The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-02
SAVED BY SCREAM
Florence BOttiger's Shrill Cries
Frustrate Kidnapper.
Three Times Strange Man Seeks
Her Out.
THREE MEN HELD UP
Revolver Play in Third Attempt
Causes Real Fright.
First Saw Mysterious Person
VESra 10
THREE MEN HELD UP
First Saw Mysterious Person
Staring Through Window.

Lawrence, Kan, May 2-Some one
has been trying for the last three
weeks to carry off Miss Florence Bot
tiger, a pretty freshman whose home Is
in Sabetha, Kan. Whether the man, or
men, are intending to kidnap the girl
and hold her for ransom, or whether
some young man who is in love with
her hopes to carry her off on black
charger in true medieval style, is more
than Miss Bottiger knows. But she
doesn't believe 1t is any disappointed
sutton. because nothing about the man
who has tried to carry her off was at
all familiar.
About three weeks ago, while Miss
Bottiger was sitting in the parlor of the
boarding house in which she lives mere
one night reading, she glanced up from
her book. She fancied she saw the dim
outline of a face at the window, but
when she looked again saw nothing.
and decided that the shadowy face mao
been the creation of her own magma
ton A few minutes later Miss Bot
tiger glanced at another W1ndoW, %
see the same face peering through the
glass.
A few DAYS later Miss Bottiger stroll
ed downtown after supper, accom-
panied by a girl friend. AS they were
returning, shortly after dark, Two men
sprang at them from a side street one
of them seized Miss Bottiger by the
You come with me-"
Fancied 1t Was a Joke.
The girl pulled away, half laughing
and wondering what foolish freshman
boy was trying to brighten her. she ana
| her friend ran a little way, and, as the
men did not follow went nome Will
| out further interruption.
has led the girl to believe she is really
| being pursued, happened after a dance
| a week ago. The moon was bright Wnen
| Miss Bottiger and her escort OF the
evening, William Moore of Chapman;
| Kan. a Junior in the college, reached
the girls boarding house here. They
| paused a minute and Moore started TO
say good night and tell Miss Bottiger
| what a good time he had had. BeIore
| he had finished a man with a placK
mask over his face vaulted over the
railing and. stepping close to both STUD
ents, covered them with revolver
I've got you and you're coming with
me-" he said to Miss Bottiger, and TO
| Moore: you get out of this and Keep
your head shut
A Scream Was Timely.
| Moore hesitated, but he had no sort
of weapon.
| Back off" he said, land keep your
hands up" and Moore obeyed. The
| masked man followed him a few steps
to see that his orders were obeyed- AS
he left her side Miss Bottiger began to
scream.
Two men who lived in the house ran
out, and as they did so the man with
the revolver turned and covered them.
| Stand back and hold up your
hands," he told them.
| He hesitated a minute, then evidently
| deciding it would not be safe to carry
| off the girl with so many witnesses
| looking on, backed off the porch and off
into the shadow keeping the group on
| the porch covered until he was out OF
sight.
| Where Were Police.
| Miss Bottiger says she has no idea
| who the masked stranger was Friday
night, her friends say, two policemen
| ''shadowed'' her home from the junior
prom to see that there was no repeti-
ton of the kidnapping attempt. Miss
Bottiger's escort, however, says that II
| the arms of the law were around he
failed to see them.
| Miss Bottiger is the daughter OF
| Richard Bottiger, mayor of Sabetha,
| He is a rich retired farmer. This is the
/ girls first year at the university and
| she has been very popular. Miss Bot
tiger is unusually pretty.
| Sabetha, Kan, May 2.-Miss Florence
| Bottiger, daughter of Mayor Richard
| Bottiger is at home for the weekend
vacation given by the University OF
Kansas and to attend the wedding of a
girl friend. She does not know who the
| man was who attempted twice to kid
| nap her in Lawrence a week ago, nor
can she give any reason for the at
| tempt. Miss Bottiger will return to
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