Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-23
Attacks of Church Yard
Apache Cause Reign of
Fright in City.
PR0WLER TRAILS GIRL
Grace Brandt, Daughter of Pas
tor, Finds Home Haven
From Man Following Her.

yard Apache has created a reign of
terror in Aurora.
With the murders of Theresa Hol-
lander and Jennie Miller still unsolv-
ed mysteries and with the assailant
of aged Mrs. Martha Thompson still
at large, women are afraid to walk
the streets of this peaceful city alone
after dark
If they are obliged to be abroad in
the darkness they either demand po-
lice or citizen escorts or scurry af-
frightedly down the middle of the
street, never pausing for fear of be-
holding behind them the shape that
has claimed two lives and attempted
possibly two more. The men talk of
lynching in case of capture.
Pastors Daughter in Peril.
In his latest exploit the unidentified
male vampire picked out for his vic
tim the young and pretty daughter of
an Aurora minister, Miss Mary Brandt,
whose father, Rev. Frank E. Brandt,
is pastor of Trinity Episcopal church.
She escaped unharmed.
The Brandt home adjoins Trinity
church, in the heart of the fashionable
street and Lincoln avenue, just half
block from the Free Methodist
church, near where Jennie Miller was
struck down.
Miss Brandt was returning from
neighboring drug store shortly after
dark Sunday when She encountered
the prowler.
He was lurking in the shadows of
her fathers church and started after
her when she passed.
Fearing that he intended to attack
her, she quickened her pace.
AS she ran up the front steps of her
home the man was at her heels.
Attempts Entry to House.
He even tried to go into the house,
but she slammed the door in his face.
He muttered threats of violence and
even sought to force his way in, but
Miss Brandt had made sure she had
bolted it.
Almost hysterical from fright, she
began to scream.
When members of her family came
rushing into the front hall they found
her in a swoon on the floor.
Outside Rev. Mr.. Brandt saw the
form of the girls would
be assailant as he beat hasty retreat
across the front lawn.
He dashed in pursuit. The man,
however, proved too fleet of foot and
easily threw the minister off his trail.
Darkness aided in his escape.
Resembles Miller Slayer.
When Miss Brandt was finally re-
vived she gave a description of the |
man that, it was later learned, tailed |
in many ways with that of the man |
sought by the police IN connection |
with the Miller murder.
In view of the fact that the at |
attack followed SO closely |
after the attack on Mrs. Thompson
night, the police are almost
convinced murder maniac is at large /
in the city.
When they learned of the Brandt
incident they Immediately set to work
to trail down the stranger.
Citizens were impressed and a search
Of the neighborhood in the vicinity of
the Brandt home was made without
result.
News of the attempted attack
1dSneQ dDOuL Tue CITY SeINcu lul luSl
70 arouse the community.
It's downright shame we did not
get the fellow this time,'' declared
Rev. Mr.. Brandt. There is no telling
what / might have done had / gotten
ny hands on him. The fact that my
laughter retreated into the house
saved her.
Mora Policemen Needed.
Aurora is not a bad town, but we
iave too few policemen. Thirty po-
icemen, no matter how efficient, are
lot enough to patrol a city of $4,000.
S it any wonder our women are un-
iafe?'
His criticisms are being voiced by
'ther residents. 1t Is expected many
# the civic clubs will take up the ap-
zeal for additional police and better
lighting system when Mayor Sanders
md the council meet tomorrow.
Many members of women's clubs
re advocating the carrying of revol-
ers by members OF their sex.
Chief of Police Michels was in Chi
ago all day for the purpose of inter
epting Samuel Strong. the Illinois
'entral train porter who found Jennie
Iiller's handbag the morning after
he was waylaid.
Strong was expected to arrive in
'hicago at night. He will be asked
0 appear before Chief of Detectives