Chicago Herald-American, Sept 6

Madman Sprays Gas on 9 in Mattoon

MATTOON, Ill. Sept. 6 (Special) -- A strange paralysis gas sprayed by a "mad anesthetist" felled three more townspeople today and the toll in Mattoon's reign of terror reached nine as many citizens sought safety in second floor bedrooms.
A clue to the mysterious marauder's technique was offered when Mrs. Carl Cordes, returning with her husband to their home on the northeast side of town, noticed a cloth on the front porch and picked it up to examine it.
As she held the cloth close to her face she was overcome. Her husband carried her into the house and revived her. A physician's examination revealed severe burns on her lips, throat and the roof of her mouth.
Poisoned as they slept were Mr. and Mrs. Urban Raef. As in the previous attacks, which began on the Labor Day week-end, their assailant forced the gas through the screen covering their open bedroom window, obviously using some type of high pressure spray gun.

SEMI-CONSCIOUS 4 HOURS

Mrs. Cordes, who operates a lunch room, remained semi-conscious and unable to move or talk for nearly four hours.
From reports of the victims' reaction to the strange gas, spokesmen for the Army Chemical Warfare Service in Chicago surmised the prowler might be using chloropicrin, a commercial gas often used by exterminators and easily obtainable.
Chloropicrin has a sweet smell, like that described by the Mattoon sufferers, and lingers for some time on cloth.
Until Raef became the first male victim, Chief of Police C.E. Cole believed the attacker probably was a sex maniac as the other victims were women, except in one case where two children were overcome as they slept at their mother's side.
In view of the attack on Raef, Chief Cole said the fiend may be a scientist gone berserk. The chief said, however, the prowler with the gas machine may have believed Mrs. Raef to be alone as he could easily have failed to sight Raef in the dark bedroom.
The Raefs' account of their eerie experience paralleled that of the other victims. They were awakened in the middle of the night by a feeling of nausea, similar to that encountered by hospital patients emerging from anesthesia. They found themselves in the grip of partial paralysis.

MOTHER, CHILDREN GASSED

Mrs. George Rider, wife of the night clerk at the postoffice here, and her two children were also subjected to the strange gas. Mrs. Rider reported it made her light-headed and that the children became extremely nervous.
Mrs. Bert Kearney, and her sister, Mrs. Edgar Reedy, said the prowler came to their home twice within an hour and one-half. On the first occasion he fled as Mrs. Kearney, who heard him on the porch, summoned police. -- Wednesday, September 6, page 4