The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-10
Raids East Ranch, Too.


Raids East Ranch, Too.
Going to the boarding house on the
East ranch. Thomas called for the
foreman who had notified him of his
discharge. When Carlson opened the
door, he said:
"Gus, you're a pretty good fellow,
but you turned me in. so take that
THAT" was shot from the revolver
which struck Carlson in the stomach.
Carlson caught Thomas hand in the
door and had not the other occupants
CT the room been frightened until they
could not move Thomas career could
have been stopped there. But they
rendered 10 assistance and Thomas
finally freed himself. He then fired
several shots toward the bed in which
lay Lens Anderson. but his intended
victim was not injured.
Thomas then turned to the room in
which Tom Gristy, as fate would have
it the first man to identify him when
his arrest came II years later, usually
slept, and fired several shots through
the bed. GriSty slept in the Maple Hill
had started that night and to this fact
probably owes his life.
A rather humorous feature of the
shooting is told in connection with the
man who ran tine boarding house. He
Is David Scott. ScOtchman of the old
school, and when he heard the shooting
inside the house his first thought was
that some of the ranch boys were cele-
ing the window to his bedroom which
was just over the door in which
Thomas stood he leaned out of the
window and shouted in a stern tone:
What the dell is the matter down
there?'
For answer Thomas fired twice at the
window and it is recorded that the win
dow sill was badly strained and wrench
ed where SCOTS head struck it on the
return journey.
After the shooting Thomas remained
IT WabaunSee county nearly two weeks.
Various efforts were made to find him
by a lot of people who did not expect
to find him and in some cases were not
particularly anxious to do so. Thirteen
days after the shooting he was seen
near Templin. He stayed with John
near Alta Vista couple of days, shaw
ing off lis muStache while there. He
turned the horse he rode the night of
the shooting into the Matthews pasture,
near Halifax. and hid the saddle in a
clump of bushes. May 16 he was seen
at VoIland. Alta Vista. and Dwight.
He was last seen in Herington.
Mrs Anna Carlson and her three
children live in Maple Hill today. She
is the widow of one of Thomas vic
tins. After the shooting she and
Carlson were married and they lived
happily for 4 years. Then Carlson,
who had been in bad health since the
shooting died.
Inc capture OF 1nOHlaS, II II proves
to be him, reflects credit upon Sheriff
Ericsson. Since he was first elected
sheriff of Wabaunsee county, now
nearly years ago. Ericsson has de-
clared he would capture Thomas. Ev
cry six months since that time he has
flooded the country with circulars
containing a description and photo
of the wanted man. There is $500
reward for Thomas now. This reward
was $500 shortly after the kill
ing, but 5000 of it has been with
drawn.
Recently the marshal of Stephen
willie, Texas, saw a man who resem-
bled the picture of Thomas and wired
Sheriff Ericsson That official went
to Stephenville. Thomas had gone
to FIT. Worth but the officer followed,
without the slightest clue as to where
he would locate his man. He told
the sheriff at FIT. Worth of the case
and two clever deputies were detail
ed to assist the Wabaunsee county Of
ficer. Thomas was finally arrested on
one of the business streets.
He was taken so quickly that he
had no time to offer resistance. The
journey to Alma was made without
incident.