The Marshall republican., 1910-08-12
Drugged and
Tied a Girl.
Clara Baldus, 16 Year Old,
Attacked on a jackson
County Farm.

| Inc story OF SENSATIONAL attack
on Miss Clara Baldus, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Jos. Baldus, who
moved to Independence last May,
appeared in Fridays Kansas City
Star. The Baldus family came here
from Belleville, ILL.,, many years
ago and were among Saline's well
known and prominent families. The
following is taken from the Star:
AS Clara Baldus, 16 years old,
was bending over asoline stove
to light it in her home on a farm
nine miles east of independence
at nine o'clock this morning she
heard footsteps behind her. Be-
fore she could turn hand seized
her throat, wad of cotton was
thrust in her mouth and a handker
chief was tied around her face.
Then she lost consciousness.
When the girl recovered, near
ly an hour later, she was in the
dining room, tied to a chair. Her
lips were slightly burned and the
air of the room was heavy with the
odor of chloroform. She freed her
self and staggered to the phone
to call the police of Independence
Then she became unconscious
again.
The Baldus home is nine miles
east of independence on the Daniel
Mason farm. Joseph Baldus, the
father, his wife and Cora Baldus,
a sister, 10 rears old, left early
this morning in a wagon for Kan
bsas City. They had planned to
spend the day here shopping.
/ Clara remained at home and had
intended to do some ironing. 1t
was nearly an hour after the fam
lily left when she went to the kit
chen to light the gasoline stove.
Miss iBaldus got some matches
off q shelf in the kitchen and then
4 turned to the stove. Then she
heard the footsteps and the attack
4 followed. TO w. W. Twyman, q
ldeputy constable, who with other
fofticers went to the Baldus home
4 Size gave this version Of the attack
+ "t was all quiet. / was all alone
But was not afraid as had been
left alone often on the place. I
struck a match to light the stove.
Then I heard the footsteps behind
me. The next thing I knew some
one had seizred me and put the
cotton in my mouth.
"Then he tried to tie handker
chief around my mouth and lost
consciousness. can remember
waking up once in the dining room
and being tied to a chair. Then ]
went back to sleep again. 1t was
nearly 10 o'clock before l came to
got loose and telephoned to Inde-
pendence for the officers"
Miss Baldus said she did not see
the man who attacked her. Wher
the alarm was given, the entire
neighborhood turned out to search
for the assailant. Two negroes
were found hiding in a cornfield
on Joseph Webb's farm a half mile
: away. They were questioned by
the officers but as there was nc
evidence on which to hold them
they were released.
The motive for the attack is g
mystery. Miss Baldus says she
was not injured excopt by the drug
and the tying. Nothing is missing
from the farm.
, Miss Baldus told the officers she
had seen strange man with a re.
volver, mask and a gag, neal
her home two weeks ago. She
paid no attention, she said. After
the attack this morning shepherd
dog, thoroughly cowed, was found
in an upstairs room of the house
The animal does not belong to the
Baldus family or to any of the
neighbors.
The girl told the officers sh, haC