The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-02
Burglar Fires on A. e. Erick-
son This Morning.
Had First Choked Mrs. Erick-
son Severely.
WAS HIT WITH LAMP.
Husband Struck Masked RObber
i'm the Face.
Police Have No Clue to the
Burglary.

A masked burglar cnOkeQ Mrs. n. IL
Erickson at 1923 Chestnut street early
this morning and fired a shot at her
husband while making a hasty escape
from the house after his unsuccessful
attempt at robbery. The bullet flew
wide of the mark. penetrated the door
jamD and fell on the floor of the hall
way within. The burglar is probably
wearing lacerated countenance
where he was struck with lamp Chin
ney thrown by Mr.. Erickson. AS the
house is in quarantine for scarlet fever
the burglar probably carried off a coll
lection of disease germs which may re-
suit in his own infection. In that case
the police would be enabled to capture
him within the next three or four weeks
4 by keeping in close touch with the
Office of the health department. Be-
yond that he was a negro the occu-
pants of the Erickson house are unable
to describe him.
The marks of the negro's fingers
upon Mrs. Ericksons throat were still
slightly visible this morning when she
related the experience of the night to
a reporter for the State Journal:
Il was asleep in the front room"
said she. when 1 heard the man NOV
ing about near my bed. Supposing it
our sick children 1 called to him by his
first name, AL The man responded,
'uh-huh,' in a low voice which imme-
diateiy knew was not my husbands.
L was frightened and called to my hus-.
band loudly. The burglar Immediately
caught me with both hands by the
throat and choked me terribly. After
/ holding me for a moment he loosened
4 his hold and L screamed again.
This time my husband, who is a
heavy sleeper, heard me and rose to
find out what was the matter The
/ burglar had locked the door betweln
4 the front room and the one where MY
1 husband slept. Hearing y1r. Erickson's
| movements he released his hold upon
my throat, which he had tightened af-
ter my second outcry, and ran for the
hallwsy 10 the front door. He had evil
IDENTIFY unlocked it before entering my
room Coming from his room by way
/ of the hall my husband encountered
the burglar at the front door. The
| negro wore a mask over a part of his
/ face. My husband had no weapon with
him but carried lamp which ahe had
| just lighted, and snatching off the
chimney, he hurled it squareiy into the
mans tafe- The burglar sprang out on
1.-THE porch and turned just as Mr.. Erick-
Threw the rest of the lamp at him.
The negro held revolver and paused
an instant while he shot l thought
he had struck my husband for he did
not reSl-7 to my call for a moment or
Two out L soon discovered he
hurt. My own injuries are small.
THE burglar didn't get anything But
found Is cents that he dropped on the
fiooT OF my room. That is not quite
enough, | fear. to pay for our ruined
lamp. The man climbed in a window
on the north side of the house, being
compelled to climb over my husbands
bed Mr.. Erickson must have been very
sound asleep for he heard no sound be-
fore my call for help. The man had
he triu
which are fastened on the inside"
Three weeks ago man entered the
Erickson house but secured no booty OF
value. Departing he left lighted lamp
and two doors a1ar. On the same night
a house three doors north, the home Of
John Cooney at S17 Chestnut street was
burglarized. 81 in money. a watch ami
small amount of jewelry being secur-
| ed. The ETicksonS are inclined to be-
lieve the same man did all three burg
| lares.
1t was 4:2O o'clock this morning
when the Ericksons looked at the clock
after their exciting episode. Mr.. Erick-
son had pursued the burglar a half
block in his night clothing, but, after
chasing the man into a neighbor's yard
and seeing him enter an alley behind
he gave up and went home. A message
was sent to the police station after day
light, but the officers who visited the
place, were unable to find any trace of
the house breaker, which is natural as
! ne WOULD scarcely nave waited fOf
them. The Erickson home is a neat
cottage a half block south of Eighth
street on Chestnut, which is the first
street east of the Shunganunga bridge.
1t is a closely built street and several
1 of the neighbors heard the shot fired on
the Erickson front porch.
The front room, in which the burglar
was discovered, communicates with the
hallway at the southeast corner, the
house being faced east The small porch
all Sfd nf
room. Mr.. Erickson occupied the room
at the center of the house from which
the hall leads. The window where the
burglar entered and in front of which
Mr.. Erickson slept. is on the north
side of the room. Before trying to open
the front windows the burglar removed
a dozen or more flower pots from
| shelf beneath it and the family found
/ them on the ground this morning. After
he had climbed over the man of the
house and gotten inside the middle
room the burglar quietly went into the
front room where Mrs. Erickson slept
In this room. also, was the bed of the
4 little girl who has the scarlet fever
The robber opened the front door in
order to have a way ready for escape.
He had not had an opportunity to gath
er UP any booty when he was discov-
cred.
! A cIeanly cut hole in the wood the
size of lead pencil, shows where the
bullet fired by the fieeting house break
er lodged. 1t was evidently made by
| 80 caliber weapon.
Erickson is employed in the black
smith shop in the Santa Fe yards. APP
parently he is attending to his work
and living at home in direct violation
of the ordinance regarding quarantine
| to waive any of the rules governing
Quarantine enforcement but Mr.. Erick-
son goes and comes to and from his
work without interference on the part