Difendorfer on
the alleged grounds that their parents
were not suitable persons 70 raise them
and that they were thrown into evil as
sociations. The story as told by Z. L.
Stratton TO a reporter for the Eagle is
IN substance as follows:
About o'clock last evening Mrs
Shields went 10 fremont street. accom-
panied by Mr. Stratton. deputy sherin
and officer Of the Kansas Children ,
Home society, to serve the warrants and
get the children.
The first house she went to was the
one occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Thorn
berg, 22s fremont street, ana she tclo
Mrs Thoruberg that she had a state
warrant FOR her daughter The mother
replied that the girl was rot there
Mrs Shields then signifed a desire to
search the house and Mrs. Thornbers
refused to allow her TO do So
Mr. Stratton then told Mrs. Thorn
berg that she had better allow the house
10 be searched. Mrs. Thornberr ran
inside, slammed the door and attempted
70 close window. Mr. Stratton pre-
vented her from doing so. however. and
she seized a big chair and made as II
she were going 70 beat the deputy sher-
III over the head. He advised ner not
TO resist and then she gave permission
10 Mrs Shields TO search the house. Tbs
latter did SO. but sooc emerged and told
Mr.. Stratton that the child was inside
but that the mother would not let he.
be taken away
MI Stratton telephoned for the sher-
III to come down Mr.. Simmons came al
once. bringing with him two deputies.
As soon as Sheriff Simmons arrived
ne entered the house and soon the crash
ing Of glass was heard. Deputy Sheriff
Doug. Simmons rushed 10 the rear Of
the house and found that his father
had Mr. Thornberg IN his possession. H.
also had large butcher knife which
he had taken from tAe step-father Of
the child, According thi the shrdlr
the child According to the story told
by Sheriff Simmons. Mr. Thornoerg had
threatened him with the butcher knife
but he had forced him 20 surrender it
at the point OF a gun n scufiing
q glass door was smashed. The sheriff
then marched his prisoner to his CARR.
age, holding q revolver towards him all
the time. He was guarded on either side
by deputies
Mr.. Stratton then went 10 the rear Of
the house to get the girl he was after
found the mother holding her fast.
Her arms were around her daughter AMI
her hands clasped tight. after hard
struggle Mr.. Stratton forced the mother
10 let go and then she said she would
consent TO Lena's being taken away II
she were given time h. dress her in GOOD
clothes This permission was granted
and soon the mother and daughter were
in the carriage with the father and on
their way TO the county iaH
While the mother was preparing her
daughter for the journey 70 the fail
NJ Stratton and Douglas Simmons har
% sacross the street after Clifton
ltidendorfer. the s-year-o.d boy whom
they were searching. He saw them com
ing and started 70 run into the house
Nh Strattou caught him b. ire arm ana
kept him back. but his mother capvh,
him By the other arm and tried 70 n1.U
him in. Finally the mother Iet loose
and retired into the house. soon emery
Ing with a revolver. M Strattor and
Mrs Simmons. who were now both hold
Ing the boy were unpTeparsd for this sort
D warfare, as they did not have tine 70
reach for their revolvers they lei loose
u the boy and fed for safety. Mr. STRAIT
ton hid behind the corner CT the house /
and Deputy Simmons hid behind 4 tree
The boy took advantage Of his liberty (
and ht5 in the wood shed He discovered 4
hat BY this tine NJ stratton had drawn (
his revolver and shouted to his mother 4
hat such Vas the case
Mrs DiGendorfeT came forth 70 The I
cattle. but 10 further struggle occurred. I
sheriff simmons now appeared or the 4
scene and Mrs. DiTendorfer promised +
am &c bring The boz 70 the jan herself. 4
slr. Simmons consented % this arraaxe-
aent and departed vith Ms 5aggy load I
y the Thornbgrs family.
Mrs DiGendorfer ID Tot keep her 4
gree-en1 however. and sbosr u o.ciacx
sst night Doug Simmons. D5ek Dodss
nd M Stratton returned u fremont 4
treet IL search - the rf1e-vea--aId boz
hey FUND the street alnos; deserted
nd the Direndorfer ho-ue dsrkenes Il
as stated O. the street tat ths mother
I'D Tot oee1 seen since her adventure
With the officers.
The sheri-s force = stsH OF Ire Iosx-
CT for Airs Diren6orter and her ss-.
lifton. and say thar As soon a. BE
hoxs her hesd she NiI b captured.
Lena Richardson sf-s Thsr-sarx's
laughter. Viii - hrou<he s-to re pro
ate court AZ c'elock Friday after
oo--
sfr Ihornau-s was seer ~ reporter
or the Eagle as y ssooc bekias ,he bars
q ths couary szn las sight