The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-23
Jessie and Cora Bickel Have Ex
citing Experience.
An Unknown Man Battles With
Them on Street.
TO A HOUSE.
The Girls Finally Arouse A. j.
BOllOtte.
Second Occurrence of Kind in
Two Days.

For two nights in succession North
Topeka young women have been held
up by foOtpads. but in both cases the
men have been frightened away. Miss
Sadie Heber of 82s Monroe street was
held up Wednesday night in her own
yard.
The second holdup occurred last
night on Paramore street about half
past ten o'clock. Misses Jessie and
Cora BicAe1 of 1926 North Quincy
street were returning home from the
South side and left the car at Para
more street.
They had been talking about the
previous holdup and as they started
east on Paramore street one of the
girls glanced down Kansas avenue ana
saw a man short distance away. She
mentioned the fact to her sister but
they thought nothing of it as they were
not far from home.
The girls had scarcely passed on
when the man stepped up by their side
and crouching down gripped Miss Cora
Blckel by the ankles. A battle then
commenced between the girls and the
man which was kept up for a block.
In speaking Of the affair today Miss
Jessie Bicl1el said: When the man
grabbed Cora's ankles I did not know
what to do. She had hold Of my right
arm and clung to me SO tightly that I
could not free my right arm but I
struck him several times as hard as
could with my left hand. Ny sister
and screamed and hurried as fast as
we could with him holding on to US.
When we reached Mr.. A. J. Boflottess
house at 1903 Quincy street I thought
we had better go in there, SO we ran
upon the porch. The man meanWhiIa
had grabbed me by the coat. We
pounded on BOllotte's door and finally
Mr. Bollotte opened window and
asked what was the matter. We told
MIN man had chased US upon his
porch At this time the man finding
help was coming ran Off. In cur fight
from Kansas avenue I managed TO
knock his hat off but he never stopped
10 pick It up until he was frightened
away from BOllotte's when he went
be ok and got it. I noticed that he was
q bald headed man. rather heavy set
with stubby nlustache- He wore
soft felt hat"
Mr.. and Mrs Bollette took the girls
into their house and telephoned to the
police station. OfTicers Belts and Ross
responded and escorted the sisters to
their home and then made a search for
the assailant but he could not be
found Both Of the young women were
extremely nervous from their eE-
perience and Miss Cora BickeI was
confined to her bed today as a result
of the nervous shock
Miss Heber, the victim of the first
holdup, works at the Independent tele-
phone exchange and was returning
home between 10 and II o'clock. as
she entered the yard the man ap-
proached and struck at her. Although
greatly frightened she struck back.
Ihe man then gave her a vicious blow
in the face causing her nose to bleed at
the same time making a grab for her
throat. Miss Heber fought desperately
and finally managed to release her
throat and screa med for her mother
Mrs. Heber came to the door and. the
man finding help was near ran avav
In the struggle Miss Heber's hat ard
coat were badly torn. The man left
the Heber place through the alley and
went from there to Madison street as
people living in the vicinity Of Laurent
and Madison streets who heard the
screams opened their doors and saw q
man hurrving down towards the rail-
way tracks