June 22, 1908 MINISTERS CALL ON BROWN.
Says He Expects to Go to Prison for His Misdeeds.
Since his arrest last Friday night on a charge of issuing worthless checks the Rev. C. S. L. Brown has made his peace with his Diety and is now calmly awaiting the outcome of his trial. Last night Mr. Brown said he expected to receive a penitentiary sentence. He was arraigned Saturday afternoon before Justice Michael Ross and held under a bond of $750. He has made no attempt to secure his release, and said that he did not care to ask his friends for help. If it is possible Brown intends to keep his mother in ignorance of his trouble until he is a free man. He said last night that he did not want his child to see him until he was out of jail.
In the same cell with the minister is Antonio W. Martin, the young Italian adventurer, who has gained some notoriety by his recent escapades. The two men had figured out the amount owed by the minister on account of the worthless checks he had passed.
That the unfrocked pastor still has friends who are willing to stick by him was shown yesterday by the number of persons who called at the county jail to see him. Among the visitors were four Christian ministers. Mr. Brown said last night that since he had resigned from his charge at Lee's Summit six weeks ago he had spent his time in drinking and gambling, but that he had now mastered these passions and believed when he got out of jail he would go forth a stronger man. He wants a place where he can be busy and not have time to think about the allurements of gambling.Labels: gambling, immigrants, jail, Lee's Summit, ministers June 18, 1908 WIFE MARCHED HIM TO JAIL.
Smith Lewis Was Even Afraid to Speak in Her Presence.
"Here he is, now lock him up. I went over town and arrested him myself and made him come across the line with me. I'll show him he can't pick up and desert me."
The speaker was Mrs Della Lewis of 836 Everest avenue, Kansas City, Kas., and her remarks were addressed to Acting Sergeant "Pal" Richardson at police headquarters as she marched her husband, Smith Lewis, up to the sergeant's desk yesterday morning. Officer Richardson did not know what to make of the matter at first and asked what charge she wished to place against her prisoner.
"The charge has already been made," continued Mrs. Lewis. "I swore out a warrant several days ago for his arrest for not supporting me, but he slipped over to Kansas city, Mo., to avoid arrest. I went over and found him this morning, and here he is."
No one at police headquarters knew anything about the case and City Attorney Nelson was called. He stated that it was true that Lewis was wanted for abandoning his wife and family. He was searched and locked up.
"Now that I have landed you in jail I will be on hand in police court in the morning to prosecute," were the parting words hurled at Lewis by his wife as he was being led to the cell room. Lewis offered no remonstrance and appeared to be afraid to speak in the presence of Mrs. Lewis. After she had gone he remarked to the jailer: "She's fierce. I can't do a thing with her."Labels: attorney, jail, Kansas City Kas, marriage, police June 12, 1908 MURDER THE END OF A SPREE.
Joseph Orlowich Shoots and Kills John Lucas -- Both Austrians.
During a quarrel following a day's drinking spree Joseph Orlowich, an Austrian, shot and killed John Lucas, one of his fellow countrymen, last night near the latter's home in the "Patch," Kansas City, Kas. The two men left the "Patch" in the morning the best of friends.
They put in most of the day drinking together and when they returned in the evening a controversy arose resulting in the exchange of blows. Orlowich, it is claimed, drew a revolver and fired pointblank at his antagonist.
Only one shot was fired, the bullet passing through Lucas's body causing almost instant death. Orlowich was locked up in the county jail.Labels: alcohol, immigrants, jail, Kansas City Kas, murder June 10, 1908 FLOWERS MADE DAY BRIGHTER.
Were Distributed in Hospital and Prisons by W. C. T. U. Members.
Several thousand men, women and children, inmates of hospitals, prisons and homes of different sorts, had a happier day yesterday because of bouquets of bright carnations and roses distributed by forty-five members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. It was the annual flower mission day of the union. The date marks the birthday of Miss Jennie Cassidy, a prominent W. C. T. U. worker, who died at her home in Louisville, Ky., several years ago. Miss Cassidy originated the flower mission idea.Labels: flowers, hospitals, jail, organizations May 20, 1908 SUES HER FORMER HUSBAND.
Mrs. Smith Avers That T. W. Glynn Falsely Accused Her of Bigamy.
Alleging that T. W. Glynn, to whom she formerly was married, has unlawfully charged her with bigamy and as a result she suffered the pain and humiliation of having to spend fourteen days in jail before her trial and release, Mrs. Margaret Smith has filed suit in the circuit court asking $20,000 damages against Glynn. She aleges that it was entirely due to the information filed by Glynn in the justice coucrt that she was served with a warrant charging bigamy because she had married Smith, and that the information was filed with a malicious motive.Labels: circuit court, Divorce, jail, Lawsuit, marriage May 20, 1908 2-YEAR-OLD BOY RAN AWAY.
Restored to His Mother After an Anxious Search.
For two long hours yesterday there was a distracted mother in Kansas City. That was Mrs. R. J. Nie of 432 Bales avenue, whose 2-year-old boy, Raphael, had disappeared. She missed the little tot shortly after noon and searched the neighborhood, but could get no trace of her offspring. In the meantime Patrolman O'Connor had found the baby at Independence and Bales avenues, ambling along as if he had business on his hands. Raphael made no objection when the officer took him in tow and seemed delighted at the long car ride to police headquarters.
When placed in charge of Mrs. John Moran, the little fellow began a tour of inspection of the quarters. When he landed inside the cell in the ante room Mrs. Moran shut the door on him, thinking to scare him. Raphael liked the cell as a "play house" and indicated that the door be left locked.
After Mrs. Nie had scoured the neighborhood she thought of the police and called up to see if they had her boy. They certainly had, she was told, and he was having a nice visit. Mrs. Nie boarded the first car for the city and soon Raphael, still in a good humor, was delivered to her.Labels: Bales avenue, children, Independence avenue, jail, missing, police, police headquarters, police matron May 16, 1908 FINED FOR BEING ON STREET.
Judge Kyle Gave "Pinky" Blitz $10 Just for Encouragement.
"Pinky" Blitz proved in police court yesterday that he was interested in business with his brother on Independence avenue, and that he had just sold an interest in a cedar bag concern. He had been held in jail twenty-four hours for investigation. When four men who had been recently robbed failed to identify him, he was then charged with vagrancy. That meant another twenty-four hours in jail.
Judge Kyle fined Blitz $10 on general principles because he was in bad company, but told him he wanted to help him as much as anyone. Blitz and Virgil Dale were arrested by order of Inspector Ryan because they were seen on the street at 6 o'clock in the evening. It looked suspicious, he aid, as pickpockets were at work in the town again. None of the victims identified either man.
Dale was fined $10 also, and told that he must get to work or "next time it will be heavier, and so on until you are landed. Dale promised He said he had been out of town with his brother and had just returned.Labels: Independence avenue, jail, Judge Kyle, police court, vagrancy May 11, 1908 SILENT WOMAN MYSTIFIES.
Marie Moore Hasn't Spoken Since Be- ing Locked in a Cell.
Marie Moore, the sphinx of the federal court, retired early last evening to her cot in the county jail, and when she was asked where she lived and who her father was, she pulled the covers over her head, but never said a word.
Marie was taken before United States Commissioner John M. Nuckols Thursday after her arrest in the postoffice to answer to a charge of sending an improper letter through the mails to another girl. She refused to plead guilty or not guilty and would not answer the commissioner's questions. Saturday she was indicted by the federal grand jury on the same charge, and when arraigned before Judge John C. Pollock again refused to talk. She finally stammered, "I am innocent," but declined to state whether she had an attorney or not or to tell her address or the names of friends.
Since her incarceration in the county jail Thursday no one has called to see her an d she has not spoken one word to the jailers.
"She'll talk in a few days," Night Jailer Sam McGee remarked. "They all do in time. She isn't insane, because she eats her meals and acts like any other woman. She's just got her dander up, that's all.
"I judge from looking at her that she is a city bred girl and known too much to try and pay street car fare with postage stamps."Labels: federal court, jail, Judge Pollock, post office May 4, 1908 SHE'LL FACE SECOND JURY.
Mrs. Morasch's Trial Begins in Kan- sas City, Kas., Today.
The second trial of Mrs Sarah Morasch, accused of killing Ruth Miller of 634 Cheyenne avenue, Armourdale, will begin this morning in the Wyandotte county district court under Judge McCabe Moore. Sixty-five jurors have been summoned for the panel, and the selecting of jurors to try the case may consume today and possibly tomorrow.
Attorney Joseph Taggart for the prosecution announces that he will have at least sixty witnesses for the state, some of them called from distant states, and that he will introduce some features in this hearing not introduced in the first one, a month ago. Attorneys Maher and Wooley, for the defense, are confident that the state will utterly fail to make a case against the accused.
Mrs. Morasch is confined in the county jail. The strain of the past two months, if there has been any, has left no visible effects, and her face, while a little pallid from the confinement, is much fuller.
The crime with which Mrs. Morasch is charged is that of sending a box of poisoned candies through the mails to Ella Miller, stepsister of Ruth Miller, Wednesday, February 12, this year. All the five children of Charles and Malinda Miller at home when the candy was received there tasted of the sweets, but only Ruth, 4 years old, died from the effects. Mrs. Morasch was captured by Sheriff Fred Hamilton of Cass county, Mo, a few days later. She had fled to Harrisonville.Labels: County Attorney Taggart, Death of Ruth Miller, jail, Judges May 4, 1908 BAPTIZED THEM IN A BATH TUB.
Five Negroes in County Jail Joined Church Yesterday.
Five negroes, confined in the county jail awaiting trail on charges of burglary of larceny or both, confessed to conversion and yesterday forenoon were baptized in running cold water inside the jail. Rev. Joseph W. Fitts, Baptist, and Rev. A. B. Ross, of the United Christian Workers, who performed the ceremony, had to figure a bit to get cold and running water in the jail to perform the rite, but finally hit upon the plan of filling a bathtub full of water, pulling out the bung and turning on the tap. The plan worked like a charm and everyone of the five chattered "Glory!" when he came up, just as if he had been immersed in the Blue river or some other real stream
Fitts, pastor of the Macedonian Baptist church of Independence, serving a year's sentence for criminal assault upon a 14-year-old girl, daughter of a member of his flock, claims the credit for the conversion of the five other prisoners, but the jailers are prone to shift a bit of the glory to the workers whom the wife of Judge W. H. Wallace has on two occasions brought to the jail to sing and pray with the prisoners. The Rev. Mr. Ross and some twelve assistants have been holding services regularly on Sundays in the jail for some months.
The prisoners, who were immersed in the tub of flowing cold water are: Frank Johnson, Oscar Jensen, Edward Dixon, Jeff Call and Boyd Brown. Johnson is the best known negro of the five and has confessed to robbing nearly a score of residence in the Northeast portion of the city.
Over twenty members of the United Worker's band, men and women, accompanied Ross to the jail and watched their leader and Fitts perform the rite.Labels: churches, Independence, jail, ministers, race April 24, 1908 HE SANG TO JAIL PRISONERS.
Mrs. W. H. Wallace Was in Charge of Religious Service.
Mrs. W. H. Wallace held a song and prayer service in the county jail yesterday afternoon for the benefit of the prisoners, and the judge of the criminal court accompanied his wife and sat through the service. The chief singer was Frank H. Wright, a fullblood Indian evangelist and soloist. He was assisted by the choir of the Eastminster Presbyterian church. Mrs. Wallace had a church organ taken to the jail from an uptown music store, brought the party into the jail and had charge of the service.
No better singing has ever been heard in the jail, it is said by Isaac Wagner, day jailer. Wright's voice in sacred song penetrated from the first floor to the fourth and poured into every corridor and cell. After he had sung two words, silence fell upon the prisoners and guards alike and all listened with attention and pleasure.
A song by Wright opened the programme. Then the choir, composed of six women's voices, sang. Wright led in prayer He sang again and the service was at an end. Despite the brevity of the meeting it had much impression upon both the confined and unconfined portions of the audience.
"I hope they come again," said a trusty inside the main door.
"He didn't need to preach none," remarked another. "Those songs did me more good than any preaching."
County Marshal Al Heslip shook Mrs. Wallace by the hand after the service, thanked her and told her to bring the singers again soon. A trusty then escorted the visitors through the jail and let them talk with prisoners.
Evangelist Wright is not certain whether or not he could come again to the jail and sing. He is busy, singing and preaching twice a day at the Eastminster church.Labels: churches, County Marshal Heslip, criminal court, jail, Judge Wallace, ministers, Native Americans April 23, 1908 WANT PASTOR IN THEIR JAIL.
Fitt's Congregation Ask That He Be Incarcerated at Home.
Now that Judge W. H. Wallace has commuted the sentence of the Rev. Joseph Fitts from two years in the penitentiary to one year in jail, members of his church, the Macedonian Baptist of Independence, are asking that he be incarcerated in the Independence jail, rather than the county jail at Kansas City. They want to have him near so that they can call with dainty food and sympathy.
Fits, despite his conviction on the charge of attempting to assault a 14-year-old girl who belonged to his congregation, is still a favorite with his negro flock, and probably will resume his duties as pastor when he leaves the jail.Labels: children, churches, jail, Judge Wallace, ministers, violence March 27, 1908
HORNE INSANE; JURY'S VERDICT.
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACT WHEN HE SHOT GROVES. R. C. Horne's insanity plea saved him from a term in the penitentiary for the killing of H. J. Groves in the office of the Kansas City Post. The jury, which heard the evidence in criminal court, bringing in a verdict last evening of acquittal on the ground that Horne was insane at the time of the homicide and is still insane. Horne spent last night in the county jail and will be sent to one of the state asylums next week, if the plan stated by Attorney L. C. Boyle last evening is followed. When the jury cast its first ballot at 9:45 o'clock yesterday morning ten men voted for acquittal on the ground of insanity and two voted guilty. There was no change until noon, when on the seventh ballot the vote stood at eleven for acquittal and one for conviction. The men who thought Horne knew right from wrong when he shot Groves were voting for conviction on the charge of murder in the second degree. The ninth ballot stood also eleven to one. At 5 o'clock Judge W. H. Wallace called the jurors into the court room and asked them how soon they would be able to reach an agreement. E. E. Axilne, the foreman, said there was little prospect of an agreement at all. It was a half an hour later when, on the tenth ballot, all voted not guilty. Labels: courtroom, jail, Judge Wallace, mental health, murder March 18, 1908 HE PLEADS GUILTY TO ARSON.
Action of Freeman Bennett Frees Aged Wife From Charge.
In the Wyandotte county district court yesterday afternoon, Freeman Bennett, who lives at Fourteenth street and Argentine boulevard, Armourdale, pleaded guilty to burning his cottage at that place last spring in order to get $1,000 insurance. Bennett had, at his preliminary hearing before Judge Newhall in the south city court, entered a plea of not guilty and was firm in maintaining this stand until his wife, 60 years old, burst into tears while under cross-examination in court yesterday afternoon.
"I can't stand this," he exclaimed. "My wife there, is getting to be a nervous wreck and is too old to stand all this harangue. For her sake, this can't go on. If I plead guilty will you excuse her from the charge?"
County Attorney Taggart recommended to Judge McCabe Moore that under this condition the name of the wife be stricken from the complaint, and it was granted.
"Guilty," was all Bennett said as he sat down. He was taken to the county jail in default of bond. He will not be sentenced until other cases are cleared from the docket.Labels: Armourdale, arson, County Attorney Taggart, jail, Judges, marriage, Seniors February 21, 1908
MRS. MORASH IS UNDER ARREST
SHE MAY KNOW SOMETHING OF POISONED CANDY.
FOUND IN HARRISONVILLE.
WHERE SHE HAD WALKED WITH HER DAUGHTER.
Ella Miller Says She Wrote Her Address, as on Candy Box, for Mrs. Morash Three Months Ago.
The first arrest in the murder case of Ruth Miller, poisoned by eating candy containing strychnine at the home of her father, Charles Miller, 634 Cheyenne avenue, Armourdale, Wednesday noon, February 12, was made at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon on state warrant by Sheriff Fred J. Hamilton of Cass county at Harrisonville, Mo. It was that of Mrs. Albert Morash, sister-in-law of Charles Miller. Sheriff Hamilton acted under orders of Attorney Joseph Taggart of Wyandotte county, who telephoned him to the effect that Mrs. Morash was wanted in Kansas City, Kas., on a murder charge, Wednesday and again Thursday. One-half hour after the telephone message, Hamilton had her in the county jail of Cass county. Chief Bowden of the Kansas City, Kas., police department and Detective Harry Anderson returned with the accused woman to Kansas City, Kas., early this morning and she was lodged in the city jail. Sheriff Hamilton said last night over the telephone that the woman and her daughter, Blanche, had arrived in that city last Sunday afternoon, after having walked fifty-eight miles, all the way from Kansas City. They were jaded and their shoes worn through in many places Sunday. They stopped at the home of a farmer a mile outside the city limits that night, but Monday and Tuesday nights stayed at local hotels. Chief Bowden and Captain U. G. Snyder have expended every resource to find her, on accoun of information it was thought she might be able to give concerning the poisoning. Yesterday morning they arrested Blanche Moran, the daughter, and compelled her to tell where she and her mother had gone after quitting Kansas City. Blanche had returned on a train to the home of her sister, Mrs. May Gillin, 634 Armstrong avenue, Tuesday afternoon. County Attorney Taggart says he has discovered that the sender of the poisoned candy did not write all of the inscription on the wrapper. He says that Ella Miller, to whom the bonbons were addressed, wrote the words, "Ella Miller, 634 Cheyenne ave. Corner Packard and Cheyenne ave." appearing on the wrapper for Mrs. Morash, three months ago, and writing of the little girl corresonds exactly with the writing on the package. He says Ella has denied writing the rest of the inscription, "From S. S. Girls." Blanche Morash cried when questioned by Captain U. G. Snyder, captain of police, at headquarters. She said she thought her mother was wanted by police in connection with an ocurrence of a month ago when Mrs. Morash was found guilty of mistreating and neglecting an infant taken from the Hughes maternity home. Blanche furthermore said she was willing to make a statement regarding the sending of the box of bonbons, but did not say whether or not her statement would be in in the form of a denial of any knowledge concerning them. Labels: Armourdale, County Attorney Taggart, Death of Ruth Miller, detectives, jail, Kansas City Kas, murder, poison February 10, 1908 HE WOULDN'T BE VACCINATED.
So David Kelley Was Arrested and Spent the Night in Jail.
Rather than be vaccinated along with a crowd that the police and assistant city physicians rounded up last night at the Helping Hand institute, David E. Kelley, a tinner from Minnesota, allowed himself to be arrested and spent the night in the police holdover. He said that he had a family dependent on him and considered it dangerous to be vaccinated.
Kelley, who is about 45 years old, siad he was looking for employment. He had paid 15 cents for a bed at the Helping Hand institute only three hours before the raid.
Kelley said that vaccination had never "taken" on him, but that he once had a kind of "cow pox." He was booked and locked up for refusing to be vaccinated, on complaint of Dr. Cook, an assistant physician.Labels: doctors, health, Helping Hand, jail, smallpox, visitors February 9, 1908 SAYS HIS FATHER IS A KING.
Negro in Independence Jail Tells of Old Man's Big Salary.
A plea for clemency on the ground that his father is a king who draws a larger sallary than Theodore Roosevelt is made by F. J. Green, negro, held in the county jail at Independence awaiting trial on a larceny charge. At his preliminary hearing yesterday Green was bound over to the criminal court. He is a mulatto of fluent speech.
"My father is a king in Africa," Green says. "He receives 1,000 elephant tusks each year from his subjects. That amounts to $200,000 in United States money. He cut me adrift when I was a boy because I took up with English ways and ordered me out of his kingdom. I have had to make a living as best I might since. First I went to England, where I studied law, but I shortly came to America because I thought that a living came easy here."
The jailer at Independence says Green may be only playing insane.Labels: Independence, jail, mental health December 29, 1907 CLAIMS DEPUTIES BEAT HIM.
Jack C. Taylor Sues Marshal Heslip on His Bond.
Charging that County Marshal Al Heslip, by his deputies, took him from his cell in the county jail by force and assaulted him in another room in the jail, Jack C. Taylor, who for more than a year was confined in the jail on a charge of arson and wsa released without trial a few days ago, brought suit in the circuit court yesterday against Al Heslip, W. H. Dixon and H. Matthias, who are on Heslip's bond, for $10,000 damages. This is the amount of the bond.
Taylor was arrested in July, 1906, charged with setting fire to a restaurant which he owned and operated on Twelfth street, for the purpose of collecting the insurance. A waiter named Smith was tried in the criminal court and was found not guilty. Taylor was then discharged. Taylor appealed to the circuit court some time ago for release because he claimed he had not been allowed trial at the proper time in the criminal court, but he failed to secure the release.
According to the petition filed in his suit yesterday against Heslip and his bondsmen. Helsip, by his deputies, made the alleged assault in October, 1906, although nothing was ever said about the assault at that time.
Marshal Heslip said last night: "As far as our beating Taylor is concerned, there is no truth in it. When prisoners adopt the plan of being mute in the jail we take them out of their cell and put them in the dungeon. We did this with Taylor, but he was not assaulted. My deputies do not assault prisoners, and that part of the story is not true in any particular."Labels: arson, circuit court, County Marshal Heslip, jail, Lawsuit December 26, 1907 PRISONERS DIDN'T WANT OUT YESTERDAY.
At the county jail yesterday Mrs. Hulse, wife of Jailer Hulse, gave the prisoners a turkey dinner with the usual trimmings. The prisoners after the dinner were given the freedom of the corridors of the new jail, which are quite roomy. It was one day in which the prisoners did not sigh to get out. Labels: jail December 25, 1907 SHOOTS FATHER IN THE LEG.
Too Much Hard Cider Is the Undoing of Calvin Jackson.
Too much Christmas celebration out in Dallas, a little town about fourteen miles south of Kansas City, almost resulted in patricide last night. While Calvin Jackson and some of his friends were in the pool room of a combination barber shop and pool room drinking hard cider, George Jackson, Calvin's father, went into the barber shop to get a shave.
Soon the hard cider began to have its inevitable effect upon Calvin, and he drew a revolver and started to shoot out the kerosene lights in the building. The father jumped up from the chair where he was being shaved, with the lather still on his face, and tried to quiet his son. But Calvin did not comprehend, and turned the revolver upon his father, shooting him in the left leg.
Calvin was arrested by Constable O'Brien of Dallas and taken to Waldo, where he was met by Marshal Al Heslip and brought to the county jail.
Later he denied any knowledge of the affair, and said that he would not believe he had shot his father. Calvin is only 21 years old, and his father is about 45. Calvin was accompanied to Kansas City by his father It is not thought that the latter will prosecute the case.Labels: alcohol, barbers, billiards, County Marshal Heslip, domestic violence, jail December 11, 1907 SHOT DOWN IN BARROOM ROW
W. H. BARNES KILLS JAMES E. WHITE, A MOTORMAN.
PISTOL AGAINST HIS HEART
"WHY DID I GET DRUNK? WAILS DYING MAN.
Murderer Surrenders and Is Now in Jail -- Holds Weapon Leveled at His Victim Some Minutes Before Firing.
In a barroom brawl yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, W. H. Barnes of Argentine shot and killed James E. White, a motorman in the employment of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, living at 816 Bank street. The fight, according to the story told by an eye witness, was begun by White. Barnes, or "Hank," as he was commonly known, was standing by the bar in Peter McDonnell's saloon, Twelfth and Charlotte streets, with a friend. White entered the room and, seeing some of his acquaintances, began to joke and jostle them in a familiar way. He had been drinking heavily.
Going down the line of men at the bar and speaking to each of them, he stepped up to the young man who seemed to be under the protection of Barnes, and spoke to him, lurching heavily against him as he did so.
The young man resented the drunken familiarity and demanded an explanation of White. But White did not choose to explain matters, and went on teasing the boy, who finally started to strike him. At this juncture Barnes interfered and began to make threatening gestures at White. They were standing within two feet of each other when White made a move towards his hip pocket with his right had as if attempting to draw a revolver. Barnes immediately drew a revolver himself and leveled it at White's heart.
Not believing that either man meant his move in any other manner than a joke, White threw off his coat and turned completely around, evidently to show that he was not the possessor of a revolver. Barnes did not lower the revolver, which was pointing at White. This made the drunken man angry, and he called Barnes many vile names.
FISTS AGAINST REVOLVER.
Mere words and threats did not lower the revolver which Barnes, with a steady hand, kept aimed at his heart for fully two minutes, so White started in bare-handed to disarm Barnes. He struck at him twice, neither blow reaching Barnes. Barnes said nothing, but stepped a little nearer White and pulled the trigger of the revolver. The cartridge did not explode, and Barnes waited another instant before pulling the trigger a second time.
This time the revolver did its work, the bullet striking White in the left breast slightly to the left of the heart. White did not stagger or fall, but kept to his feet and walked steadily to the rear of the saloon where several men had been playing cards. One man who had been standing in the inner doorway during the fight hastened forward to help the wounded man, who tried to throw him aside, saying: "I can whip him any time, but he got me like a coward just now."
He finally consented to sit down after considerable urging on the part of his friends. The minute that he sat down in the chair he became deathly sick and lost consciousness for a short time.
"I HAD TO DO IT."
After firing the last shot, Barnes walked out of the door leading into Charlotte street, remarking to a friend whom he passed, "Bob, I had to do it, didn't I?" He then jumped into his buggy, which was standing by the sidewalk, and drove rapidly south on Charlotte.
Hearing the shot, Officer Ed Doran ran into the saloon to investigate. By the time he arrived, Barnes had gone. The officer telephoned to the Walnut street police station for the ambulance. White was treated by Police Surgeon Dagg, who, seeing his critical condition, ordered him taken immediately to the general hospital.
On the way to the hospital White tried to talk and to answer questions, but the effect of the liquor and the mortal wound were too much for him, and he would only cry out hoarsely: "I know him. I know him. What is his name, I forget? He got me, yes, he got me. Oh, why did I get drunk!"
He died within two hours after he arrived at the hospital, from an internal hemorrhage caused by the bullet, it is thought that the bullet was one of the 38 caliber, as it pierced the body through.
THE MURDERER SURRENDERS.
Several hours after the shooting Barnes appeared at the county jail, where he surrendered. He is now in jail.
Barnes had owned the saloon in which the shooting occurred up to a little over a year ago, when he sold it to Rube Snyder, who sold it to its present owner, Peter McDonnell, a month ago.
White had been a motorman on the Metropolitan for about four years. He ran the Troost avenue owl car for some time, when he was transferred to a daylight run on the Broadway line.
White had been granted a divorce from his wife, Pearly White, by Judge Powell at Independence Monday afternoon. The divorce was granted on the grounds of desertion. His wife does not live in this city and her present address is unknown.
White was born in Caldwell county, near Breckenridge, Mo. He was about 35 years of age. He lived on his father's farm up until four years ago when he moved to Kansas City. His fellow workmen say that he was one of the best natured men in the service of the street car company.
SALT WATER IN HIS VEINS.
It was believed from the first that White would die from the effects of the wound, but the doctors and nurses at the hospital did all in their power to save his life. Word was received from Captain Thomas Flahive of the Walnut street police station that he would be out to the hospital in order to take a dying statement, but when he arrived he found White too near dead for the police to gather much information from him.
While lying upon the operating table he called time and again for Gertrude Stevens, moaning desperately, "I want my girl. I want my girl." He gave her name and said that she worked at the Fern laundry. When she arrived it seemed to have a good effect upon him, for he no longer groaned and was willing to lie quietly, a thing he had refused to do before.
She stooped over and kissed him upon the forehead, talking soothingly to him. He asked to be moved over on his right side, that he might better see her and talk with her. "He shot me," was all that he would say, and then closed his eyes as if everything was satisfactory.
Three nurses and Miss Stevens stayed with during the hour he survived. His sweetheart stood over his body for several minutes after his death, and then left the hospital without a word. It is said that his recent divorce was procured so that he and Miss Stevens might be married.
SELF-DEFENSE, SAYS BARNES.
When seen at the jail last night, Barnes made the following statement in regard to the shooting: "There is not much left for me to say. I shot him in self-defense. He was a man about twice my size, and was ready to fight with me. I am much older than he and knew that I would stand now show with him when it came to a test of strength. For that reason, and to protect myself, I drew a revolver."
"If I had to go through it again, I would let him wipe up the earth with me rather than to even threaten him with a revolver. I did not try to evade the offense, but I just wanted to be the first to tell the unfortunate affair to my wife and family. I live on a farm about a mile and half from Argentine. It took me some time to drive out there and back again. As soon as I opened my front door I told my wife of the affair and told her that I had to go back to the city and surrender. I then drove directly to the jail.Labels: Argentine, Charlotte street, jail, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, murder, saloon, Twelfth street, Walnut street police station December 3, 1907 POLICE RECORD OF HARVEY PULLIAM, FOUND DEAD YESTERDAY.
Police Captain Snyder Said Pulliam Rarely Missed a Month in Two Decades Without Getting a Sentence -- His Wife With Him Nearly Always.
Twenty years on the rockpile! That is the record, with the exception of a few days of liberty between each arrest, of Harvey Pulliam, who died yesterday morning of alcoholism in the rear of 200 Broadway. Pulliam lived in Kansas City, Kas., and most of his experiences were with the Kansas City, Kas., police. His police record began thirty-two years ago, when he was 10 years old.
"In twenty years at least once every month Harvey appeared in police court," said Captain U. G. Snyder, of the Kansas City, Kas., police court. "Drunkenness was the charge nearly always. There were no redeeming features to Pulliam's acts. When out of jail he stole and drank whiskey; when on the rockpile he planned escape. Three weeks ago he was sentenced to 100 days and he escaped a week ago while breaking rock near the police station."
Policeman told of the life Pulliam had spent in giving other persons trouble. He was born in Kansas City, Kas., forty-two years ago. At the age of 21 Pulliam was as strong as two ordinary men. He was vicious and always fought when an attempt was made to arrest him. Many times six policemen were required to take him to the station. In later years the constant use of intoxicants had weakened him. Then he used his cunning against the brawn of the policemen.
Pulliam's wife always was with him. Many times when he was in police court his wife was there also on a similar charge. In June of this year Mrs. Pulliam attempted suicide by jumping from the Ohio avenue bridge into the Kaw river. Pulliam sprang after her. If an officer had not waded in and seized them both would have drowned.Labels: alcohol, jail, Kansas City Kas, police November 27, 1907 MAD WOOER IS INDICTED.
Pearl Smith's Tormentor Says He Is Going Insane.
Clay Fulton was indicted by the criminal court grand jury yesterday for assault with intent to kill upon the story told the jury by Miss Pearl Smith, daughter of Dr. E. O. Smith of 212-14 Wabash avenue, whom Fulton compelled to walk twelve blocks with him Friday night at the point of a revolver.
Fulton, who is now in the county jail, claims that he is on the verge of insanity from smoking cigarettes. Dr. Smith says that an attempt will be made to have Fulton declared insane and confined in the asylum at St. Joseph.
"I have heard that insanity runs in the family," said Dr. Smith. "The young man's father died in an insane asylum."
Miss Smith is a striking looking young girl with abundant blond hair and deep blue eyes. She is slight in figure and appears to be little more than a child. She shuddered when she spoke of the experience.
"I hardly knew what to do when Mr. Fulton pointed a revolver in my face and told me to come with him at once to be married," she said. "I was so excited that it seems wonderful to me that I had strength enough to accompany him for that long, long walk. I am still nervous about it."Labels: criminal court, doctors, jail, mental health, romance, Wabash avenue November 2, 1907 W. B. SLOAN, DRUGGIST, IN JAIL.
With Forty Indictments Against Him He Was a Fugitive.
William B. Sloan, a druggist at Ninth street and Brighton avenue, against whom the grand jury in the criminal court returned forty indictments three weeks ago, was arrested last night by Martin Roos, a deputy county marshal. After the indictments were returned against him for selling liquor on Sunday, Sloan went to the home of his father at 50 Clifton street, Kansas City, Kas. A fugitive warrant had been issued by the Kansas authorities and preparations had been made to extradite Sloan when he returned to Missouri and remained in hiding. He was taken to the county jail last night and will remain there until released on bond.
Sloan has been fined in police court several times for selling liquor illegally. Each case was appealed to the criminal court, where only one case has been tried. In that case a jury fined him $500 and it is now on appeal to the Kansas City court of appeals.Labels: Brighton avenue, druggists, jail, Ninth street October 20, 1907 THEY'LL NAB THE PRETTY ONES.
Deputy Marshals Have Already Picked Out Actresses to Arrest.
The serving of warrants upon the indictments of actors, actresses and others will fall upon the county marshal's force. The men yesterday took good naturedly the prospect of having to make several hundred arrests next week.
Herman Weisflog, who has an eye for beauty, brought an armful of posters from the Piff Paff Pouf company to the jail yesterday and passed them around among the deputies.
"I'll take this girl," said Dashing Siegfried, who tends the door on the jail.
"This one for me," retorted Jimmy Moran, pointing to the picture of a pretty chorus girl.
"I only hope you men will do what you say," said Mrs. Margaret Simmons, matron of the women's quarters. "I'm sure I wouldn't know what to do with all those actresses in my charge."
"Let them bring their own scenery and put on a show right here in the jail," spoke up Sam McGee, jailer.
"I've never had the photo of a prima donna in my rogues' gallery yet," Al Heslip chipped in, "But I wouldn't mind having one or two. They'd give it tone."Labels: County Marshal Heslip, jail, theater September 10, 1907
DOG WENT TO JAIL WITH HIM.
Master Fell Asleep, but Faithful Ani- mal Remained on Guard.
"Come on, pup. We are going to be locked up." That is what Frank Burger said to his dog yesterday afternoon as he was being assisted down the stairs from police headquarters to the holdover. Burger was arrested on a charge of being drunk. "Pup" is a beautiful fox terrier. He did not need any invitation to surrender his liberty with his master. When the big iron door was opened he bounded right in. The dog seemed to understand his master's condition. He made no objection to men in uniform taking hold of him, but when anyone else approaced his master he assumed a threatening attitude. In the holdover his master fell asleep, but the dog kept watch over him and permitted no other prisoners to come near.
Labels: alcohol, animals, jail, police headquarters August 8, 1907 LEOTA FULLERTON GETS BOND.
Girl Who Refused to Plead Guilty to Stealing Released.
Leota Fullerton, the girl who has spent all of the spring and half the summer in the county jail rather than plead guilty to stealing a dress from Mrs. E. S. Truitt, of 107 West Armour boulevard, the crime with which she was charged, was yesterday afternoon released on a $750 bond, furnished by Attorney W. W. Calvin. The girl will tell her story to a jury in the criminal court next October. She claims that Mrs. Truitt gave her the dress instead of a week's wages as a domestic.Labels: Armour boulevard, jail July 25, 1907 LITTLE BOYS ARRESTED.
LOCKED IN A CELL BY POLICE TO "GIVE THEM A SCARE."
"Don't Do It Again," Warns the Mayor -- Preacher Who Caused the Arrests Interrogated by Commissioners.
Two young boys, Jesse Lynch, residing at 2106 Belleview, and his chum, John Rafferty, living next door, gave Sergeant Seldon and Policeman Barton a fright yesterday in the police board room. By way of a by-product, the boys had the fun of hearing the mayor bore in on John Hart, who said he was the "commanding officer" of the Red Cross mission at Twenty-first and Belleview.
The boys had been arrested on a charge of disturbing a religious meeting. Six or eight neighbors were on hand to testify that they had been sitting on their porches watching each other and the boys for an hour or more, so they were able to say there had been no disturbance. The policemen's defense was that "Commanding Officer" Hart had directed them to arrest the boys, "and some of them," said M. G. Hammon, "were not more than 7 years of age."
"I think there were some little fellows in the gang. I got nine," said the policeman. Afterward his sergeant admitted locking them in a cell to scare them. The bad impression this made on the commissioners was wiped out when the sergeant said he had refused to let the "commanding officer" swear out a warrant, but that he had turned the boys loose.
"I do not like that sort of thing," Commissioner Gallagher said.
"That is exactly the way I feel about it," the mayor echoed. "I do not want little boys locked up. I do not even want them arrested if it can be avoided. Here we find this preacher telephoning for the police to rout a gang. Officer Barton comes on the scene, finds two excellent boys, so this testimony every bit shows, sitting peacefully chatting. They are arrested and in the march to the station seven others are picked up. This is not right. Don't do it again." Policeman Barton said he had supposed his duty would compel him to arrest on information filed by a reputable citizen.
"But not women or children for trivial things like this," Commissioner Gallagher said.
"This was supposed to end the case, when the "commanding officer" returned to the attack. He wanted to know if the boys could train dogs to go into his mission and break up the meetings.
"That is not what the commissioners ought to settle," said a Mrs. Parks. "What you ought to settle is whether or not Preacher Hart has the right to shoot into a crowd of boys with a revolver."
"It was a cannon firecracker," the "commander" quickly said.
"It was a revolver, for I saw you loading it after you had fired it, and you put it under a pillow. I could see through my window and yours," Mrs. Parks asserted. By this time the mayor was sitting up and taking notice.
"Let us hear about this shooting," he said, but he heard two sides and had to take his choice. In the end the commissioners decided that Policeman Barton had not been guilty of anything in the arrest of the children. The Red Cross mission "commanding officer" was warned that he could not make another blanket raid on the boys about his church.Labels: charity, children, churches, jail, Mayor Beardsley, ministers, police board, Twenty-first street July 16, 1907 BROTHER "PEACHES" ON HIM.
Abraham Lieberman Said to Have Jumped Eastern Bond.
In a spirit of reveng, engendered by a quarrel, David Lieberman of Nineteenth and Wyandotte streets, gave information to the police that led up to the arrest of his brother, Abraham Lieberman, a junk dealer at 2811 Southwest boulevard, who, he claimed, is wanted by the police at Rochester, N. Y. The brothers quarreled last week, and, according to the arrested man, his brother tried to borrow money from him and on being refused gave the police information against him.
Teh informant appeared at No. 3 police station Saturday night and said that his brother had "shipped out" of Rochester while under $500 bond awaiting trial there on a charge of selling stolen property. Sergeant William Carroll and Patrolman Ralph Truman arrested Lieberman yesterday and he is being held here for further instructions from the authorities in Rochester.
The police say that both men are living in Kansas City under assumed names, and that their real name is Franks.Labels: jail, Nineteenth street, No 3 police station, police, Southwest boulevard, Wyandotte street July 8, 1907 A DRUG CLERK ARRESTED.
Clarence Moreland, Alias Davidson, Wanted for Jail-Breaking.
Clarance Moreland, known here as Clarence Davidson, was arrested last night by Deputy County Marshals Morgan and Siegfried, on a warrant from Tazewell, Ill., charging him with escaping from jail there July 13, 1905, and at the same time liberating three other prisoners.
Moreland is a registered pharmacist and has been employed in local drug stores for nearly a year, having come to this city directly after his escape. He was arrested in a drug store where he was empoyed, near Fifth street and Broadway. He is said to have led an exemplary life during his residence in Kansas City.Labels: Broadway, druggists, Fifth street, jail June 30, 1907 TO TEST HUSBAND'S LOVE.
Woman Jumps Into the River and He Followed Her.
"I just wanted to see if Harve was game and loved me enough to risk his life to save me from drowning," said Kate Pullen yesterday afternoon after being dragged from the Kaw river, into which she had jumped from a rowboat.
She is the wife of Harvey Pullen, who lives in a tent on the river bank in Kansas City, Kas. Mrs. Pullen and her husband were out rowing. Pullen was manipulating the oars, when suddenly Mrs. Pullen, who was seated in the rear of the boat, arose to a standing position and leaped into the water. Her husband proved "game" all right, jumping in after her. They would have both bee drowned, however, had it not been for a couple of fishermen who happened to be near by in a boat.
Both were taken to No. 2 police station and locked up.Labels: drowning, jail, Kansas City Kas, No 2 police station, romance June 24, 1907 BECAUSE HE WAS HER BOY.
Tired Looking Little Woman Gave All She Had for His Freedom.
A little, work-weary woman called at the desk at police headquarters yesterday afternoon and asked Sergeant Holly Jarboe, then on duty, if he had a prisoner answering to the name of Will Jackquit. After looking a moment at his records, the sergeant told her the man she was looking for was in the jail on a peace disturbance charge.
The woman bowed her head on her arms a moment or two and "wept piteously but quietly, and then asked how much money it would take to get the man out. The sergeant gave her the minimum bond required.
"He is my son," she said, as she began to count out the coins, each one of which had doubtless cost her infinite pains and trouble, "and I cannot let him stay there."
"But don't you know he will do it right over again?" asked the policeman.
"Yes, perhaps. But I am a mother, and he is all I have."
The prisoner was summonedout of the holdover. He was a great big fellow, strong and healthy looking. He appeared with a smile on his face, pleased at not having to spend a hot afternoon in a cell. As he came out the woman was putting down the last nickel on the counter. As she saw him, the tears started afresh. The man looked at her a second as though annoyed.
"Oh pshaw, mother," he said. "Don't be foolish!"
"Foolish, that's just the word," muttered the sergeant, as mother and son went out together.Labels: jail, police headquarters April 27, 1907 IGNORED A GRASS SIGN. Walking across a lawn of newly laid sod, regardless of the sign, "Keep Off the Grass," cost S. Wooley, a milkman, a beating with a broomstick. But George Kaiser, the janitor of the flats at 2111 Prospect, who put up the sign and the fight, had to make an agreement with the county prosecutor to plead guilty to common assault and pay a $40 fine and serve a thirty-day jail sentence in order to avoid prosecution in Justice Miller's court for felonious assault. Labels: jail, Prospect avenue, violence April 25, 1907 AN OVERCOAT HIS BOOTY.
C. C. McMillen Gets Fifteen Days in Jail and a Lecture.
Charles C. McMillen was arraigned before Justice Shepherd yesterday charged with stealing an overcoat from J. M. Downey, of 707 McGee street.
"Any man who would steal an overcoate to wear around here when we are trying our best to have a little summer, or spring, ought to be put in a hot place," said the court. "Fifteen days in the county jail."Labels: crime, jail, Judges, McGee street April 15, 1907 SHE MAY NOT SEE HIM AGAIN.
Mother Brings Chicken to Son Who Is to Go to Pen.
"Yes, this is chicken day," said County Marshall Heslip yesterday, as an elderly woman in mourning passed into the jail with a carefully packed basket. "It is probably the last time that woman will see her son. He has been sentenced to serve a term in the penitentiary for burglary and will be taken away this week."
On Sunday from 10 o'clock in the morning until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the Sunday food comes in. Sometimes the mother or father brings it, other times a brother and often times a dear friend. If the mother prepares it immediately after the others have finished their meal at home, and it arrives at the jail early, it's dinner. If a brother stops at the jail with a basket on the way to night work, it's supper. Sometimes the basket or parcel contains chicken, and maybe dumplings. Others may not fare so well. A few are content with "the makin's," a sack of cheap tobacco and a package of cigarette papers sent by some friend who has been there himself and knows the value of a "smoke" when there's nothing else to do, and the monotony of "thinking it over" wears on the nerves.Labels: County Marshal Heslip, crime, jail, penitentiary, Seniors April 9, 1907
They Will Escape The Gallows |
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AGNES MYERS AND FRANK HOTTMAN
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TO PRISON FOR LIFE.
SENTENCE OF MRS. MYERS AND HOTTMAN ARE COMMUTED.
NOT MUCH CONCERN SHOWN.
MRS. MYERS "GRATEFUL," HOTT-
MAN RETAINS STOLIDITY.
No Arrangements Yet Made to Send
the Prisoners to Jefferson City to
Begin Serving Their Terms --
Further Story of the Murder
May Yet Be Told. Governor Folk yesterday commuted the sentences of Mrs. Aggie Myers and Frank Hottman to life imprisonment in the Jefferson City penitentiary. While no formal order was filed with the secretary of state for Hottman's commutation yesterday, the governor said he would do so this morning. The order for the commutation of Mrs. Myers' sentence was very brief, the state's executive explaining his action in the following language: Believing that the benefit to the public morals of the commonwealth will be greater in confining this woman to the penitentiary for life in place of hanging her by the neck until dead, I therefore commute the sentence of the said Maggie Myers, alias Aggie Myers, from death to imprisonment in the state penitentiary as long as her life shall last.
Aggie Myers and Frank Hottman were tried and convicted of murdering Clarence Myers, husband of the former, at his home in the city two years ago. It was one of the most cold-blooded killings ever recorded in Kansas City. In the trial of Mrs. Myers it was proved that she planned the murder of her husband and helped to cut his throaat during his struggle with Hottman in his own home the night of the tragedy. Hottman made a full confession, pleaded guilty and testified against Mrs. Myers. She stood trial, was convicted and sentenced to hang along with Hottman. The execution of the death sentence has been stayed from time to time on account of legal proceedings which have been filed by her attorneys. The case was carried from the local county court to the state supreme court, the later sustaining the decision of the lower tribunal, and the last delay was obtained by the filing of an appeal to the supreme court of the United States. Mrs. Myers and Hottman were to have been hanged tomorrow and the death watch has been maintained over Hottman for the past several days. HOTTMAN REMAINS STOLID. When Frank Hottman was seen in the death cell at the county jail last night and told of the governor's act in commuting his and Mrs. Myers' sentence to life imprisonment, he made no reply, but stood with his hands in his pockets and gazed at the floor. "Well, Frank, don't the news make you feel good?" he was asked. "I haven't got anything to say." "You are not sorry the governor commuted your sentence?" "No, I am glad that he did that and I feel grateful to him, but it don't make me happy. I cannot talk to you about my case until I see my lawyer. He was here to see me yesterday, but I haven't seen him since. As a matter of fact, I made up my mind to accept any old fate that might come my way." "Now that it is all over, your sentence commuted to life imprisonment, what about your confession, did you sear to the truth?" Hottman was asked. "I don't want to answer you." "Well, you know whether or not you told the truth when you said Mrs. Myers planned the murder of her husband and persuaded you to help her in the commission of the crime?" MAY TALK LATER ON. "I don't want to talk to you about that now. After I see my lawyer I will give you a story." "Is there any question about the truthfulness of your statement made to the prosecuting attorney?" "Now, you musn't get mad at me for not answering your question, but I have been instructed not to talk." "Will you make another confession before being taken to the penitentiary?" "I don't know. I can't answer you." "You don't deny now that you and Mrs. Myers killed Clarence, do you?" "You musn't ask me any more questions, for I will not answer you until I have talked to my lawyer." Hottman is still in a very despondent state of mind. He seemed to feel good over the fact that the governor commuted his sentence, yet he showed no particular outward signs of gratification. He doesn't appear to hold out any hope for the future. Had he been informed that the governor refused to interfere in his case and that the death sentence would be carried out Wednesday, the chances are that he would have felt just as he did when told his sentence had been commuted. He appears to have lost all interest in life, and it is possible that he will tell a new story about the murder of young Myers before he is taken to Jefferson City to begin his sentence of life servitude. MRS. MYERS IS GRATEFUL. It was Sheriff William Thomason, of Clay county, who first informed Mrs. Myers of the governor's action in commuting her sentence to life imprisonment. She is in the county jail at Liberty. She accepted the tidings with little concern. "I am very grateful to the governor for doing what he did," were her words to Sheriff Thomason. She did not appear the least bit excited and received the news as though it was nothing more than she had expected. Sheriff Tomason stated that he did not know just when he would take Mrs. Myers to the penitentiary, but said that he would transfer her just as soon as possible. The appeal of the case of Mrs. Myers to the supreme court of the United States will now be dismissed by her attorneys. In a message to the secretary of state relative to the action of commuting the sentences Governor Folk states that he believes the public morals will be better conserved by commuting the sentence of Mrs. Myers of life imprisonment than by hanging her. In the case of her accomplice, Frank Hottman, he said, similar facts to those in the Myers case exist and for that reason he also commuted Hottman's sentence to life imprisonment. Labels: death penalty, domestic violence, Governor Folk, jail, Jefferson City, murder, penitentiary April 7, 1907
POSED AS AUTHOR
A. S. ROBERTS ACCUSED BY HIS EMPLOYERS OF THEFT.
GOLD VANISHED IN LUMPS
DREW HIS SALARY EVEN AFTER BEING DISCHARGED. Posing as William McCloud Raney, Roberts Obtained Position With Keaton-Williams Gold Com- pany -- Roberts Says He Refunded Part.
A. S. ROBERTS.
Who Pretended to Be William McCloud
Raney, the Short Story Writer.
To pose for a year as William McCloud Raney, the author, his employers congratulated themselves upon securing the services of such an able writer and competent employe, who under the cognomen succeeded in defrauding the firm of the Keaton-Williams Gold Company out of $1500 worth of pure dental gold; finally to draw salary secretly for two weeks after his identity became known to the company, is said to be the record of Alexis S. Roberts, the young man who is now in a cell in the county jail awaiting trial on the charge of embezzlement. He was arrested at St. Louis a few days ago on a description set out by the Pinkerton detective agency and brought back to this city for trial.
In his cell yesterday young Roberts, who is only 23 years old, admitted he had deceived his employers by posing as Raney, the author, but says that his real name became known to the company before he left its employ. He admitted that he appropriated a large amount of gold and sold it to local dentists, but says that he had a final settlement with his employers before he left the city. His father, David Roberts, was secretary of the company, and according to his statement, his father assigned his years' salary to the company as partial payment of his shortage, and that he gave the company $500 in cash and signed a promissory note in the sum of $500, payable in one year, bearing interest at 8 per cent. He says that he thought that his troubles were all settled.
Roberts was brought back from St. Louis Friday by detectives and arraigned before Justice Shoemaker. His preliminary hearing was set for next Thursday at 2 o'clock and he was committed to jail in default of $1000 bond.
He began to pose as Raney, the author, two weeks after going to work for the dental gold manufacturers. At that time he showed his employers a forged letter from a publishers' syndicate, addressing him as William McCloud Raney, complimenting his last story and mentioning an enclosure of $150. The letter stated that a story of similar value could be used each week.
Then Roberts began to spend money -- and the money end of the then-new firm began to ask the partner who conducted the laboratory, where the promised profits were to commence showing up. The laboratory man declared his process should be paying, but he could not explain where the gold was going. There was trouble in the firm, and Keaton, who owned the process, several times in despair, deserted his partner, Williams; then he would come back to try to demonstrate that the process paid. Now they both remember that three days after Roberts went to work, a lump of gold weighing about 2 1/2 ounces disappeared and the new employe, convinced both that there had been only four lumps where there were five.
Roberts' father, David Roberts, a Canadian like Mr. Roberts, who financed the firm, had been made secretary of the company. Anytime one of the Raney stories came out in one of the well-known magazines or in the syndicated papers, there was rejoicing among all who were acquainted with the young wizard, who assisted in the laboratory. Two of his sisters arrived from Grand Junction, Col., and smothered him with congratulations on his latest success, "The Robbers' Roost." Out on Troost avenue, where the Williamses lived, there was some discussion as to whether Raney's "Girl from Salt Lake," published in the Red Book, was or was not better than "The Automobile Holdup," with 101 Ranch for its scene.
Meanwhile, Mr. Williams' 999.9 pure gold, costing $21 an ounce at the Philadelphia mint, was being peddled around Kansas City at $19 per ounce, when dentists and jewelers ordinarily used gold only about half as fine. Every month for more than a year Roberts, it is alleged, personally supplied certain customers, and representing himself to be a member of the firm, did his own collecting.
One day the pseudo-author, in the presence of the firm, nonchalantly offered to write his father a check for $1000 to pay off some indebtedness. This was not thought unreasonable, as the Raney stories, coming out regularly, were supposed to be netting him $750 a month.
Finally Mr. Williams, attempting to collect a book account of several months' standing, says he found that Roberts had receipted the customers' bills monthly. Then, for the first time, Williams realized that his partner was not to blame for wasting gold. The Pinkertons were put on Roberts' track. They found at once where about $1000 worth of gold had been sold. Roberts was confronted and it is claimed confessed to each separate transaction he was charged with, but would volunteer no additional confessions, thought it is said now that about $3,200 worth of gold has disappeared.
Williams, whose pocketbook had suffered, caused the young man to report to the Pinkertons each day at 11 o'clock, and in the office and laboratory his absence was supposed to be due to sickness. Twice on payday, however, he is said to have entered the office in Williams' absence and drew his weekly pay.
"Those two weeks pay," said Williams yesterday, "made about the bitterest part of the dose I swallowed, for I was being generous and lenient with him at the time and thought the boy was frightened."
Working hard to see if he could recover any part of his loss, Williams was one day surprised by a payment of $500 from Roberts. This, it was learned later, he had borrowed from his brother-in-law, a merchant in Austin, Mo.
Under the surveillance of the Pinkertons, Roberts works a week at a time in several places, at last coming to Williams with the complaint that his record being known here made it hard to keep employment in Kansas City. He wanted to go to St. Louis, his home. This he was allowed to do, reporting regularly to the Pinkerton agency in St. Louis.
Mr. Williams says that Roberts failed to keep his promises and the authorities of St. Louis were asked to arrest him. His wife is in St. Louis.
Roberts had been graduated from the Christian Brothers college in St. Louis only shortly before coming to Kansas City. His father resigned his position with the Keaton-Williams' company, when the trouble came out last November. He has since gone to Ogden, Utah.Labels: business, con artist, crime, detectives, embezzlement, jail, Judge Shoemaker, St Louis, Troost avenue April 5, 1907 SLEEPING MAN SPEAKS.
General Hospital Patient May Be Victim to Acute Melancholia.
L. C. Webster, who has been at the general hospital nearly four days with what physicians believed was sleeping sickness, spoke yesterday. He is now believed by Dr. Johnson, house surgeon, to be suffering from acute melancholia.
In response to questions by a nurse, Webster yesterday nodded twice. Later, he asked for a drink of water. The nurse told him he would not get it unless he opened his eyes. Webster complied with the condition. The patient is being closely watched.
Acute melancholia is a form of insanity.
Mrs. Lillian Alexander slept at the Bethany hospital in Kansas City, Kas., in October, 1900, for fifty-four hours. When she awoke she appeared to be in a normal condition, and talked freely with the attendants at the hospital. Then after two days, she went to sleep again for 103 hours, or nearly five days.
Mrs. Alexander came from Leavenworth to the hospital. Her mother said that in Leavenworth she slept continuously for twenty-five, waking the day before she was brought to the hospital, October 20. Previous to that time she had once slept for five days. The doctors attending Mrs. Alexander said she was suffering from melancholia. She was shortly afterward adjudged insane and taken to the asylum at Osawatomie. There she again went into a deep sleep from which she never awakened.
Mrs. Alexander slept part of the time with her eyes open. Her breathing was like that of a sleeping person, and in all way s she appeared to be sleeping. She was given necessary food through a tube.
Mrs. Alexander was a widow, 34 years old, with two children. She was a music teacher and worked herself into an hysterical condition.
William Fullcher slept for 115 hours in the Wyandotte county jail about three years ago.Labels: general hospital, illness, jail, Leavenworth, mental health |
