The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-08

mental creamery, and although the
neighborhood is quiet and orderly in
| the daytime, it is the rendezvous of
| loose characters after dark.
! Last night several neighbors were
/ collected the Fitzgibbons porch,
and when the owner of the house en-
/ he discovered the rooms choked with
smoke. The fire department had been
summoned so many times that he
heSitated about giving the alarm, and
dashed to the cellar which was
wreathed in flames. Drawers from an
old wardrobe had been piled together
and. fed, by rolls of paper which the
gang had brought, were blazing mer-
rily. Men and women thronged to the
rescue, and the fire vas soon put out.
Four times lately the house has
been in flames, and at least dozen
anonymous notes have been found
in different parts of the Fitzgibtun
home. This morning the following
scrawl was found between the door
and the screen: I'VE passed you IN
the yard three times last night. but
your wife was on the watchout- Well
come again. And tell 231 it was
good thing he had his door locked. L
i Tee yo Was W ggne % PTfrS Gang.
All the epistles have been written
in the same hand, but on different
kinds of paper. Mrs. Fitzgibbon ad-
vances the theory that one member
of the crew writes the notes, and the
others trace his writing: the letters
have apparently been gone over several
times.
duced Mrs. Fitzgibbon to a state Of
collapse. When a reporter Knocked at
the door a frightened voice inquired in
a whisper, Who's there?"
Then the door was unbolted, and the
reporter ushered into a close house with
windows locked and shades drawn.
Fitzgibbons is spending the day confer
ring with the police, the small son has
been sent to his grandmother's home,
and Mrs Fitzgibbons keeps her little
girl constantly by her side.
10 Miller, who lives in the house re-
ferred to as "231,' has also discovered
several notes of a threatening nature,
and has been robbed several times.
Both houses are owned by John Rup-
pei and it is possible that the maraud-
ers have q personal grudge against
him. None of the other homes have
been molested.
Other notes received by the Fitz-
gibbons have impaired such cheerful
information as, Tell the police, We'll
come anyhow or "Give us the money,
or we'll take your heads
That the outrages are committed by
an unskilled crew of ruff1ans is the
general opinion, but the police should
certainly be able to do away with such
a menace to life. peace. and the pur-
suit of happiness"
of the month into a brick cottage they
are building the Lakin tract. The
house is kept locked, and has been in
sured; bricks, mortar and tools have dis
appeared, however, as the men have lit
tie taste in their selection of booty.
Despite the frequent visits of the nys-
ferrous men only twice have they been
sighted. Once Mrs. Fftzgibbon saw a fe:-
low hiding in the inky darkness by the
dining room window, and later discovered
that the screen had been cut The other
time man, who quickly disappeared,
was seen prowling about the back door.
James F'ftzgibbons is a brick layer, has
no enemies, and cannot understand the
reason he is being harassed. Formerly
a heavy sleeper he hardly dares close his
eyes, and is almost a nervous wreck.
Although no personal injury has yet
been done. the nerves of the neighborlo-d
are edge, and traps are being planned
for the capture of the thieves.