The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-24

of the road. Put the money as near
the light as you can, then you can re-
turn home. You will find light out
from one to twenty miles. so if you do
this and the way we tell you. you will
see no one, and meet with no harm.
But remember you are being
watched all the time, and we can
protect you and yours only when you
follow these instructions. Again we
LA MONA NERA."
The envelope in which the first let
ter was sent to Mr. Hammatt was adj
dressed to Mr.. & Mrs. T. D. Ham
matt" ION typewriter) with the address.
1924 Polk street, written with lead pencil,
Mr.. Hammatt informed the police
| The sheriff's office was also notified.
He also secured the services Of James
West, of the Thiel Detective Service
| company, of Kansas City. who has a
striking personal resemblance to Mr..
Hammatt. Wednesday afternoon the
detective went to the Hammatt home
and at $40 O'Clock rode forth on the
to accept this role only after much
persuasion on the part Of the local Of
| ficers.
| War Correspondents.
| The officers in automobiles followed
the man on the horse some distance
behind. The Topeka avenue road was
] followed. The press car forged ahead
| Of the others. When about mile and
ne-half north of Pauline the war cor
respondents decided they were too far
| in advance Of the line of battle. They
had scrutinized every nook and Granny
along the way and had watched close
ly every dark hedge or weed patch
but no flashlight had been detected.
They held a council of war and de-
cided that the driver should make a
pretense of repairing a break, while
they waited for the procession to over
take them. The car with Sheriff
Kiene passed them. Later the car
bearing Chief Ross went by. The
seen approaching. But instead of
coming on, it apparently turned.
Later it's lights could be seen again
headed toward the press car, but the
lights were stationary.
Ah-h-A Pistol Shot.
Suddenly a pistol shot rang out and
after a short interval two or three
more were heard in rapid succession.
The press car was cranked and turned
and raced in the direction of the shots.
1t met and passed the car containing
Dan Hammatt and Burt Reed who
were only a short distance from the
scene of the shooting and driving fast
away from it.
little way further, after passing a
small bridge the newspaper men over
ed at the side of the road and held a
pistol in his hand. He was greatly ex-
cited and it was difficult to get any
intelligent answers from him. He de-
clared that he had seen the flashlight
flash three times right in the middle
Of the road and that he had fired at
the light, turning his horse at the
same time and racing up the road. A
farmer nearby says he saw the flashes
of the pistol shots and that some OF
Them If not all of them, were fired in
the air.
Thanking Maneuvers.
Dan Hammatt and Burt Reed, who
had driven by, turned their car and
arrived back on the scene about the
same time Chief Ross and Detective
Lyle and the other members of the
party arrived; After ter cons. considerable e's;
in at the spot indicated by the detec-
tive as the place where he had seer
the flashlight. The place proved to
be on a bridge with a plank floor and
!. high enough for a man to stand under
, it. Mr.. Hood got down under the
bridge and discovered a flashlight or
the ground at point directly under
the west side of the bridge. The but
, ton used in manipulating the light had
! been removed. Around the spring
which makes the necessary contact te
produce a light a piece of cord had
been wrapped in such a manner thai
the affair could be placed on the
bridge over a crack and the light
turned on by pulling the string. Wher
the string was released the light would
: fail. A man could stand under the
3 bridge and still have q fair view o1
! the road, and could manipulate the
t light without danger of being shot b,
E anyone firing at the light.
i closed by q fence which no man in q
/ ! hurry would attempt to scale. Tit
r ground to-the west was very muddy Nc
e man could have retreated in that direc