The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-18
USED A BRICK,
Murderous Assault at the Or
phans Home.
Mrs. Emma COnnors, Victim.
Unable to Explain.
WAS NOT A BURGLAR.
Police Satisfied That Purpose
Was to Murder.
Clues Which May Lead to an
Arrest.
WAS NOT A BURGLAR.

Revenge, perhaps murder, was the
intention of the man who. about 2
O'Clock last night, entered the Or
phans home and assaulted Mrs. Emma
Connors. cook at the home. OF this
much the police are certain. But as
to whether Mrs. Connors or Mrs May
Hattie, formerly cook at the home,
was the object of the hatred of the in
truder is as yet a matter of conjec-
ture. Things are moving rapidly in
the case, however, and it is not un-
likely that it will soon be known just
who it was the early morning visitor
wished to kill when he entered the
brick building at PA Fillmore.
Before his assault upon the cook at
the institution the man walked all
over the house. His footprints were
found after the assault. But beyond
taking the doiley off a table with
which to wrap the brick he used in
ASA ulting Mrs. Connors. nothing was
disturbed. Robbery was not the pur-
pose of the man.
1t was a blow with the brick wrap
ped in the doiley that awoke Mrs.
Connors. The blood coursed down her
face when she started to leave her
bed and her first thought was that she
had nosebleed. Then she saw the
man. who it is believed. committed
the assault. by the aid of light which
burned in the hall. She saw him only
dimIy and then he struck her again on
the back of the head and later another
time on the shoulder.
She screamed for help then and the
wouldbe murderer fed. Miss Ebey
the matron of the home, heard fren-
zied cries and leaving her bed on the
second floor, started down the stair to
learn what caused the disturbance
She reached the landing halfway to
the first floor, and there she stood
frozen to the spot with terror, while
the most terrifying cries came from
Mrs. Connors' ROOM While standing
there she heard the front door click
and later, the screams having become
less loud. she went to Mrs Connors'
bed. Mrs. Connors was found bleed
ing from her wounds.
The police were called and the re-
mainder of the night was spent in
searching the city for some one who
would answer the meager description
given but no clue was secured last
night upon which an arrest could be
made. Mrs. ConnorS was too excited
to tell nationally of her experience.
May Make an Arrest.
This morning the case was taken
up again and facts disclosed that may
lead to an arrest Mrs. Connors has
been employed at the home since last
enemy in the world and says she has
had no trouble with anyone. How
ever, she does not live with her hus-
band He is employed at a ranch, she
letter from him only recently Her
children, of whom she SAYS she has
three, are in Omaha.
Previous to Mrs. Connors' employ
ment as cook at the home the cooking
was done by Mrs. May Hattie Mrs
Hattie, according to the police has
had considerable domestic trouble. The
recent marriage of her son displeased
her and there was afterward trouble
between Mrs. Hattie and her daughter
in-iaw because the girl had promised
to join the Catholic church after her
marriage to Mrs. Hattie's son and had
refused to do this after the marriage
had occurred.
The two women resemble each 9TH
er signify and might readily be taken
for each other if in bed and asleep.
Mrs. COnnorS occupied the bed Mrs
Hattie occupied until last Friday. In
case the would-be murderer wished to
do Mrs Hattie harm and did not know
that she had left the home he might
easily be misled into thinking Mrs
Connors was the woman.
Entering the house by removing a
screen from an open window in the
kitchen, the man who assaulted Mrs.
Connors, went leisurely about the
house until he found the victim he
sought. Mounting the back stairs he
passed the door of the room usually
occupied by Miss Ebey, the matron, he
passed another door to the room in
which Miss Ebey and the children
slept. Lights were burning in the hall
and room and he could plainly see
that the object of his search was not
in that ROOM
Descending by the front stair he re-
turned to the hall which runs along
the north side of the house and in her
room found Mrs Connors asleep. The
light was turned on in the hall and
he could see her in bed. near the
door. 1t was then the first blow, the
on which awoke Mrs Connors. was
struck. She awoke and probably owes
her life to this fact, as otherwise it
is believed the man would have beaten
her head to a pulp and left the build
ing without his presence having been
discovered.
Every available man is at work on
the case under the direction of Chief
of Police Jenkins Detective VoileS
was today instructed to sift the case
to the bottom and Voiles and Detec-
tive Goff are hard at work upon it
now. running down clues which. it
il confidently believed, will result
sooner or later in the arrest of the
man who did the job. More men will
be set to work on the case tonight
Detectives Hutton and Ross are al
ready at work on the case
I'VE will run this thing down" said
Chief Jenkins this morning. If il
keeps US busy for month We will
find the man who did that job. There
was no intention of robbery. The
man who did that had murder in his
heart 1t is some one with whom the
women at the Orphans'h home have had
trouble. Likely it is someone with
whom Mrs. Hattie or Mrs. Connors
has had trouble. Something is being
withheld from US. but we will get il
and find the man. no matter how long
i. takes.
This is the house in which the Rod
gers murder was committed for which
the burglar Oliphant, was lynched.
Queen Lii Again Loses.