The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-11
FOUND MAN UNDER BED
One Young Woman Who Did Not
Look in Vain.

Harlan w. Scribner, travelling
salesman for the Mellins Food COM
pany, was arrested at midnight last
night on the charge of disorderly con-
duct. His Offense consisted OF enter
ing a young girls room, hiding under
the bed. and frightening the entire
household.
Scribner engaged a room at the
home of E. Benedict 1915 Tyler
street, Monday night. He made a
good appearance, and seemed to be a
perfect gentleman. Wednesday
young woman stenographer, engaged
a room at the Benedict house and
Scribner Immediately began to force
his attentions upon her. He follow
ed her upon the street when she was
going to her work, and came to her
room on several occasions. Last night
she returned from a drive with
friends, and upon going to her room
found Scribner there, reading by her
table. She requested him to leave the
room, but as he rose from the chair
he grabbed her in his arms. She
struggled and broke away from him,
and ran downstairs for help. Failing
to arouse Mr. and Mrs Benedict by
knocking on their door, the girl ran
out and called some neigh bOrs from
the next house. Mr.. w. Payne, who
lives at 1920 Tyler, and Mr.. G. r.
Miller and Mr.. Ralph Cutie of 1918
Tyler came back with the young lady
found it in darkness Upon striking
a light they found the lamp on the
floor broken. The girl looked under
the bed and saw Scribner. clad only
in his underclothing- The three men
Immediately pulled the bed away
from the wall and pounced upon the
offender He put up fight, and in
dragging him down stairs and into
the hall some of them beat him up,
knocking some of the cuticle off his
head and face. While two of the
gentlemen sat on Scribner's chest the
third went to Stamey'S livery barn,
around the corner of Tenth avenue,
and teleDhoned for a policeman.
While he was at the barn Officer
Douglas came in to report. The Off
Ger Immediately returned to the
Benedict residence and took charge of
Scribner, who was still struggling I'M
der the weight of his captors.
Scribner became quieter when the
officer appeared, and was allowed to
put on his clothes Douglas took him
back to the livery barn to call the
patrol wagon, and they were standing
in the door of the barn when Serb
ner suddenly jumped out of the door
and ran north, pursued by Douglas.
The officer drew his revolver and fired
four shots, none of them with the in
tention of hitting the prisoner. The
shots had the desired effect and in
cutting across the corner of lot to
escape, Scribner ran into a wire
pie off the lawn, and fell heavily
against the side of a house. where he
crOuched and asked the policeman not
to shoot him. The patrol wagon was
in North Topeka at the time, and Off
Ger Allison was sent to assist Doug
las. They brought Scribner to the
station, where he gave the name of
William Esterbrook, but cards found
in his pocket proved his identity.
At the police station Scribner said
that it was "all up with him. and
that he would commit suicide if given
a chance. and that he wished the po-
liceman had killed him. He gave no
explanation of his actions. This morn
ing he retained a lawyer to defend
him. and will have a hearing this
afternoon.
Scribner is a tall, good looking man
of 27. and acted the part of a perfect
gentleman before the occurrence of
last night. He engaged the room at
the Benedict residence in answer to
an advertisement. His business in
the city was that of a salesman for
the Mellins Food company, and he
only engaged the room for a week.