The St. Louis Republic., 1903-06-21
APPLIES TORCH TO
HOUSE HE ROBBED,
burglar, Angered at SmRflness of
His Booty, Tries to Burn Vic
tim to Death.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Pittsburg, June 2o-An attempt at rob-
| berry. followed by an effort to commit mur-
| der. leaving false trail to lead the police
| TO believe that suicide had been committed,
was made by a burglar in the East End.
The victim was Egbert NJ. Freeborn of Ak
ron. o.. who was alone in the house of his
son, Dudley Freeborn. Freeborn was res
cued by neighbors from the burning house,
which the burglar had set afire. The victim
was also unconscious from the fumes of
gas. the culprit having turned it on before
fleeing. 1t was fully an hour before Free
born recovered at the hospital. He awoke
and began shouting that he had no money
and begging that his life be spared
About : o'clock in the morning pedes-
trian saw smoke issuing from the second
story windows of the house occupied by
Dudley F'reeborn. his wife and child. The
observer raised cry of fire and awakened
J. o. McCalvitt. the owner of the burning
house. McCslvitt lives in the adjoining
had gathered in the street to save thosa
in the house. and he himself ran downstairs
and hunted for key to the ire-aIarm box.
RESCUERS BREAK WINDOWS.
The men tried to enter the house. but
the doors were locked, so they broke in a
window and in the room behind the dining
room they found Mr.. Freeborn lying in bed.
unconscious.
The whole house was filled with the fumes
of gas. the gas cocks having been turned on
full. The rescuers turned these off and
dragged Freeborn out of bed and got him
to the fresh air. The fremen soon arrived
and put out the fire. but not before the en-
tire second floor. which was unoccupied
had been burned. the flames having burned
through the ceiling of the first fioor and
scorched several rooms there, besides ruin
ing a piano.
Freeborn was hurried to the East End
HOSnffll and
an hour before the physicians brought him
saw 5hs dSfI05 S bending Ing over we him
have only @a- Take that and don't mur-
der me-"
His struggles were so violent that the
doctor had TO step back. while the nurses
quieted the man and finally convinced him
that he was not in danger.
INJURIES TO AGED MAN.
An examination showed tina, there was a
lump on the back of Freeborn's head. ap-
parently made by some heavy but yielding
instrument. ard there were two bruises on
his face. one on each cheek.
After good sleep by the aid of soda
tive Freeborn was able to talk. ana said
mat nearly week ago he came from his
I nome in Abron TO visit his son. who is em-
ployed as stenograpner by the Bsst Man
ufacturinS Company. The latter's wife and
daughter are at present visiting in Ohio.
Last night; said Freeborn, 4 told Dud
mine named Calhoun. I wanted Calhoun
to spend Sunday with us Dudley was to
stay all night with Calhoun. About 10
O'Clock l went TO bed. l woke up suddenly
and found myself looking at man who
was holding match in his hand.
Give me Your money. he said. and be
d quick about il. too
Il sat up in bed and the man grabbed
my face in his hand. apparently TO keep
me from shouting / twisted my head
around. felt a blow on the back of the
head and then knew no more until / awoke
in the hospital here. ] had about SS5 /
was brought here in my night clothes and
don't know whether the money was stolen
OF not"
DIDN'T ATTEMPT SUICIDE.
Freeborn apparently knew nothing about
the gas having been turned on in the house
He was indignant at the intimation that he
had tried to commit suicide At the hos
pital it was said II was impossible for him
TO have been shafrr,ing unconsc,ousness
and his actions convinced those who saw
and heard him that his story was true.
There were no marks of jimmies on the
windows in the front or rear However
the windows might nave oeep unlatched
when Freeborn retired.
Freeborn's son got back from McKeesport
last night He had heard nothing about
the fire until he arrived He went iIime-
dia:ciy TO the hospital to see his father
The aged man was much better. hut was
not vet considered out of danger from the
gas he had inhaled.