The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-08-08
YOUNG woman
DRuGGED' AND TIED
While Family Was Absent She
Was Chloroformed and
Tied to Chair

Kansas City. Aug. S.-As Clara
Baldus, 16 years old, was bending
over gasoline stove to light it in
her home on farm nine miles east
OF independence at 9 o'clock this
morning she heard footsteps behind
her. Before she could turn a hand
seized her throat. wad of cotton was
thrust in her mouth and a handker-
chief was tied Ground her face. Then
she lost consciousness.
When the girl recovered, nearly an
hour later, she was in the dining room,
tied to a chair. Her lips were slight
ly burned and the air of the room
was heavy with the odor of chloro-
form. She freed herself and staggered
to the telephone to call the police Of
independence. Then she became un-
conscious again.
All Alone in the House.
The Baldus home is nine miles east
Of independence on the DANIEL Mason
farm. Joseph Baldus. the father, his
wife and Cora BaldNa, a sister. 10
years old, left early this morning In
a wagon for Kansas City. They had
planned to spend the day here chop
ping. Clara remained at home and
had intended to do some ironing. 1t
was nearly an hour after the family
left when she went to the kitchen to
light the gasoline stove.
Miss Baldus got some matches off a
shelf in the kitchen and then turned
to the stove. Then she heard the foot
steps and the attack followed. To w.
w. Twyman, deputy constable, who
with other officers went to the Baldus
home, she gave this version of the at
tack:
Heard Footsteps.
1T was all quiet. l was all alone.
But I was not afraid as l have been
left alone often on the place. struck
match to light the stove. Then 1
heard the footsteps behinds me. The
next thing knew someone had seized
me and put some cotton in my mouth.
Then he tried to tie handkerchief
around my mouth and I lost con-
sciousness. I can remember waking
up once in the dining room and being
tied to q chair. Then went back
to sleep again. 1t was nearly 10
o'clock before came to, got loose and
telephoned to Independence for the Of
flcerB"
Two Negroes Questioned.
Miss Baldus said she did not see the
man who attacked her. When the
alarm was given, the entire neighbor-
hood turned out to search for the
assailant Two negroes were found
hiding in a cornfield on Joseph Webb's
farm. half male away. They were
questioned by the officers. but, as
there was no evidence OH which to
hold them, they were released.
The motive for the attack Is a mys-
terry. Miss Baldus says she was not
injured except by the drug and the
tying. Nothing is missing from the
farm..
With Revolver, Mask and Gag.
Mise Baldus told the officers she
had seen strange man with revol-
yer, q mask and q gag, near her home
two weekS ago. She paid no attention,
she said.
The girl told the officers she had
no suitOre.
A neighborhood posse of one hun
dred men, most Of them recruited
from stone quarry near the Baldus
home, is searching for the girls as
sailant.
A Mystery to the Parents.
The motive for the attack was a
mystery concerning which the parents
would not venture guess this after
noon. MIR. and Mrs. Baldus, accom-
panied by their daughter, Cora, reach
ed Independence at 4 o'clock on their
way to their home. They had heard
IN Kansas City Of the strange hap
pendng at the farm.
Il cant imagine who attacked my
daughter, unless It was two men seen
near our house two weeks ago." Mr..
Baldus said. These men were loiter-
ing about the premises when my
daughter noticed them. One was car
rying something that she took to be q
mask. Az soon % they saw that they
were observed, they disappeared.
my daughter has no sweethearts
that know of-certainly none with
whom she has quarreled."
Joseph Baftus. the father, is a
SWISS. He is the owner of 30O-acre
farm where he now lives. and owns
several valuable farms in Saline coun-