Gastonia, May 31—One of the most sensational attempts at burglary or attempted assault reported to the Gastonia police recently took place Sunday night at 11 o’clock in Love Heights when an unknown party attempted to terrorize Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Thompson by threatening to enter the house and shoot them if they moved, turn on the light or tried to telephone. The marauders were frighted away when Mr. Thompson shot at them once. No clues as to their identity have been discovered. The facts as related by Mr. Thompson are as follows:
Mr. Thompson had retired early and had gone to sleep when Mrs. Thompson, who sat up reading, came to bed about 11 o’clock. He waked up when shed turned out the light and at the same moment a voice came through the open window at the side of the bed, saying with an oath: “Don’t move or I’ll kill you both!”
INTRUDER SHOT AT
Mr. Thompson said that he instantly dropped to the floor and made his way to the dresser where he kept a pistol. He went to the bath room and fired once from the bath room window. This shot did not phase the intruder but infuriated him. Mr. Thompson in the meantime, exhibiting a coolness which was remarkable, sprang to the window, pulled on the sash and curtain, and was at the telephone calling for aid. The burglar, unhit by Mr. Thompson’s shot, punched into the window and slashed the screen and threatened to come in and kill them both. In the meantime, Mrs. Thompson had gotten central and informed her of the situation and asked that she arouse the residents of Love Heights, all the ‘phones being on one line. The negro—the general supposition being that it was a negro—heard the conversation and is reported to have said: “You need not try to ‘phone. All the wires are cut.” He is also alleged to have said as if speaking to a companion, “Tom, you go around to the other side of the house and watch it.”
In the meantime, the central office’s prolonged ringing had aroused John L. Page, Fred M. Allen, and L.A. Brown, all of whom live nearby. Just before Mr. Page arrived, the assailant or assailants fled to the woods back of Mr. Love’s house. The police were also shortly on the scene with bloodhounds from Dallas and were brought over in a short time and put on the track. The trial was followed for a mile and a half and in the general direction of Linwood College, but was lost. One suspect was captured, but it is not thought that he had any connection with the affair at all.
BLOOD STAINS FOUND
Blood stains were found on the window this morning and it is presumed that the intruder was badly cut when he smashed the window.
Opinions as to the identity, where white or black, of the intruder differ. The Thompsons were unable to tell from the voice as heard through the window. Some think that the intruder was a drunk or doped negro as the brazenness of the attack precludes the thought of a sane man attempting such a thing. The fact that Mr. Thompson shot and he was not frightened adds to the plausibility to this statement. Not until he heard the telephone conversation did he think that it was time for him to get away. On the other hand, it is pointed out that his attempt to intimidate the inmates of the house, the methods used and the carefulness with which he had worked out his plans of a telephone by saying that he had cut the wires adds to this theory.
From The Charlotte News, May 31, 1921
No comments:
Post a Comment