The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-19

this case without waking any of the
family, although he went into the sleep
ing room of Mr.. Kenny, of course not
knowing he was a detective
Wishing to add a little to his gleaningS
he repaired to the residence Of Mr.. J. ".
Davis the blacksmith whose residence
is at 1871 West Fifteenth street, short
distance from the Kenny home. He en-
tered the house, leaving the door open,
and assembled the stairs, passing the
rooms occupied by Mr.. Davis and his
sons, and entering the room of the
daughter, Miss Lena Davis. The door
stuck tightly and the noise awakened
Miss Davis, who saw the man approach
the dresser. She was too frightened to
speak at first. but her courage came
back when she saw him dig into the
We're kept
Here, you get out Of this" she said.
The burglar turned and said, You shut
up or / will take a shot at you" and
advanced threateningly toward the bed.
He then made her get up in a sitting
posture while he turned over the pillows
and felt under them. Here is where he
made another mistake by laying his
hand on Miss Davis to push her. She
screened for help, and he grabbed her
by the throat and choked her before he
made a dash for the stairs. The plucky
girl jumped over the foot of the bed and
gave chase, calling for her father. The
negro was too swift fer a turn in the
stair and went down the quickest way.
kicking a round out of the banister in
his fall and landing in a heap at the
bottom.
He hastily recovered and few out of
the door, around the house and took a
second fall over the cellar door Miss
Davis pursued hin out onto the porch,
followed by Mr.. Davis and other mem
bers of the family. but he escaped An
investigation showed that before COM
ing up stairs the thief had taken Mr..
Davis watch from the dining room, and
this was the only property gone.
Miss Lena Davis, the Dlueky young
lady who routed the bold robber is the
teacher of the Elevation school south
west of town. and she had several
school vouchers and some cash in the
drawer which the thief was fnvestigat-
ing when she filed objections. The pc
lice told Mr.. Davis and the family 20
say as little as possible about the af-
fair, and started to work.
Officers PaVey, Lucas and 6off and
Chief Donovan have worked continu-
Ously on the case, and although they
they were unable to get him cornefed
until last night, when they secured the
final evidence, and this morning cor
raled the principal feature of the game.
Mr. Davis identified his watch at a
pawnshop, but the police We're bothered
some by Miss Davis slight description
of the man. It was about $3.50 VIXEN he
entered the room, and she could not see
his color, but his voice made her think
it to be a white man. In his confess
sion this morning Williams did not on it
a single detail of the affair, except
choking Miss Davis He told how he
fell down stairs and kicked out the
rung of the banister, and of the plucky
defense of the young lady.
The police deserve much credit for the
capture It is quite probable that vii
liAnas committed the several PotWia
buIglaries, as he has been working for
Potwin people, and was wen acquainted
with several of the houses.
It grows more evident every day that
Topeka is a poor place for burglars. at
least while the present heads Of the po-
lice force are doing business.