The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-13
BOY DESPERATE.
Continued from Page One.)

Just call me Davis Then he showed
me a gold watch and said, 7 got a
hold of that pretty easy, and you can
bet that I did not work for it, either
We met at several other times but
that is all that know of the man and
I don't know whether his name is
: Davis or not.
When searched at the county Jail
an amateur burglars outfit was found
on Thrapp, consisting of a cheap dark
lantern, two face masks, a cheap 81
four button hooks bent so that they
might be used in opening locks a
pair of gloves and a SLOUGH hat.
Defense win Be Insanity.
The officers are inclined to believe
that the outfit has been fixed up by
dime novel reader from the descrip-
tons furnished in the yellow backed
literature which young Thrapp has
been reading.
County Attorney Hungate and Sheriff
Lucas spent some time in the cell with
Thrapp this morning but his mouth was
as tightly sealed to them as it had been
to the State Journal reporter and they
were unable to get anything out OF him.
He sat in the same position as he had
occupied all morning with his head bur
led in his hands. AS he left the cell
County Attorney Hungate said: 1t IS
very plain that the defense in the case
will be insanity and the young man IS
acting his part from the first.
Bullet Has Not Been Removed.
A very nervous night was spent by
lArner Robertson, the victim of the shots
fired by Thrapp. He gTittly bears up
against the pain and makes no COM
plant. He said this morning, 4 can't
move my leg, it hurts too much for that
I didn't sleep very much last night. The
bullet hit me in the left leg midway
between the thigh and the knee and
ranged outward and upward towards the
thigh. The bullet is still in there and
a swelling appears up on the leg. The
bullet made quite a good sized hole.
7 didn't SEE. Thrapp last evening IN
til he was right up in front of the desk
I thought it was someone who wanted
to buy ticket and had half way
started to hand out a ticket when /
! looked up and saw the great. big round
/ hole of the barrel of the gun stuck u.
right against my face. Even then
couldn't grasp what was meant. He
had a big black mask on which hung
down over his face and false hair stick
ing up all around. I just thought it was
one of the fellows and not until he COM
menced raking in the money that I had
been counting on the table did realize
that was being held up. Even then it
seemed hardly possible [ just jumped
up without thinking and knocked the
gun away with one hand. Thrapp was
holding the gun and raking in the mon
ey at the same time When I knocked
the gun away it went off. the bullet
I passing close by my head and crashing
through the glass partition which sep
arates class room from the south end
of the hall.
Thrapp Made Hard Fight.
Just about this time Roy OFT who
/ was coming down the stairs took in the
situation and made a straight dive at
4 Thrapp, throwing him up against the
wall. I got a hold of him and we start
/ ed to struggle, one of US was in front
+ of him and the other at the back. We
l struggled around and he finally carried
] lis \ q a fn
down the steps. We were in between
/ the two sets of swinging doors before
/ we brought Thrapp to the ground. He
! certainly put up a good fight OTIS
/ big fellow and solidly built but Thrapp
carried US until we got between those
I swinging doors.
Fired More Shots.
at was here where he fred several
shots, about three or four I think. We
had him there and he was holding onto
/ the revolver, pulling the trigger, the gun
was pressed right up against my leg
when was shot. I didn't think that I
was shot. I thought all the time that
| blank cartridges were being used and
! thought I felt a warm spot right after
! the shot was fired. I thought it was
simply the powder.
/ We finally threw him down and OFT
/ wrenched the gun away. It was a 81
1 gun on a 38-frame. I didn% know what
/ make it was. tore off the mask from
] IhTappS face but l rather imagined 1t
| was he, while we were fighting around
there because he is built in a kind Of
/ peculiar manner and handles himself in
| a way that I have noticed I know him.
| He was in my mathematics classes last
| year at high school. Thrapp was clever
I and bright and the whole thing is so
I strange and funny that I can scarcely
/ realize even now that it happened. It
was right after the play had commenced
that Thrapp came in; if could not have
been later than half past eight. I don't
know how lcng we fought around there;
it seemed an hour before any help came.
OFT was the first to cry out in a weak
sort of way, and that was the first 1
thought of calling for help.
Il certainly believe that something
| should be done to him. I don't like to
think of going through a trial and all
that sort OF thing. ] wouldn't like the
notoriety of it. Something should GER
tainly be done to make him suffer for
il"
Mrs. J. P. Rowley, mother of Amer
ROBINSON. said: Il certainly feel sorry
for the parents of young Thrapp and 1
am not in fsvor of prosecuting the boy.
/ Z think the boy should be made to suffer
severely for what he has done but I
think it would be mighty hard on the
parents
Young Robenson will enter West Point
next May, having received an appoint
ment from Congressman Curtis last
year. Robenson viii succeed Earl Mac
Farland of this city who graduates this
coming spring.