The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-15
THIEVES RANShck
CRITCHF|ELD HOME
House Is BurgIarized Occupied
by Invalid Woman.
UNABLE TO MAkEO UTCRY
About Eight Dollars Extent of
Booty Secured.
UNABLE TO MAkEO UTCRY

Thieves entered the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. r. V. Critchfeld, 3s5 Wabash Sun
day night and thoroughly ransacked The
place while Mrs. Critchdeld's mother,
Mrs. Fitzpatrick, an invalid, sat in a room
on the ground floor and was helpless
to either shout or drive the burglars
away A pocket book containing about
500, belonging to Mrs. Fitzpatrick and
another containing a small amount OF
silver. less than a dollar. belonging to
Mrs. Crtchfeid, were taken.
1T was about 7:3O clock. said Mr..
Critchfeld yesterday, when my wife and
l left for church. According to my
mether-in-law. it was. scarcely two MIN
utes later when she heard some one en-
tr the house. Whoever il was they were
there perhaps five minutes and although
she thought it strange that we did not
step into the sitting room, which she
was occupying. TO tell her who vas there.
she supposed we had returned for some
thing forgotten.
About fifteen minutes later she again
heard some one enter the front door. we
always left il unlocked because she said
that she was not afraid. This time. who
ever entered. went directly upstairs. My
nother-in-law heard them making noise
as il some one opening and shutting The
dresser drawers Then she began to sus-
pect tibet burglars were in the house
Besides being an invalid and unab.e 10
get about without assistance at any time.
upon realizing mat burglars were In the
house. frightened her so that she could
not even make an cutlery. After thor
ougilIy ransacking the upstairs portion or
our home, the robbers descended. one
of them opened the parlor door which
leads to the room that was occupied by
mother-in-law, but quickly shut it. When
we arrived home. you can well imagine
the condition of my mother-in-law. she
received such a fright as | fear may re-
suit seriously to her. She is a woman
pretty well along in years.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Critchfeld arrived
home they found the rooms through
which the burglars had gone, ransacked
from top 10 bottom Their silverware
had been taken from its place on the
sideboard. but none is missing. The
appearances Closets were thoroughly
ovcrhauled by the thieves and every ar
tiele examined. no doubt In their search
fer money. The contents OF several
dressers. in the upstairs portion OF the
house. were scattered nroniseuously
about the moor after being searched.
Mr.. Cr:tchfield is of the belief that the
robbers were acquainted with his home
and the actions of the family: that they
knew when he and his wife left that there
was no one there who could prevent
them from hurglar;zing the house when
once inside. He says that as a light waS
burning no one could help but know that
there was some one there. The police
were notified of the burglary and are
working on the case.
Mrs Fitzpatrick. Mrs. Critchfeld's
mother. makes her home with her
daughter Mr.. Cr,tchfield IS CHIEF clerk
at the local freight Offices Of the Santa
Fe.
\ school girl at Lee. Mass., has been
awarded a medal for a seven years per-
feet school attendance. All the members
of the family-nine in number-attendei
the same school, and rot one missed
single attendance.