The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-07
NEICHbORS CATCH
BOLD BAD BURGLAR
Thief Entered Sumption Home
Yesterday Afternoon
IN BROAD D A Y | lG H 7
Robber is Now Confined in
City JAIL

Mike Fisher was arrested yesterday at
ternoon and is now confined in the city
lookup, charged with burgiarizing the
home Of Mr.. and Mrs. c. Il. Sumption at
1916 South Emporia avenue. The burglary
was very daring. being accomplished in
broad day light. Although Fisher failed
in getting out Of the house with any
plumber the story Of his capture IS out
of the ordinary.
About five O'Clock Fisher made his first
attempt by prying open the screen OF the
south dining room window, but probably
on account of the exposed position Of the
window, he changed his mind and went
around to the kitchen. Here he cut the
screen, broke the window and entered
the house Nj and Mrs. Frank Gilbert,
who reside on the street Immediately
east Of the Sumption home, saw the man
at his work and Mr.. Gilbert went to the
other neighbors and notified them Of what
was taxing place at the Sumption home.
He soon gathered quite an army OF neigh
bors and. having allowed the burglar to
make an entrance without alarm, they
proceeded to the house and took up posi-
St impossible for the man to escape from
the building. The house breaker soon
realized that he had been discovered but
did not appreciate at first the complete
ness of the trap in which he was caught
He first made his appearance at the front
door and was promptly invited by the
assembled guards at this point TO come
forth. He refused their invitation ana
returned to the rear window where ne
had entered. This he found was equally
well guarded. whereupon he realized that
hny attempt at escape would be futile
and he then returned to the front OF
the house and gave himself up, saying,
BOYS. won't you let me off this time!
! haven't taken thing and the damage
10 the screen and window can be easily
repaired" Ben Reynolds, one of the
neighbors forming the party, informed
him that they would not think Of letting
him off so easily, and took him in charge
The patrol wagon soon arrived and OIL
ficer Willis took the man TO the city JaIi'
where he is at present confined lie MADE
the plea 10 the officer that he was druaA,
but Willis replied that he was the sober
est drunken man he had Yet met. The
man was very anxious 10 learn who lived
in the house. saying that he wanted 10
compromise the case but the officer re-
piled that he probably knew that before
he entered the house
No one was at home when the burglary
occurred and the first intimation Of It
came TO Mr. Sumption at his Office 10y 2
telephone message that his house was
being burglarizcd lie quickly got into
a buggy and with Mrs. Sumption, who
happened TO be at that time in the ol-
nee. went to the scene. They found the
neichbors still there in command of the
situation. but the burglar had been taken
10 the police station by the officers. Mr.
and Mrs. Sumption were very profuse ir
their thanks 60 the neighbors for the
Quick response and heroic action i'm cap
turing the burglar. Mrs. Sumption re-
marking that she believed they were IN,
bravest neighbors IA the world.
Fisher says he came to Wichita last
"Wednesday night from Arkansas City. Tie
cut his hand severely i'm breaking ths
window through which he made his en-
france to the house 1t is now thought
that he is the same person who has beer
committing similar oficusc- in the south
end recently.
Only the evening before. house JUS
two blocks south of SYMPTOMS. was en-
tered and ranSacked.