The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-24

It was only $3.50 p. M. when the man
entered the house. Besides Mrs. Youn-
kin and her two small children, Miss
May Neal was in the house. Mrs
Younkin had retired early. The chill
dren were asleep and Miss Neal was
sitting by the fire in the sitting room
reading. The Younkin home is a cot
tage at the corner of Ninth and Gar
field streets. The kitchen is in the rear
and communicates directly with the sit
ting room. The bed room occupied by
Mrs. Younkin adjoined the sitting room.
Miss Neal was the first to hear the
noise made by the man entering the
house. She arose and entered Mrs.
her what she had heard.
Unhesitatingly Mrs. Younkin secured
the rifle, an old one which was rendered
worthless by the loss of screw which
had held barrel and stock together, and
started for the kitchen. That room was
dark Mrs. Younkin was inclined to
| doubt the basis of her companlon's
fears and after crossing the room to
the kitchen door and returning without
having seen any reason to believe that
there was a burglar in the house she
went back to bed, laughing at her
friend Far a quarter of an hour or
longer the two women waited 1t was
approaching 9 o'clock when the noise Of
a chair scraping across the floor was
heard Enthusiastically from the kitchen.
Apparently the burglar, if such he was
IldQ ST. OCh q NA1e1A4 A4AONAAA5 ~SNOSA$
The sudden renewal of the alarm
rather unnerVed Miss Neal but Mrs.
Younkin seems to have held herself
we'll in control. After a few minutes
of whispered consultation it was de-
termined that Miss Neal should slip out
through the window Of the bedroom to
the ground and call the assistance of
the nearest neighbor, Marion Sheldon,
whose house is but a few yards north
of the Younkin cottage. 1t was yet
fully two hours before Mr.. Younkin
could be expected home from the city,
whether he had gone early in the
evening. To wait for the man to leave
/ of his own accord was too nerve
racking a prospect So Miss Neal
mustered her courage and climbed
from the window sill to the ground,
| four feet below. AS she did so a re-
newal of the noise in the kitchen no
titled the women that the man was
/ leaving the house. as he had seen Mrs.
Younkin ard her rifle. With terrified
steps Miss Neal fed by the shortest
path for the neighbors. AS she ap-
preached the fence separating their
yards she glanced back to see the
man come around the rear corner of
the house. evidently in pursuit of her
The man was probably seeking an
avenue of escape and turned back. A
grape arbor built close to the rear of
the house made it impossible for him
to get around the house behind without
I crossing the kitchen porch. That was
what he did. AS he stepped upon the
porch at the west end Mrs. Younkin
glanced through the sitting room door
and saw him. She proceeded to unlock
the door and pursue the intruder but
the man sprang over the back fence and
escaped. In her glance at him. how
ever, Mrs Younkin was able to see him
distinctly.
He was large negro said she,
but apparently less than twenty years
OF age He was dark mulatto and
fairly well dressed. He wore short
box-coat and a crush hat. creased in
around the sides in a manner to make
the crown low. 1 could easily identity
him if I saw him again. In fact 1 think
/ have seen him before and from the
description 1 furnished the police this
morning / am inclined to think they
will be able to catch him.
1.-The occurrence last night did not
frighten me. 1t made me very angry ard
had been armed with a gun that would
shoot should have fired at him. 1 shall
certainly not remain in the house alone
again without firearms upon which 1 can
rely in time of need"
Miss Neal did not bear the mental strain
house so we'll as did Mrs. Younkin When
| the girl arrived at the Sheldon home she
tainted after telling them that a man was
wanted. Mr.. Sheldon went directly over
had seen to 1t that a safe distance had
been put between himself and pursuit.
What his motive may have been in enter
ing the house can only be conjectured. II
may have been burglary. but it may have
been worse He probably ascertained by
looking through the windows that there
were men in the house and felt safe il
entering But he seemed to have lost
his nerve afterward
Mr.. Younkin who is stonemason- was
away from home throughout the evening