The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-06-06
HELPS BURGLAR ROB HER OWN
HOME.
A Former Leon Lady Assists Chi
cago Burglar to Rob Her Own
House to Save Husband
and Children.


and Children.
One of the coolest and bravest
acts We have heard of for long
time was that of Mrs. Mary Robin
son Kuhns, of Chicago, who will be
remembered as a resident of Leon
a number of years ago, her mother,
Mrs. Mary Robinson, now Mrs. B. F.
Bates, of Charlton, being neice of
Capt. j. A. Ray. The Chicago Tri-
bune tells of the strange affair as
follows:
At 2 o'clock yesterday morning
Mrs. John c.. Kuhns, whose husband
is assistant purchasing agent OF the
Illinois Central railroad, entered in
to and carried out the terms of an
honorable agreement with burglar.
The agreement was mcde in Mrs.
Kuhn's boudoir at her residence,
1920 Luella avenue, by the glare OF
the burglars flashlight. In cham
Der adjoining slept the woman's
husband AID two children in blissful
ignorance of what was happening.
The agreement was something like
this: Mrs. Kuhns was not to grow
historical, cry out, or waken her
husband In return the burglar was
not to murder Mrs. Kuhns or modest
her husband.
And in the fulfilment of her part
of the compact Mrs. Kuhns proceeded
to turn over her valuables, slip into
the chamber beside her sleeping hus-
band. remove his trousers, rifle them
of $40, break open the banks of her
two children, push the contents into
the hands of the robber, and then
escort that person to the front door
and bid him good night.
"Why did l do it," Mrs. Kuhns
repeated last night. "Please remem-
Der the case of Clarence H. Hitler a
year and half ago. He was chief
clerk in the freight department Of
the Rock Island road and our neigh
bor One night negro burglar en-
tered the room of his two daughters
in their house out here. Mr.. Hitler,
awakened by his wife and the cries
of the children, ran up and seized
the robber. Mr.. Hitler was killed.
The burglar, Thomas Jennings, was
hanged on finger print evidence for
his murder.
THAT all came to me when I saw
the white circle of the burglars cleo
trio lantern creep slowly across my
dressing table. l sat up in bed. The
burglar threw the binding light in
my face. In his hand was revolver.
"If you scream, lady, I'll have to
kill you," he said. I wanted to
scream. But l didn't. After a while l
said: My husband and children are
asleep in the next room. Please
don't wake them. I'll do anything
you say"
"He pulled out the dresser draw
ers, found a few trinkets, put them
in his pocket and then started for
the door of my husbands room.
'Where are you going?" l asked
him. I think he said, Through the
house,
"You promise me you'll sit right
here and I get you everything of
value we have" I replied. 81 know
where everything is and I don't want
anybody to get hurt
'He thought awhile and then
promised He sat down in the CHAIR
with his revolver on the door as I
softly opened it. l went to a chair
beside my husbands bed He moved
in his sleep and held out his hand.
stroked it quietly while l reached
with the other hand for his trousers
Then slipped back to my own room.
eve went through the pockets
the burglar and l together. We
found purse and $40. I gave it
to the burglar Then I went back to
the children's room. I took their
two little banks and gave them to
the man.
He wanted to go out window of
the dining room, as he had come,
but I induced him to tiptoe down
the stairs and opened the front door.
Thanks lady," he said.
Good night" I replied and shut
the door.
"Then I went and wakened my
husband. I waited until the burglar
could get safely away so there was
nothing for Mr.. Kuhns to do but tel
ephone the police
While walking down a crowded city
street the other day,
I heard a little urchin to a comrade
turn and say:
Say, Jimmie, don't yer know I'd be
as happy as clam,
If only was the Teller that my mud
der thinks I am
"She thinks l am a wonder and knows
her little lad
/ Would never mix with nottin' dat
was ugly, mean, or bad,
/ often sit and t'ink how nice 'twould
be-gee whiz,
If Teller was de Teller dat his mud
der thinks he isl