Chicago Daily News, Sept 9

MATTOON POSSE NEARLY CATCHES 'MAD' PHANTOM
Terrorist Outruns Armed Group After Girl, 11, Gives Alarm

BY LOIS THRASHER
Special Dispatch from a Staff Correspondent
Mattoon, Ill. Sept. 9 -- New forays by the ghostly poison gas man of Mattoon, in which seven more persons were victims of the mysterious fumes, brought this little city into a state of alarm again today. The prowler narrowly escaped capture during the night.
One result of the night's activities was that reporters, policemen and searchers were made ill by the violent poison.
The list of persons directly affected by the fumes has grown to 22. A 24-hour daily vigil and search for the man who sprays gaseous fumes through the screens of Mattoon homes, however, has left the case entirely a mystery.

Terrorist Finally Sighted.

Citizens armed with shotguns and rifles hunted the raider through the night after he was seen near the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Driskell, 2320 DeWitt rd. Their daughter, Ramona, 11, heard a noise outside a window of their one-story bungalow, the family dashed out to see about it and neighbors came with shotguns. The men ran on in the direction in which the prowler had fled, but didn't catch up with him. The yard was full of the fumes, however, and young Ramona was severely ill.
A storm window had been taken from the Driskell window, and it was believed that the prowler intended to spray the poison into the house.

Victims Fifth Time.

One family was attacked last night for the fifth time--after a gas foray on Wednesday and three separate attempts Thursday. Miss Frances Smith, principal of Columbian Grade School, her sister, Maxine, and their mother, Mrs. Jane Smith, were the victims. They became so paralyzed temporarily that they were unable to lift their hands from their beds. Others who were reported as victims of attacks today were Mrs. Russell Bailey, Katherine Tuzzo, Mrs. Genevieve Haskell and her young son Wayne. All were at the Bailey home when the gas fumes were suddenly spread there early today. All three women were made ill.
The gas has an odor like a light perfume, and this reporter and other reporters and Mattoon policemen can testify first-hand as to its violent effect. As we stood near the Driskell home last night, the gas remaining in the yard struck us. We became weak at the knees, our eyes lost focus; lips swelled. Headache and nausea followed.
One clue failed to yield evidence. Richard Piper, state safety bureau official, reported that examination of a cloth believed left by the prowler at one house failed to show the presence of any chemical. -- Saturday, September 9, page 1