June 26, 1908 ROCK PILE FOR GUN TOTERS.
Independence Police Judge Orders Marshal to Bring 'Em All In.
Independence has started a rock pile and the city marshal and Police Judge Peacock say they expect to pick up every "gun toter" in town to break rock for the county road connections with city streets. When Edward Howard, a negro, said in police court yesterday that he had been guilty of carrying a pistol Judge Peacock turned on the full current. The negro whineed under the fine of $150 imposed by the court.
"There will be nothing less in this court for pistol carrying offenders," said Judge Peacock. He instructed Marshal Combs to round up the pistol "toters."
The crusade against carrying concealed weapons was started by the Independence Commercial Club. The club sent a recommendation to the mayor regarding the practice and asked him to have the ordinance against concealed weapons enforced.Labels: courtroom, crime, Independence, Judge Peacock, organizations June 14, 1908 ROBBER SHOOTS FLOOD VICTIM.
Fred Liggett Meets Double Disaster. Condition is Serious.
Compelled to leave home on account of the flood, Fred Liggett, 3412 Guinotte avenue, and his brother-in-law, P. Donohue, have been sleeping in the Kemper elevator in the East bottoms. Last night at 11 o'clock the two men were on their way to the elevator when two strangers confronted them with drawn revolvers. Donahue ran when ordered to hold up his hands.
Fred Liggett fought the robbers and was shot in the groin. After the shooting the robbers went through Liggett's pockets, but did not get anything. The holdup occurred on the Chicago & Alton tracks one-half mile east of Heim's brewery. Liggett was taken to St. Joseph's hospital for medical aid. His condition is considered serious.Labels: crime, flood, Guinotte avenue, railroad, violence June 12, 1907 NEGRO WHO ROBBED ACTOR KOLKER CAUGHT.
J. H. ANDREWS FLED TO PARIS WITH MONEY AND JEWELS.
Stole Bag Containing $1,000 in Money and $2,500 Worth of Jewels in Sexton Hotel Cafe Last April.
After a successful flight that entailed many narrow escapes from pursuing officers, and on an itinerary through St. Louis, Chicago, New York and Liverpool, J. H. Andrews, negro, the Sexton hotel waiter who robbed Henry and Mrs. Kolker, actors, of $3,500 in money and jewels while they were taking lunch in the cafe the night of April 22, was captured in Paris yesterday. Andrews was a postcard fiend, it is said, and the fact that he constantly sent them to a negro woman in this city was the cause of his undoing.
Local police authorities give Patrolman Daniel Keenan credit for the capture of Andrews. A few hours after the negro's flight from the city, Keenan somehow discovered the woman friend and obtained from her a promise to help him discover his whereabouts.
Taking a tip from her, he went to the Union depot, where she said Andrews had taken a train for St. Louis. There Keenan discovered the negro had purchased a ticket for St. Louis , but that it had never been taken up on the train. The patrolman then believed, he says, that he was working on a blind lead and, returning, told the woman about it.
"Oh, that's all right," she assured Keenan. "He is one of those postcard fiends and if we wait awhile we will hear from him that way," and the policeman decided to wait, as there was nothing else to do.
The following day the negress called police headquarters and wanted Keenan.
"First card," she said. "I think he is going on through St. Louis, for he did not give his address."
The next card received by the woman came from Chicago, the next from Buffalo and then one from New York. There was a long interval before the one from Liverpool arrived. Even that one did not give an address, and the name signed was merely "Andrews," in a protracted scrawl.
The post card from Paris arrived Wednesday. It bore on the back a few words of greeting and the street address of the rooming house where Andrews was stopping, followed by a line asking for a letter from his woman friend. This was turned over to Patrolman Keenan, who cabled at once to the police headquarters at Paris asking Andrew's arrest on a grand larceny charge.
A cablegram telling of the negro's arrest by Parisian police came addressed to Keenan at police headquarters yesterday morning, and word has been returned to hold Andrews for extradition.
Henry Kolker was playing an engagement with the Barker Stock Company at the Shubert theater the week of April 22. It was after the play on the night of that date that he and Mrs. Kolker, accompanied by a woman friend, went into the cafe of the Sexton hotel, where they were stopping for supper.
Mrs. Kolker carried a large purse-handbag, which contained the money, 10 $100 bills and jewels. They sat at a small table, upon which there was not room for the handbag. Mrs. Kolker placed the bag on the floor beside her, and the three remained in the cafe until all the other patrons had gone. It was near closing time when they finished their supper, and in the hurry of departure Mrs. Kolker left the bag behind.
It was an hour later that she discovered her loss, which was at once reported to the hotel people and the police.
Detectives at work on the case next morning found that J. H. Andrews, a negro waiter, had suddenly left the hotel. In his rooms they found Mrs. Kolker's empty bag and letters which led them to believe the negro had gone to St. Louis.
Mr. Kolker said he carried a large sum of money because he was preparing to leave for Australia, where he had a theatrical engagement. He was to have sailed the latter part of may, but the loss of his savings made it necessary to cancel the engagement. He offered a $500 reward for the arrest of the thief and the recovery of the jewels.Labels: crime, hotels, police, race, St Louis, theater, Union depot June 2, 1908 'THERE'S NOTHING TO IT'; JONES
IT'S NONE OF THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS, HE SAYS.
SPEAKING OF POLICE SCANDAL.
DOESN'T FAVOR ARRESTING THE PARASITICAL VAGS.
"What Good Would It Do? Listlessly Inquires the Commissioner -- Mayor Hangs Fire on Investigation.
Lavender women, their friends the dude vagrants, the thief, the thug and the saloonkeeper, may go on threatening the police; they may predict their removal and the prediction may come true so far as Elliott H. Jones, a member of the board of police commissioners, seems to care.
"There's nothing to it," he said yesterday. "I never met Mickey O'Hearn in my life until inauguration day in April, but a man tells me that he says neither he nor any of his friends ever threatened the police. And Chief of Police Daniel Ahern says he never moved men on Mickey's account -- so that settles it."
"But would you not think it proper to call in the six or eight men who have been taken out of plain clothes in the last six months after they were threatened, told they would be moved, and hear them tell you that they were moved on the very day that certain men and women set for them?' the commissioner was asked.
"It's none of the public's business why men were moved, and I for one shall not ask the chief to give his specific reasons for so doing."
"Do you know that a written resolution which stated that no more men should be moved from one beat or district to another without an absolute order from the board or the chief's written reasons for so doing, was unanimously adopted last July?" Mr. Jones was then asked.
"I BELIEVE GALLAGHER."
"This board is not governed by any orders of the previous board," he said promptly. "Anyway, Commissioner A. E. Gallagher tells me that no such resolution was adopted. I believe him."
When it was known that men were being moved after they had been threatened, Chief Ahern was asked if he moved them without the order of the board.. He said he moved men each month and knew of n o order to the contrary. Then an investigation was made and the following was learned:
James E. Vincil, secretary to the board of police commissioners -- "Yes, I remember the resolution well, but I think it was only made a verbal order to the chief. I have looked and it is not of record."
Former Chief John B. Hayes -- "The resolution was introduced by Frank F. Rozzelle, then a member of the board. It was in writing, as I remember, and was unanimously adopted."
Frank F. Rozzelle, former commissioner -- "During the trial of Captain Weber, Chief Hayes testified that Commissioner Gallagher had ordered men moved from one district to another and the members of the board knew nothing of it. I introduced a resolution in writing, as I remember, to this effect: 'Resolved, That in the future the change of any member of this department from one beat or district to another shall not be made with out the order and full consent of the board.' "
IT WAS IN WRITING.
Former Mayor Henry M. Beardsley -- "I recall that Commissiner Rozzelle introduced the resolution in writing. It was unanimously adopted. As I recall it, the resolution stated that in future no changes of men should be made without the order of the board, or, if it became necessary, for the chief to move a man in an emergency, he was to furnish the board his specific reasons in writing for doing so. I was so sure that such a resolution had been adopted that I asked Secretary Vincil about it and only a short time before I left the mayor's office. He remembered it as much as I did, but, strange to say, it was not of record in his office."
Besides these men of reputation who recall the adoption of the resolution there were at least five newspaper reporters present who remembered the occurrence well -- and the necessity for such a resolution.
According to Commissioner Jones, however, even if such a resolution was adopted by the board as previously constituted, the present "reform" board will not take cognizance of it -- at least, he intimated, that he and his colleague, Mr. Gallagher, would not.
HE'S WILLING, BUT SHY.
"So far as I am individually concerned," said Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., "I would favor a thorough investigation into anything concerning the police where serious charges are made. But as I am so new at the business, I would prefer that an older member of the board take the lead."
When Commissioner Jones was told that the police were well acquainted with most all of the well dressed vagrants in No. 4 district, the men whose sole support for years has been fallen women, and was asked if a special order would be issued to arrest all such men and ring them into police court, he replied:
OH, WHAT'S THE USE?
"What good is to be accomplished by it? Other men would take their places and we might fill up our workhouse with men for the city to support."
While Commissioner Jones was talking he had before him a large envelope which contained a record of the changes made in the police department June 1. They had been made by the chief, he said, and he would not know what they were until he had read it. He said that he or other members of the board might request a change, but in the aggregate the board would not know why changes were made unless the chief was asked for his specific reasons, Mr. Jones says, he refuses to make public.Labels: Commissioner Gallagher, Commissioner Jones, Commissioner Rozzelle, crime, Mayor Beardsley, Mayor Crittenden, No 4 police station, police board, Police Chief Ahern, Police Chief Hayes May 29, 1908 DUG UP HIS NITROGLYCERIN.
Safeblower Hart Led Police to Spot Where It Was Buried.
A nitroglycerin hunt is an unusual feature to a detective's duty, but it was part of the day's programme yesterday morning when W. G. Hart, a safeblower of no small record, led the police to the runway of the Hannibal bridge where he had buried over a pint of the explosive.
Hart was captured Tuesday night by Sergeant Patrick Clark, Desk Sergeant, Holly Jarboe and Officer Joe Enright after having blown a safe in the Metzner Stove Supply and Repair House, 304 West Sixth street. At the time of the capture, Hart attempted to hurl a bottle of the explosive at the police officers, but was kept from doing so by one of the occupants of the house.
Hart had made his nitroglycerin at the foot of the Hannibal bridge and then buried it in the roadside. It was feared that a passing wagon might cause an explosion and so it was taken up yesterday. Hart emptied the bottle upon the ground.Labels: crime, detectives, Hannibal bridge, police, Sixth street May 29, 1908
RECORDS PROVE MEN WERE MOVED.
AFTER BEING THREATENED BY MEN WITH A "PULL."
ONE ARRESTED WRONG WOMAN.
SHE HAD BEEN FINED 106 TIMES, BUT WAS EXEMPT.
"Ain't You Next?" Said O'Hearn's Friend; "You're to Let Her Alone." -- More of the Pow- er of Mickey O'Hearn.
After the order of the board of police commissioners Wednesday a reporter for The Journal had no trouble in seeing the books at No. 4 police station yesterday. And a view of these books proved the charges that every man since the first of the year, who has been active in arresting women "night hawks" has been taken out of plain clothes and removed from the district. One man was left in the district but he was taken from that special duty and put back into uniform.
The records showed that officers had been taken from that duty even before January 1 -- in fact, any man who has been too active since the reorganized police department took charge of affairs after Governor Joseph W. Folk's "rigid investigation" has been shifted. This is not only true of No. 4 district by even in No. 1 district, headquarters. This does not pertain alone to the arresting of dissolute women but to interference with certain saloons which were selling liquor on Sunday. That charge is made in regard to No. 1 district more than any other. Of course, some saloons have been caught; but they are not the influential ones; those run by "our political friends."
While the records at No. 4 station practically prove all the assertions made in regard to that district it is said that no blame can be laid at the door of Captain Thomas P. Flahive. It is not he who has had the men taken out of citizens clothes and transferred Those who know say he has been handicapped by having only a few men to do the work in his district and by an unseen power which has been able to have men removed when they did their full duty.
ARRESTED MANY WOMEN.
The records show that Daniel Doran, who worked there for years, arrested thirty-five women just before January 1. He was threatened by well dressed vagrants and told that he would be moved. And by the grace of the unseen power he was moved January 1, last, going in uniform to No. 9 -- the "sage brush" district.
The commanding officers and sergeants under whom Edward Prewett worked in No. 4 precinct speak well of him. He was there nearly eight years, and it was never said that Prewett did not do his full duty. In fat, it has been said that "Prewett would bring in his grandmother if ordered to do so."
In December, Prewett was detailed alone to bring in women of the streets. In eighteen days he brought in thirty-five of them. But from all sides, even from the women and especially the dude vagrants, he heard, "You won't last beyond January 1." One night Prewett arrested a woman named Kate Kingston. Last year this woman was fined $500 by Police Judge Harry G. Kyle, and at that time the records showed that she had been fined 106 times in police court.
"YOU AIN'T NEXT, ARE YOU?"
As he started away with the woman, "Ted" Noland appeared on the scene. "Turn that woman loose," he said; "you ain't next are you? She's to be let alone." Prewett was not "next," for he was also arrested Noland, and that was his undoing. Noland threatened the officer and told him he would personally see to it that he was moved. And Prewett was moved January 1, going in uniform to No. 6. Noland was fined $50 in police court the day following his arrest.
Noland is well known to the police, and in January, 1907, was fined $500 on a charge of vagrancy. That same Kate Kingston, over whom he threatened the officer, testified then that he and a man named Deerwester had beaten her at Thirteenth and Main streets. Deerwester got a similar fine. Their cases were appealed and the men were soon out out on bond.
Noland is a friend of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn, and, until recently, could be seen almost any day about his saloon at 1205 Walnut street; also about the saloon of Dan Leary at Fourteenth and Walnut streets. The records show that Leary has gone the bonds of scores of street women. At one time Judge Kyle objected to the n umber of personal bonds that Leary was signing and required that they be made in cash.
JUST SEE MICKEY.
The influence of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn may be better understood when it is known how he is reverenced by many members of the police department. When the Folk "investigation" was begun in May last year the commissions of probably half the department were held up. This conversation was overheard one day between two of the officers out of commissions.
"I'll tell you these are ticklish times," one said. "I have all my friends to work and am assured that I am all right."
"I'm up a tree," the other replied. "I don't know what to do. I have always tried to do my duty and can't imagine why I am held up."
"Why don't you see 'Mickey'?" his friend said with astonishment. "I thought you were wise. You know 'Mickey,' don't you You do; then go and see him and the whole things squared. That's what I did."
From that day to this the word has gone out through the whole department, "See 'Mickey' if you are in bad. He'll fix it."Labels: crime, Governor Folk, Judge Kyle, Main street, No 4 police station, No 6 police station, No 9 police station, police, police headquarters, politics, saloon, The Journal, Thirteenth street, vagrancy, Walnut Street May 28, 1908
HAS NITROGLYCERIN BURIED IN A ROAD.
SAFEBLOWER WILL LEAD THE POLICE TO IT.
That Is, if Some Wagon Wheel
Don't Set It Off Before This Morning -- One Sends Money to His Mother.
Safe blowing is not a lucrative business, according to G. W. Hart and William Riley, the two yeggmen who were arrested Tuesday night after having blown a safe in the Metzner Stove Supply and Repair house, 304 West Sixth street. The two burglars made a complete confession before Captain Walter Whitsett and other police officers last night, telling somewhat of their past and present record, also giving an interesting account of how they pulled off their jobs.
The two men met each other on the streets several days ago and their acquaintance grew steadily. Both lived in a low rooming house at 507 Grand avenue and it was there that they perfected their plans for the safe robbery which they perpetrated Tuesday night.
For several days past Hart has made a hiding place of the Hannibal bridge. In that locality he kept his tools and prepared the nitroglycerin which he used to blow the safes. He said that had he been successful in his robberies here he intended taking his loot to that place and burying it at the roadside, where he has now over a pint of nitroglycerin stored away.
The only other safe blowing job which Hart has tried in Kansas City was Sunday night when he attempted to blow open the safe in the Ernst Coal and Feed barns at Twentieth and Grand avenue. At that time, however, he was interrupted by police officers and barely escaped arrest. He was not successful in this attempt. Two or there days previous to this Hart entered and robbed a wholesale house located near Fifth and Delaware streets. He got only a few dollars in currency.
WHERE HE HAS WORKED.
In tell of his work at the safe-blowing, Hart said: "I have been at this business for the past year or two, and in that time I have robbed safes in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Nebraska and Missouri. The biggest haul I ever made was from a bank in some town in Oklahoma. I had to get through four large front doors which were loaded with concrete, but was successful, and sent the money I made in that deal to my mother. I often sent her the biggest part of my makings. She thought I got it honestly. No, I won't tell you her name or where she lives," he replied to a question from the police captain.
"Sometimes I would bank the money I got from the safes," he continued, "but it never got me anything. I am worse broke now than I was when I was living honestly. The job we pulled off last night was to get me money to pay my board.
"When I got the safe all soaped and ready to blow," he said in reply to a question of where he went when the explosion took place, "I usually stand just on top of the safe. There is no danger of any hurt up there, for the explosion always blows out, not up. If it has made too much noise, I most always have time to jump down and pull out the money boxes before anyone gets there, and then make my getaway."
Hart is a man of thirty or more names. He refused to tell his right name to police officers, saying that G. W. Hart was just as good as any. Among the names given were Maycliffe, Miller, Pope, Brown and Simpson. Hart has served a term of years in the Ohio state penitentiary, having been sent there on the charge of assault with intent to kill. He shot a brakeman who tried to eject him from a freight train on which he was stealing a ride. The brakeman was not seriously injured. With this exception he has had no other prison record, being only 26 years of age.
HE'S GREEN AT IT.
William Riley, the other yeggman, was more reticent about his part in the affair of Tuesday night. He claimed that it was his first attempt at safe blowing and admitted that he was rather amateurish about the business. Though he has not done much along the yegging line, he has a much longer prison record than his partner. Most of his matured life has been spent behind prison bars. He is now 47 years old. He was first convicted of highway robbery in Jackson county and sentenced to five years in the state prison. He had not been released from that term many months before he received a sentence at Springfield, Mo., for a term of two years, charged with grand larceny. Besides this he served four years more in the Missouri penitentiary for grand larceny, having been convicted at Sedalia.
When the two men were arrested Tuesday night the woman who keeps the rooming house in which they lived, and Ernest Vega, a Mexican roomer, were also arrested. Hart and Riley have both testified that these two were entirely innocent of the affair, and have asked for their release. It is probable t hat they will be released this morning, as the time limit for investigation of prisoners is over.
Hart will accompany a squad of police officers to his hiding ground at the runway of the Hannibal bridge this morning, when the nitroglycerin, which he has buried there, will be removed. It is lying on the roadside, just under the surface, and it is feared that the wheels of some farm wagon might accidental cause an explosion if it is not removed at once.Labels: Captain Whitsett, crime, Delaware street, Fifth street, Grand avenue, Hannibal bridge, highway robbery, immigrants, penitentiary, railroad, Sedalia, Sixth street, Twentieth street May 16, 1908 BURGLAR LEFT A SUITCASE.
Filled with Good Clothing on G. W. Tipton's Porch.
Neighbors of G. W. Tipton yesterday afternoon saved his home at 2002 Jefferson street from eing ransacked by a daylight burglar and gained a suitcase full of good clothes in the bargain. The family was away and a rear window being up attracted the attention of a neighbor next door.
That open window looked suspicious and they concluded to make an investigation. When sufficient force had been marshalled, a rapid flank movement was made on the house. Just as the self-appointed officers drew near the house a man was seen to leap from the open windown and make his escape through the alley. On the back porch he left a suit case filed with men's clothing -- of a good quality, too. The window had been pried open with a burglar's "jimmy." Nothing was taken from the house.Labels: clothing, crime, Jefferson street May 14, 1908 WAS HIS OWN DETECTIVE.
Covert Causes Arrest of man Who May Have Robbed Him.
The police believe they may have the leader of the gang which held up P. P. Covert and wife on the night of May 4 and robbed Covert of a 2 1/2 carat diamond, a gold watch and $4 in money. The man was arrested yesterday afternoon at Eighth and Walnut streets. Covert himself is almost sure of the man, but wants his wife to also have a look at him. She will go to police headquarters this morning to see if she can recognize him.
Covert himself brought about the man's arrest. He was on his way to lunch Tuesday noon, when he saw the man sitting on a door step near Eighth and Main streets. He shadowed the man until police could be summoned.
"If I am right," Covert says, "this was the first man to put a gun to my breast and say, 'Hands up!' He is very tall as that man was, and fills his description in every respect. He is the only one of hte three who had any nerve. The other two, who appeared to be new at the business, were very nervous and shaky. The big fellow let them get a block the start of him before he lowered the gun from me and made strides himself. He made ten feet at each leap."Labels: crime, Eighth street, Main street, police headquarters, Walnut Street May 6, 1907 WANTED TO FEED HER RATS.
Woman Counterfeiter Begged Police to Take Her to Them.
The cases of George Elliott and Tillie Bullene, the confessed counterfeiters, who were arrested Saturday night in their room at 511 Locust street, were taken up yesterday by the United States grand jury. Sergeant Peter McCosgrove and Patrolman Joseph Enright, the arresting officers, gave their testimony and produced one of the most complete counterfeiter's outfits ever captured here.
Miss Bullene said that poverty drove her and Elliott to counterfeiting. Elliott made the money and she passed it. The woman cliamed that a sore hand needed constant attention and medicine had to be bought for it.
As she sat in the matron's room at police headquarters last night she had but two concerns -- her hand, which was giving her much pain, and the fact that her thirty-nine pet white rats, left behind at 511 Locust street, were suffering for food.
"I will promise not to make the least effort towards getting away," she told Captain Whitsett, "if you will only send some one along with me so I can feed my white rats. No one else wil care for them and it's downright cruel to let even a rat starve -- especially a white rat."
Miss Bullene cried bitterly as she said her hand pained her so. Dr. J. P. Neal fromm the emergency hospital, who examined the hand, said that iss Bullene was suffering from cancer. He also said that her hand may have to be amputated to save her life.Labels: animals, crime, doctors, Locust street, police headquarters, police matron, women May 5, 1908 POLICE FIND OWNERS OF CANNED JEWELS.
BOY'S DISCOVERY BRINGS GLAD- NESS TO ONE HOME.
Porch Climber Had Stolen Watches on December 26, 1906, and Buried Them in a To- mato Can.
By a thorough search of police records Fred G. Bailey, secretary to the inspector of detectives, yesterday located the owners for most of the jewelry which was found Saturday night at Nineteenth and McGee streets. The valuables were found by John E. Linings, 317 East Nineteenth street, a boy who was digging for worms. It was all safely planted in an old rusty tin can which, according to the record, had been in the ground just one year, four months and two days when found. The can, which was delivered to Lieutenant Hammil at the Walnut street station, contained four gold watches, one gold cross, one gold cuff button, two brooches, one an old came; one gold and one enamel heart, and one string of three-strand gold beads.
Bailey began at January, 1906, and it was not until he reached December 26 of that year that his efforts were rewarded. On that night porch climbers entered the home of E. H. Stimson, 3145 Broadway, while the family was in the siting room below. The thief or thieves secured two ladies' gold watches, one an open face watch, with E. A. S. on the case in big letters, and the other marked "Emmett to Olive." They also got a long gold watch chain and five gold rings.
On the same evening the home of C. M. Gilbert, then living at 3129 Washington street, was entered, probably by the same "climbers" as it was in a similar manner. There three gold watches were stolen. One, an open face watch, had "1876" engraved on it and there was a long chain to it. Another was engraved "Annie B Gilbert" and the last was undescribed. The thief also got a black seal card case and $40 in cash.
The gold engraved cross, the cuff button, two brooches and two hearts have not yet been identified. Detective Ralph Trueman was sent out to locate the robbed families and tell them of their luck. He found Mr. Stimson still living at the same number but Mr. Gilbert, he said, had left the city. Neighbors said the family had moved to Ohio. They believed it was Dayton. Secretary Bailey will endeavor to locate Mr. Gilbert and make him happy.
Mr. Stimson, who is a real estate man, was very much pleased when told of the find. "I recall the night we were robbed," he said. "It was the night after Christmas and about 8 o'clock. The thieves climbed the front porch and ransacked the two front rooms. The watch marked 'E. A. S.' is the property of my daughter, Edith Aileen Stimson. She will be more pleased than anybody as she was broken hearted over her loss."
Many conjectures have been made as to how and why the can of jewelry was buried in the ground and especially why it was left there. Many police believe that the thief, after burying his loot, fell into the hands of the law and may now be doing time in some prison. Others think the man who put the can there must be dead.
It is not an unusual thing for burglars to bury plunder, especially watches and other jewelry which is easily identified. After it has been buried long enough for the police to cease to look for the lost valuables they can easily be dug up and either sold or pawned with less chance of detection. If the thief is in prison the police believe he would have some day returned and disposed of his loot.Labels: Broadway, crime, detectives, Nineteenth street, Walnut street police station, Washington street May 5, 1908 BURGLARS USED A LONG POLE.
Broke Window and Fished Out Suits of Clothes.
Burglars, armed with a long pole, broke the window in the rear of J. M. Lerche's store in Independence Sunday night and pulled several suits of clothes, hats, and one umbrella out through the hole. Before the robbers had time to bring a wagon to haul away their plunder a policeman came on the scene and saw the goods in the alley. His presence there kept the thieves from returning.Labels: clothing, crime, Independence, retailers May 4, 1908 MADE PRETTY FAIR DOLLARS OUT OF TIN.
GEORGE ELLIOT, COUNTERFEIT- ER, TELLS HOW HE DID IT.
Block Tin and Antimony Molded in Plaster of Paris and Plated With Silver -- He Was Out of a Job.
George Elliot, who gave the name of George Bullene when the police arrested him and found a counterfeiting outfit in his rooms at 511 Locust street Saturday night and the woman with him, Tillie Bullene, from whom Elliot chivalrously borrowed a name, yesterday told Police Captain Walter Whitsett exactly how they make bad money.
Block tin, purchased from any tinner, and antimony are melted together and cast into plaster of paris moulds by the Elliot process. The imitation coins are then plated with nitrate of silver by the very ordinary process of electrolysis, known to every school boy. A file is used to trim off the rough edges and make the milling uniform.
Sixty-six of the alloy dollars were taken from Elliot's room. They have the ring of a real silver dollar, are very little under weight and look like good money. One has to take the Elliot brand of coin between the fingers and feel its smoothness before one would detect that it is not the genuine article. Elliot used three real dollars to make his plaster of paris molds. They are of the years 1899, 1900 and 1901. The original coins, molds, alloy, metal, electric batteries and all were found by the police.
Eliot, in his confession says he learned how to make this money from an old counterfeiter in Denver seventeen years ago, but never made use of his secret until two months ago, when he was t hrown out of employment at the Kansas City Nut and Bolt works and Tillie Bullene lost her position at the Loose-Wiles Cracker and Candy factory. Elliot's picture is in the police rogues' gallery, and he was fined $25 for vagrancy about six months ago. He is 32 years old and has spent most of his life in Kansas City. Tillie Bullene met him about a year ago.
Captain Whitsett has notified United States secret service men, Edward J. McHugh of St. Louis and J. A. Adams of Kansas City.
John G. Ritter of 325 Park avenue, a driver for the United States Express Company, yesterday identified Tillie Bullene as the woman who, a few days ago, gave him a counterfeit dollar. He had whittled the coin in two, but brought half of it to Captain Whitsett.Labels: Captain Whitsett, crime, Denver, Locust street, Park avenue May 3, 1908 PASSED MONEY THAT WAS BAD.
WOMAN CONFESSES PART IN COUNTERFEITING PLOT .
WAS CAUGHT AT 511 LOCUST.
MAN ACCUSED OF MAKING THE MONEY ALSO CAUGHT.
Plaster of Paris Molds, Melting Pots and Other Paraphernalia for Producing Bogus Coins Dis- covered by Police.
In the arrest of a couple giving the name of George and Tillie Bullene at 511 Locust street last night, the police are certain they have a pair of genuine counterfeiters. Four plaster of paris molds, two of them still damp, two pots for melting metal, two batteries and a bad dollar were found in the room. All of the molds are of a dollar.
The woman confessed to Police Sergeant M. E. Ryan, the sergeant says, that for the past year she has been living with Bullene and has been passing the "queer" as fast as he made it. To reporters, however, she refused to make any statement.
Mrs. Bullene brought about the arrest herself. She entered Hudson's drug store at Fifth and Broadway early in the evening. She made a purchase which came to 15 cents, and pushed a dollar slowly along the counter.
T. H. Murphy, a drug clerk, was in the store visiting a friend. The woman's actions attracted his attention and aroused his suspicions. Taking the dollar in his hand he felt of it and said:
"This is a bum dollar. Where did you get it?"
"Well, I declare," said the woman, in apparent surprise, "Let me see who did give me that. Give it here. I think I know who gave it to me now."
With that she left the drug store. Murphy, still filled with suspicion, followed the woman at a safe distance. Many times she looked back, but he always managed to elude her vision. When she got to 511 Locust street she cast one more quick glance behind and darted hurriedly into the house.
Murphy felt that his suspicions were confirmed. He went at once to police headquarters and told his story to Sergeant M. E. Ryan, who detailed Sergeant Peter McCosgrove and Patrolman Joseph Enright on the case. They found both people at the house and placed them under arrest. In the woman's purse was found six "phony" dollars. No bad coin was found on the man.
Two of the molds show plainly that they have been recently used, and there are two which appear to have been made only a few hours, as the plaster had not set. In a match box with some small chips of copper was another "bad" dollar. It is well made, however, and has a ring almost like a good dollar. Ground glass is sometimes used to give counterfeit coins the proper ring. When Enright and Cosgrove brought the molds and metal pots to headquarters they mentioned casually that "there are two old batteries attached out there. We left them."
They were sent back to the room to bring in everything. The batteries are used to give counterfeit coins a thin coating of silver, it is said.
The woman's trunk was taken to Central station about midnight and searched. It was filled with small articles such as cheap soap, perfume, face lotions and other toilet articles which had not cost more than 5 or 10 cents each. She evidently had confined her operations largely to drug stores in passing the spurious coins.
The pair will be turned over to the federal authorities.Labels: Central station, con artist, crime, druggists, Locust street, police headquarters April 29, 1908 CLERK STOLE MONEY FOR SICK BROTHER.
IN CONSEQUENCE JUDGE POL- LOCK IS LENIENT.
Editor of Art Book Fined Nominal Sum and Escapes Payment. Other Federal Offend- ers Sentenced.
It was sentencing day in the United States district court yesterday. Judge Pollock of Kansas was on the bench. Alfred Friend, formerly a clerk in the New England National bank had stolen out-of-town remittances by means of juggling accounts in the bank. The government prosecuted him for getting only $5, but he was supposed to have got about $2,000. After everything in the case was told Judge Pollock undertook to examine the prisoner on his own account.
"What made you do it?" he inquired.
"This made me do it, sir," Friend replied, displaying a small packet of letters and holding them out towards the bench. "Would your honor read them, please?"
FOR HIS SICK BROTHER.
Judge Pollock scanned some of them, interrupting his perusal to ask:
"And did you send the money to this sick brother of yours?"
"I have the money order receipt for it," Friend then said, at the same time producing another paper and handing it to Judge Pollock.
After reflecting a minute the court announced that as Friend had been confined to jail for six months, had lost his employment and had not profited by his thievery, he would be let off with a fine of $500, which means only thirty days in jail. The United States government never holds a prisoner longer than thirty days in liquidation of a fine, no matter how bit it may be.
JULIUS WAS SURPRISED.
Julius Planca, a Frenchman, who was surprised to know that it is contrary to the laws of this country to sell liquor without a license, was fined $10 and costs for bootlegging in a railroad camp east of the city. Arthur Anderson, a 14-year-old boy from the southeast part of the county, was given the same punishment for stealing stamps and coppers from rural free delivery boxes.
A week ago William Soper robbed the little postoffice at Mount Washington, just outside Kansas City's eastern limits, and got $2.50. Yesterday he got a year and a half in the government prison at Fort Leavenworth. He pleaded guilty, saying to Judge Pollock that he would not have broken into the store where the postoffice was had he known it was a postoffice.
"You would rather have broken the state than the federal laws, would you?" the court remarked, adding, dryly, "Either is wrong."
THAT'S WHEN HE GETS IT.
James A. Pope, editor of the Art Book, who was arrested a month ago on a complaint of a rival in business in St. Louis, got off handsomely. Pope had sent out printed post cards saying that he still owned the copyright to his journal, and that the issues being turned out by his rivals were false. He classified somebody as a "hunchback," and for that got into trouble. He would have gone to jail for the intervening nine weeks, having no bondsmen here, only for friends his tough-luck story made for him. As it turned out, District Attorney Van Valkenburgh took his personal recognizance and let him go. Yesterday the art editor, who is about 20 years of age, turned up "to take my medicine, as I said I would," he said. Judge Pollock heard his story and at the conclusion said:
"Have you $1 and the costs of this case?"
"I have not, sir," replied the editor, showing how dull business in the art journal business is just at present.
"Then if I fine you $1 you will have to go to jail, will you?" the court asked next.
"Yes, sir," the editor-prisoner replied.
"Then it will not do to try to collect it. The punishment will be a fine of $1 and costs, collectible upon execution," and slam went the judge's docket and another case was taken up. Pope did not know what was up, so he took his seat near one of the deputy marshals, supposing it was jail again in view of the fact that he had not the dollar and costs. While in the middle of the next case Judge Pollock caught sight of the little art editor's long curly hair and had to order him to freedom.
"You can get out, Pope," the court said. "That fine against you is collectible upon execution."
It took two lawyers and a deputy to explain this to Pope, who could scarcely believe all his good luck was real.Labels: alcohol, banking, courtroom, crime, federal court, immigrants, Judge Pollock, Judges, Leavenworth, Mt. Washington, post office, United States District Court April 25, 1908 WHILE HE ATE MUTTON CHOPS.
Harry Biaski Says Two Little Boys Robbed Him of $300.
Two lads, Harry and Henry Robinson, sons of Abram Robinson of 1818 Locust street, are being held at the detention home until Harry Biaski, a huckster, living at 1712 Euclid avenue, recovers his pocketbook and $300 which he claims he lost while eating supper in Robinson's house. The father and the older son deny that Biaski was robbed while he was their guest. The $300 represents the savings of four years, Biaski says.Labels: children, crime, detention home, Euclid avenue, Locust street April 24, 1908 CAUGHT POSTOFFICE ROBBER.
Mount Washington Men Chased Him With Guns Through the Fields.
After discovering a burglar in the postoffice at Mount Washington at 1 o'clock this morning, Orin Shaw, who runs a poolhall next door, armed himself with a Winchester rifle, and with W. H. Chitwood, a grocer, scared the man from the building and chased him across fields for nearly half a mile, finally making a capture just as the fugitive ran into a barb wire fence.
"I saw some one in the postoffice striking a match," Shaw told Sergeant James of the Sheffield station, who later took charge of the marauder. "I armed myself, and then went to Chitwood's house to get assistance. Together we went to the postoffice, but the man evidently heard us coming, for just as we got to the front door he broke from the house and ran past us. We called upon him several times to stop, but he ran on north across the fields.
"After we had chased him for about half a mile I fired at him, but missed. We had been gaining steadily, and just at that time he became tangled in a barb wire fence and we got him."
At the Sheffield station the man gave the name of William Soper. He said he was traveling from Oklahoma to his home in Illinois. A search showed that he had $2.75 in silver, and 45 cents in pennies. This money he confessed having taken from the postoffice.Labels: billiards, crime, Mt. Washington, post office, sheffield April 10, 1908 KYLE FINES WIFE BEATERS HEAVILY.
TWO MUST SPEND YEAR EACH IN THE WORKHOUSE.
A Pickpocket and the Assailant of a Little Girl Are Fined $500 Each, Also -- Lecture to Heavy- Handed Husband.
Judge Kyle celebrated re-election yesterday by assessing four $500 fines, two of them being against wife beaters, one a pickpocket and the fourth a man who had attempted to assault a little girl. It was the judge's first day on the bench since election.
W. D. Russell, 2223 Campbell street, was fined $500 for beating his wife and putting her, with a 3-weeks-old baby in her arms, out of the house. Mrs. Russell's mother was also put out.
When Patrolman Noland was called he tried to effect a compromise. He told Mrs. Russell to go back into the house and see what Russell would do. Russell had gone to bed intoxicated, the officer said, and immediately began to curse and abuse his wife when she awakened him.
Mrs. A. Burgis of the Associated Charities said that Mrs. Russell had supported herself and baby, and husband, too, for a long time by making bed quilts, having made and sold twenty of them. When Russell insisted that he had paid the rent Mrs. Burgis said: "Not much you didn't. We paid part and your wife the rest." Russell is a big, strapping man and his wife a small woman. She was too weak and sickly to appear in court, but the officer and Mrs. Burgis did the work. His fine was $500.
The next wife beater to meet his fate was Fred Scraper of 313 East Eighteenth street. He was arrested by Patrolman McCarthy after he had raised a disturbance at his home. Mrs. Scraper and her little daughter both testified against Scraper.
"My wife irritates me," Scraper said. "The other night I went home with the earache and the toothache. Any man might slap a woman at such times."
"There is no excuse on earth great enough to cause a husband to lay even his hand upon his wife in anger. Your fine is $500," said Judge Kyle. Scraper was fined $15 on March 10 for disturbing the peace at home and given a stay conditioned on good behavior. He has been in police court many times for the same offense. He is an upholsterer's solicitor.
When Philip Packard was arraigned on a technical charge of vagrancy Sergeant James W. Hogan testified that on election night in a crowd in front of a newspaper office he had caught Packard in the act of picking a man's pocket. Bertillon records show that Packard had served a term in the penitentiary at Pontiac, Ill., and many workhouse sentences. He did not deny it. On December 21 last, under the name of Milton Steele, Packard was sent to the workhouse for attempting to pick a man's pocket in a pool hall. He was released April 1. Judge Kyle assessed $500 against Packard.
A man giving the name of J. H. McCleary, a news agent, was the last victim. He was charged with disturbing the peace. George W. Banfield, a contractor of Twenty-ninth and Flora, told how his little girl had been insulted by McCleary. Some little girls were hunting four-leaf clovers in old Troost park. When McCleary placed his hands on Mr. Banfield's daughter the girls ran and screamed. Banfield chased McCleary several blocks, caught him and turned him over to the police. McCleary was fined $500.
All four of the men fined $500 rode to the workhouse, no attempts being made to get them out on appeal bonds. The fine means one year in the workhouse.Labels: alcohol, Associated Charities, Campbell street, crime, domestic violence, Eighteenth street, Flora avenue, Judge Kyle, police court, Twenty-ninth street, workhouse April 5, 1908 MAY HAVE USED CLOROFORM.
Thief Took Mrs. Prouty's Money, but Missed Watches.
It was reported to the police yesterday morning that a burglar had entered the home of Mrs. W. F. Prouty, 3842 East Tenth street, and after attempting to chloroform Mrs. Prouty, had stolen a chatelaine bag containing $40.
The burglar entered at a kitchen window and made his way to the room where Mr. and Mrs. Prouty slept. Not twenty feet away in a room with only portieres between slept Grover Cook, a son-in-law, and his wife. She thought it was her husband, but found him asleep beside her. Then she called her daughter. As she did so a chair was overturned. Then she aroused the household with her cries. Her pillow and night dress were wet with a liquid which all took to be chloroform.
Physicians say that a sleeping person can not be chloroformed, the odor of the anaesthetic being so pungent as to awaken one at once. It is only on the stage that it is a success. The burglar left a valuable watch belonging to Mr. Prouty, who is a Missouri Pacific engineer, and another belonging to Mrs. Prouty.Labels: crime, railroad, Tenth street March 20, 1908 FORM GOOD CITIZEN LEAGUE.
It's Purpose Is to Lessen Crime Among Kansas City Negroes.
With the object of lessening crime among the negroes a Good Citizens' League was formed last night at a meeting held at the home of Mrs. Maria W. Williams, 628 Tracy avenue. The janitors of schools and office buildings, firemen and policemen will especially be solicited to join the league. Effort will be made to prevent negro children going to saloons for liquor for their parents. Wayward boys and girls will be looked after and the juvenile court will be asked to exercise a supervisory control over youthful derelicts. A committee on rules was appointed by Mrs. Williams, who preside, as follows: W. Dawson, Dr. Dibble, O. M. Shackleford, Mrs. M. P. Williams, Professor J. D. Bowser, P. W. H. Williams and Professor Wilson. Another meeting will be held at the same address next Thursday night.Labels: crime, organizations, race, Tracy avenue March 16, 1908 IS ROBBED IN CHURCH.
Dudley Hoffman's Overcoat Later Found on Dapper Youth.
Dudley Hoffman's overcoat was stolen yesterday morning while he was attending service in the Independence Avenue Christian church. From his home at 545 Park avenue he telephoned the police of his loss. Last evening Patrolman Robert Hoskins saw a dapper young man wearing a coat of Hoffan's description. The young man, so Hoskins reports, admits that he attended service at the Independence avenue church and that he left with the coat.Labels: churches, crime, Independence avenue, Park avenue March 14, 1908 CATCH MAN WITH PULLETS.
Wing Tries to Bag Dozen Chickens.
After an exciting chase in which a number of shots were exchanged Charles Wing, who claims he is a resident of Turner, Kas., was arrested last night by Arthur Purvis, son of Solomon Purvis of No. 3 police station, Kansas City, Kas. Wing was discovered in the act of molesting the quietude of the fowls in a hennery at 902 Osage avenue. The cacke of the chickens attracted the attention of young Purvis and, after a running fight, the originator of the disturbance was taken into custody. In a sack, which he carried over his shoulders were a dozen pullets. He will be given an opportunity to explain to Police Judge Sims this morning. Labels: animals, crime, Judge Sims, Kansas City Kas, police March 13, 1908 CHARGE HIDEOUS DEEDS TO FRAKER
BOYS ACCUSE DOCTOR OF MOST REVOLTING CRIMES.
HE IS ARRESTED BY POLICE.
CASE WILL BE PLACED BEFORE GRAND JURY AT ONCE.
One Lad Escapes From a Boys' Refuge in St. Louis and Comes Here to Tell His Terrible Story.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning three boys walked into the emergency hospital. They were runaways from the House of Refuge, an Industrial home at Osage and Virginia avenues, St. Louis. At Olivette, Mo., they were chased by a bull dog and ran through a bed of lime. Their legs were badly burned.
The boys gave the name of Albert Hopper, 14; Charles Reynolds, 17, and Cyrne Enge, 16 years old. After Dr. Julius Frischer had bound up the lads' burned limbs Hopper told a story which alarmed the doctor. The three boys were taken before Captain Whitsett, where Hopper said that he had come all the way from St. Louis to tell his story to the police. He told it again
Based on the boy's statement Dr. George W. Fraker, who formerly had offices at 1209 Grand avenue, but is now located at 703 Central avenue, Kansas City, Kas., was immediately arrested by Detective James M. Orford. He is being held for investigation. Last night John W. Hogan, an assistant prosecutor, took the statements of Hopper and other boys here who have lived with Fraker. Hogan said that this morning an information charging a nameless crime would be filed against Dr. Fraker in the criminal court if the case did not go to the grand jury direct.
Twenty-five months ago Hopper, who is an orphan, said he was in an orphans' home run by the Children's Home Finding Society at Margaretta and Newstead avenues, St. Louis. From there he was sent to Dr. Fraker at 1209 Grand avenue. He remained here with the doctor three months and one month in Excelsior Springs, Mo., the doctor's old home. Hopper's statement, which is horrible in details, tells of frequent instances when he was made to submit to most unnatural abuses. He said he was often beaten with a rubber hose when he refused to submit.
CAME TO TELL POLICE.
"I came all the way here," said Hopper, "to put Dr Fraker where he belongs. After I had been with Dr. Fraker four months, we were in Excelsior Springs. One day I threatened to tell on him. I was badly beaten and the next day sent to the House of Refuge in St. Louis. I went alone and was glad to go. I told the assistant superintendent my story, but he paid no attention to me. After being there a year and nine months, I determined to run away and come here, and tell it to the police. The other boys only came along as my friends. We escaped through a coal hole last Sunday morning."
Following the arrest of Dr. Fraker, Harry Elleman, 14 years old, was taken from Dr. Fraker's office at 703 Central avenue by Detective Mansel of Kansas City, Kas., and questioned. Mansell telephoned Detective Orford and he went and got young Elleman. This boy also made a statement to Hogan accusing Fraker. His statement was almost exactly the same as that made by Hopper.
Elleman has lived with Fraker since August, 1906, with the exception of the last five months, when he was living with his mother, Mrs. Ora Nordquist, at 1903 North Tenth street, Kansas City, Kas. Five days ago his relatives moved to the country and Harry returned to the doctor. While living on this side with the doctor, Elleman went by the name of Harry Fraker at the Humboldt school.
ONE YOUNG MAN DIED.
While living with Dr. Fraker at 1209 Grand avenue Cyril O'Neal, a young Englishman, 19 years old, died in September under suspicious circumstances. Dr. Fraker signed the death certificate as "acute Bright's disease," with typhoid fever as a contributory cause. An autopsy held by Coroner Thompson proved that O'Neal died of septic poisoning. The dead boy's brother, Claud O'Neal, is said to be still living with Fraker.
Frakers apparent philanthropy in caring for O'Neal, whom he met up with as a stranger in Put-in-Bay, O., caused much comment. He cared for him constantly all the time he was ill and paid for cablegrams to his people in England. When O'Neal went to live with the doctor Elleman was sent home.
Robert McBride, 17 years old, another boy now living with Dr. Fraker at 703 Central avenue, Kansas City, Kas., called at police headquarters last night to see the doctor Just at that time the other boys were making their statements concerning Fraker's treatment of them. McBride was not allowed to see Fraker, but was detained and caused to make a statement. Little was gained from him.
ALWAYS HAS A BOY.
There has not been a time in the last twenty years, it is said, that Dr. Fraker has not had from one to two young boys living with him. Fraker created a big sensation fourteen years ago by mysteriously disappearing. He had something less than $100,000 life insurance at the time. He, a boy who was living with him, and an old negro went fishing on the Missouri river. An embankment apparently fell and the doctor with it. There was a deep eddy at that point where the water had undermined the bank. The negro and the boy told of hearing the "big splash" and later, when they ran to the scene, seeing only Dr. Fraker's hat floating away in the stiff current.
Several months afterwards detectives located Dr. Fraker living in an isolated lumber camp in the pine forests of the Northwest. He was arrested and returned home, where attempts were made by some of the insurance companies which had paid death claims on his life, to prosecute him. As it could not be proved that Fraker had in any way benefited by the ruse or received any of the money, nothing came of it.
Hopper and Elleman were detained at police headquarters last night. Assistant Prosecutor Hogan said that they, with other witnesses, would be taken before the grand jury today.Labels: abuse, Central avenue, children, crime, detectives, doctors, emergency hospital, Excelsior Springs, Grand avenue, immigrants, Kansas City Kas, Missouri river, St Louis March 12, 1908 THEY WANT A 5-CENT FARE.
Independence People Again Take Up the Matter -- Bloodhound, Also.
At a meeting of the Independence Commercial Club held last night a committee of five was adopted to co-operate with a committee from the Maywood Improvement Club to go before the Commercial Club of this city at its next meeting and urge that the local organization assist in getting the Metropolitan Street Railway Company to adopt a 5-cent fare between this city and Independence.
James B. Forbis made a motion that the city purchase bloodhounds for the tracking of criminals, and it was unanimously adopted.Labels: animals, crime, Independence, Maywood, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, organizations March 11, 1908 TOY SQUIRT GUN HIS WEAPON.
But Jones Wouldn't Be Bluffed and Landed With Stiff Uppercut.
Roy Jones was walking slowly along Troost avenue near Fifteenth street around 2 o'clock yesterday morning. He was humming a love tune and paid little attention to a man who came up behind him, until he was jabbed in the ribs with something hard, held in the man's right hand.
"Hold up your hands! Give me your money!" the man commanded.
Jones was in for arguing the question, but the man was insistent. As the argued they passed beneath an electric arc light, and James saw the man had a toy squirt gun pistol as a weapon. With one stiff punch, Jones landed an uppercut on the man's jaw.
Just as the man ran away, Patrolman Michael Meany appeared and took a shot at him At Fifteenth and Holmes streets, almost exhausted, the bluff criminal ran into Patrolman James Mulloy and was arrested.
At the Walnut street station he gave the name of Howard A. Watson, an upholsterer. He told Captain Whitsett late in the day that he was "just kiddin'" an' wouldn't harm a fly." Captain Whitsett didn't like that sort of fun between entire strangers, and Watson was charged with highway robbery. He was arraigned before Justice Shoemaker, pleaded guilty and was bound over to the criminal court for trial.Labels: Captain Whitsett, crime, Fifteenth street, highway robbery, Holmes street, Justice Shoemaker, police, Troost avenue, Walnut street police station March 9, 1908 POLICE WANT A. OMAYARA.
Japanese Cook Stole Money From Camp.
While the Japanese in the steel gang on the Missouri Pacific railway at Cominsky, Kas., were sleeping Saturday night, A. Omayara, the camp cook, forced open the money chest of the camp and rifled its contents. He secured $320 in money and two gold watchs. The money and watches belonged to K. Sakaweads. It is thought that Omayara left for Kansas City, and N. Tsuda, who is the agent for the labor gang here, has been notified. The police are looking for Omayara. Labels: crime, immigrants, railroad March 1, 1908 KINDLY HOLD-UP MEN, THESE.
They Wouldn't Take Michael Doo- dy's 15 Cents.
Michael Doody, a laborer of 904 Riverview avenue, of Kansas City, Kas., was held up by two men between Mill and Ninth streets on Riverview avenue at 12 o'clock last night. The two men stopped Doody on his way home. One of them drew a revolver and demanded his money. Doody produced, but it was only 15 cents and the generous holdup men wouldn't take that. Instead, they marched Doody to his door, and made him go inside. All of which he was more than glad to do. After he was sure that the holdup men had escaped he notified the police of his experience.Labels: crime, Kansas City Kas, laborer February 28, 1908 THREE YEARS FOR FOREST.
He Admitted That He Stole Gas Stove Worth $3.
Albert Forest, who stole a gas stove last Wednesday and was arrested in front of the Kansas City Missouri Gas Comany's office while he had the stove on his back, entered a plea of guilty to a burglary charge yesterday afternoon, and was sentenced to serve three years in the penitentiary. The stove was worth $3, but Forest brokeinto the Western Auction and Mercantile Company's store to get it. He also stole the padlock from the door.Labels: crime, penitentiary, Utilities February 28, 1908 THIEF HAD VARIED TASTE.
Whisky Alarm Clock and Pair of Scissors His Booty.
Stultz Bros., wholesale liquor dealers at 618 Southwest boulevard, reported to the police yesterday that a thief had broken into their store Wednesday night and had stolen six quarts of rock and rye, three gallons of straight whisky, an alarm clock and a pair of scissors.
The variety of this booty sorely perplexed the police. It was the oddest combination ever recorded in the grand larceny department of Central station. After a closed session of the board of logical deduction, the local Sherlocks submitted the following theory as their best:
The thief probably had a bad cold, so he stole the rock and rye to cure the cold. Naturally, after effecting the cure of a bad cold, the thief wanted to celebrate properly, so he stole the three gallons of straight whisky.
This much of the strange mystery being deduced along safe and sane lines, the rest comes easy. He took the alarm clock in order to wake up the jag, and the theft of the scissors probably was for the sole purpose of "cutting it all out."Labels: alcohol, Central station, crime, Southwest boulevard February 28, 1908 DARING COURTHOUSE ROBBERY.
Elevator Boy's Pocket Picked While Going Up and Down.
James P. Cox, elevator boy at the courthouse, yesterday won the distinction of being the first elevator operator in Kansas City to suffer at the hands of a pickpocket. Cox's purse was taken from his hip pocket during the 9 o'clock rush. In it were two pawn tickets, a dime, several receipts and a meal ticket with three meals unpunched.
This is the most daring robbery about the courthouse since the theft of a spaniel pup from the basement of the county jail last August. The pup belonged to Sheriff Charles Baldwin and was being cared for by its mother, who was owned by County Marshal Al Heslip. The thief was never captured.Labels: animals, County Marshal Heslip, courthouse, crime, elevators February 18, 1907 AN APPEAL FOR MORE POLICE.
Speaker Spalding Says South Side Residents Are Unprotected.
D. R. Spalding, alderman from the Eleventh ward and speaker of the lower house, called at police headquarters last night to ask for better police protection in his district. Mr. Spalding lives at 2305 Tracy avenue an is much perturbed over two big burglaries which occured near him Sunday night and over several attempts which have been made in the neighborhood. He said neither he nor his neighbors had seen a policeman in the neighborhood in the last four or five months.
The matter will be taken up with the chief. Mr. Spalding spoke of taking the matter up with the council. When the complaint was referred to Lieutenant W. J. Carroll last night, he said: "There has been a man on that beat most of the time, especially of nights, for months. Tonight there are six or seven men out there in plain lothes. We are short of police out here, as they are all over the city, and often policemen have to be taken form the residence beat to be used in more congested districts along Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets. We are doing the best we can with the men we have on duty."Labels: crime, Eighteenth street, Kansas City council, Nineteenth street, police, police headquarters, Tracy avenue February 13, 1908 INDEPENDENCE FEARS YEGGS.
Local Bankers Ask for Additional Police Protection There.
On account of the numerous bank robberies which have occurred during the past week throughout this part of the state, the Kansas City bankers who have interests in Independence asked for special police protection of the banks in that place last night. The report that the Rich Hill bandits were heading towards Independence was disquieting, and the bankers have suggested a unique manner by which robbery may be prevented in Independence.
It is the plan of the Independence police to visit the banks every half hour. If anything appears to be in a suspicious state the officers will immediately give a general alarm and all of the arc lights in the city will be turned on forthwith. It is believed that in this manner the bandits, should there be bandits, will readily be detected by citizens while they are trying to make their escape.Labels: banking, crime, Independence February 12, 1908 ADMITS THEY'RE SHOPLIFTERS.
Two Women Are Arrested in a Main Street Store.
"Just a plain case of shoplifting," remarked City Detective Hoover as he and Detective McDonald led two fashionably dressed women up to the desk in the Walnut street police station yesterday afternoon. The women gave their names as Mattie Jones and Stella Morris, but when the truth of this statement was challenged they readily admitted that those were not their right names, refusing to tell officers who they were or where they lived.
Detectives Hoover and McDonald had been told of shoplifters in the large department stores, and were detailed to keep a lookout for them. They had followed these two women from Jones's dry goods store to another Main street concern. While standing at the lace counter in the latter store, Officer Hoover saw one of the women deftly slip a large piece of lace from the counter and place it in a small black bag which she carried.
The two officers then arrested the women. At the station they refused to talk further than to admit having taken the article which the officer had seen one of them place in the bag. They will be held for further investigation.Labels: crime, detectives, Jones Dry Goods, Main street, Walnut street police station February 12, 1908 FOUND MAN IN THE HOUSE.
Surprised Burglar Sought Refuge in Bath Room and Escaped.
When Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Fisher of 301 North Sixteenth street, Kansas City, Kas., returned home from a visit at 11:30 last night they found a man in the house, who took refuge in the bath room. Mr. Fisher locked the door and spread the alarm, but the man escaped through the bath room window. He is believed to have been discovered before anything of value was taken from the house.Labels: |
