The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-15

The grief-stricken father of Bullock
came to Lawrence from Kansas City.
He did not know of the affair until he
awakened and read the morning pa
pers. He said that some newspaper
men called at his home in Kansas City
during the night, but he would not
see the visitors because he thought
they wanted to hash up some facts in
connection with the robbery a month
ago
Mr.. Bullock said that when Annie
Blankenship spurned the love of his
son she caused his downfall. ST know
the girl caused Ross to go wrong he
continued, land my wife knows it,
and anyone who knew Ross as a
young man knows that he went wrong
because of her. Ross was good boy.
He never thought Of doing such deeds
until Annie turned him down. He went
wild. His head was turned to reckless
thoughts. He did not care what be-
the love my son bore her, Ross would
not now be lying there dead
Disappointed Love the Cause.
The father lost control of himself
for minute and was overcome with
emotion. Turning with tears in his
eyes. he continued, more in sorrow
than in anger: when I first heard
that Annie turned Ross down I be-
came worried, for I knew how deeply
the boy loved her. Tt was disappointed
love that sent him to his ruin, / know
it. I know it. Nothing else could have
turned his mind. He has been almost
mad since she refused him.
Miss Annie Blankenship, the girl
whom Mr.. Bullock blames, was uneasy.
She was at the office of Edward j.
Killing, a lawyer. Miss Blankenship
said, talking in the presence of her
attorney: 81 went with Ross Bullock
because I thought he was a gentleman.
After keeping company with him for
a short time I learned that he was not
the kind of boy could like.
heard of crimes that he committed in
New Mexico and other places, ane
would have nothing more to do with
him when I learned that.
do you blame me for not wanting
to marry such a MANI" she asked.
lone night he came to Lawrence
my home. He asked me to go back
to Kansas City with him. I told him
no. Then he became angry and said
that he would come back after me
sometime in hack and I would have
to go. That's the last I ever talked
with him.
Miss Blankenship was asked if she
ever loved Ross Bullock and she re-
piled: HE may have loved me, but
that's not my fault. Didn't have the
right to turn him down if I thought
he wasn't the kind of a man for me
to marry. and when my sisters thought
as did %
Sweetheart Aided Detectives.
It has been learned that Miss Blank
enship has sent affectionate letters to
Bullock's sister, Mrs. J. r. Burton,
and the mother, Mrs. Annette Bull
lock. These letters were written at
the instigation OF Lawrence author
tiles, who hoped to use Miss Blanken-
ship as a decoy in finding young Bull
lock. From the progress Miss Blank
enship was making in her letters 1t
is evident that had not Bullock finish
ed his career in a second robbery. he
would undoubtedly have fallen into
the police trap.
Miss Blankenship consented to act
as decoy for the police because she
wanted to see Bullock captured so
that he could not return and do her
bodily harm. The decoy letters were
dictated by Edward Killing and writ
ten and signed by Annie Blankenship.
Following is one of the letters:
Lawrence. Kan, Oct 20
Dear Mrs. Burten:-I will answer
your letter which I received this morn
ing, and was indeed glad to hear from
you, bu. was sorry you feel toward me
as you do. Mrs. Burton, did not mean
a thing by saying those things about
Ross, because I like him just as well
as I ever did. / will always take his
part. Now you know, Mrs. Burton, f
I had told the newspaper men who
came to me right after this trouble that
loved Ross and was engaged to be
married to him they would surely think
he had told me all about his troubles
before t happened. and would be watch
irg every move I made. thinking that
!. knew where he was. I did not want
the newspaper men or the officers to
did thinking it was the best thing for