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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 15, 1908 BELIEVES SHE IS HIS WIFE.
Convict Writes Concerning a Poor Teamster's Daughter.
The Journal of April 28 contained a story the heading of which read, "Here's an Unfortunate Man." It told of a teamster who had to support eleven persons on $10 a week. His wife had just become hopelessly insane and he was compelled to borrow $30 from his employer.
The story said that a daughter, 20 years old, and her two children were living at home because her husband had deserted her some time before. Yesterday Colonel J. C. Greenman who handled the case got a letter from Elmer Albertin, now known as "No. 9738" in the penitentiary at Jefferson City. In inclosed the clipping from The Journal.
"I cut this story out of an old Kansas City Journal," he wrote. "While the story contains no names, I feel sure that the deserted woman with the two children is my wife. I did not desert her, but have been a victim of circumstances.
"At the time I left home I went out into Kansas and worked in the harvest fields. When, by hard work, I had saved $17 I started for home. While sitting on the platform of a depot in a small town two men came up behind me and one of them knocked me senseless. Then they robbed me. A big gash was cut in my head and was sewed up there."
The man goes on with some unimportant data and winds up with "Then I came into Missouri and now I am here for two years." He did not say what he had done or where he was sent up from.
Colonel Greenman enclosed the letter with a brief note to the man about whom the story was written and told him to give it to his daughter. If she proves to be Albertin's wife an effort may be made to get him pardoned as his family here is greatly in need of his support.
The same story was returned to The Journal by a prosperous farmer to Effingham, Kas, who offers to put the unfortunate teamster and his whole family on a well stocked farm. That letter as sent to the man yesterday by Colonel Greenman with instructions to reply direct to the kind hearted Kansas man.Labels: Col. J. C. Greenman, farmers, Jefferson City, marriage, penitentiary, teamster, The Journal 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 September 7, 1907
AMERICANS GET FREEDOM.
Former Kansas City Man Among Two Released by Mexican Officials.
Edward Stover, formerly of Kansas City, nine years ago a conductor on the Hannibal & St. Joseph railway, and W. B. Speed, of Dallas, Tex., conductors on the Mexican Central railroad, who were imprisoned without trial more than a year ago in the penitentiary at San Luis Potosi, Mexico, have been released unconditionally by the Mexican government. The men were arrested following a fight between Americans and Mexicans, in which a Mexican was killed. Speed was not even a witness of the fight, and while Stover was there he was not concerned in it.
Labels: penitentiary August 20, 1907
AGGIE MYERS TIRES OF PRISON.
She May Try to Interest Her Friends in Getting a Pardon From Folk.
Aggie Myers is taking the first step toward getting out of the Missouri penitentiary, where she is under life sentence. She has written friends in Kansas City to the effect that the hard work to which she is asigned in the close confinement of the prison are undermining her health. She is employed at one of the big sewing machine factories in the overall factory.
The fact that Folk commuted the sentences of Edgar Bailey, "Lord" Barrington and other murderers, including Aggie Myers and Frank Hottman, probably gives the Myers woman hope of extreme executive clemency from the governor before he goes out of office.Labels: Governor Folk, penitentiary August 5, 1907 WIFE'S HEALTH BROKEN
AFTER OBTAINING HUSBAND'S RELEASE FROM PRISON.
Money She Had Saved to Pay Her Fare to Arizona Spent in the Effort to Obtain Hus- band's Pardon.
Lying bedfast, a sufferer of consumption due partly to her husband's incarceration in the Arkansas penitentiary, Mrs. John A. Lowrey, 1106 Cherry street, is living daily in the hope that some means may be provided whereby she can be taken to Arizona, where physicians say recovery is possible.
For six months Mrs. Lowrey pleaded with the authorities of Arkansas to release her husband, every day exhausting some new resource, and every day renewing with indomitable energy her fight for his pardon.
Finally, in sheer desperation, she sought the aid of kind friends in Kansas City. She told them of her plight, and said she must secure Lowrey's release or die an early death. Protesting that he was innocent of the charge upon which he was summarily convicted and quickly railroaded to prison, where he was sentenced to one year's servitude in Little Rock, after two juries had failed to agree, she won her first victory and went to Arkansas.
As only a loving mother and a devoted wife can plead, Mrs. Lowrey, with evidence tending to show that her husband was probably innocent of the crime of robbing a man in Fort Smith, eloquently and forcibly presented her case.
Returning to her two little children in Kansas City, weakened and much worse as the result of her long trip, Mrs. Lowrey daily awaited news from Arkansas. The days passed without cheering news and the weeks came and went.
One day a telegram came telling her that her fight was won and that on the following day, July 27, John Lowrey would be a free man.
Without funds or friends, Lowrey made his way back to Kansas City as quickly as possible. Then came the reunion. But with all its joys it had been saddened by the decline of the faithful wife's health.
Like his wife, broken in health as a result of his prison life and reduced to poverty, in debt, but not without friends, the husband started life anew.
But with his wife a victim of tuberculosis, unable to render him even the necessary assistance towards the care of the home and children, the burden of Lowrey was doubled.
Then followed the struggle for regained health. Mrs. Lowrey believed that her husband's return to her would give her new strength sufficient at least to overcome the disease which had taken hold of her.
The crisis came yesterday. The family physician told the sick woman that her only hope for life lies in a speedy change of climate, Arizona preferably.
Now a greater problem than that which faced him several months ago faces John Lowrey.
"My heroic wife secured my freedom from prison; how can I take her to Arizona?"
"I am doing all in my power to save my wife's life," said Lowrey last night. "I owe a debt of gratitude to my brave wife more sacred, if possible, than that of a mere husband. We believe that her life can be greatly prolonged by a change to a Western climate. I hope to obtain work on the railroad at Phoenix; I am corresponding with the officials there now and I look for a favorable reply in a day or two."
Mrs. Lowrey had saved $50 to pay her fare at the time her husband's trouble occurred. It was a fortune to her. She spent her money in her efforts to secure her husband's release from prison.Labels: Cherry street, illness, penitentiary July 27, 1907 TRIO BACK TO ST. JOSEPH.
One Is Accused of Having Stolen From His Father.
Fred Folk, 23 years old, H. A. Barnes, 25 years old and Mrs. Cora Searcey, all of St. Joseph, were arrested at a rooming house at 516 East Eleventh street by Detectives Orford and McAnany at the request of Detective J. T. Frans of St. Joseph, last night on a charge of grand larceny. The trio, accompanied by two small children of Mrs. Searcey, came to Kansas City yesterday morning, bringing with them, it is claimed, personal property belonging to J. R. Barnes, father of H. A. Barnes.
The police say Folk is a paroled prisoner under sentence of three years in the state penitentiary on a charge of burglary and larceny. Young Barnes, it is claimed, had robbed his father of about $60 worth of property of various descriptions, and the woman is charged with having fraudulently drawn her husband's pay check from a packing plant Thursday and eloped to Kansas City with Barnes.
The prisoners will be taken to St. Joseph this morning.Labels: crime, detectives, Eleventh street, penitentiary, rooming house, St.Joseph, streetcar July 19, 1907 ANDERSON IS FREE TODAY.
His Three Months Seemed Like a Year to Him.
William January, alias Charles W. Anderson, will be discharged from the United States penitentiary at Leavenworth in time this morning for him to catch the Missouri Pacific train leaving for Kansas City at 6:18 a. m. None of his friends will be there to go with him, Warden McClaughry having advised Anderson to go out early to avoid attention there and have his friends meet him at the depot in Kansas City. At the depot they will have a new suit ready for Anderson and he will go over to the Blossom house and change his attire. Dressed in the latest style he will make the trip uptown.
Anderson said last evening that he expected to open a pool hall in Kansas City, but added that he would not start in business for some time. He will visit his mother in Chillicothe, Mo., first. He will also be met at the depot by his wife and daughter.
Anderson says his three months in prison have seemed like a year to him, but he admits that he was treated very kindly during his confinement.Labels: billiards, Charles Anderson, Leavenworth, penitentiary, railroad June 1, 1907
THE INFORMER GOES
BETRAYER OF ANDERSON RE- MOVES TO INDIAN TERRITORY.
HAS SOLD HIS BUSINESS
HAD LUCRATIVE TRADE BEFORE HE GAVE UP EX-CONVICT Pledged Himself to Reveal the True Cause for His Act When Ander- son Is Released, but It Is Not Believed He Will Ever Tell.
Benjamin F. Barnes, who informed on Charles W. Anderson, the escaped convict, has removed his harness shop business to the Indian Territory. At 2845 Southwest boulevard his wife, with its former good patronage regained for her little bakery, is waiting with her infant and her 5-year-old son until the location of the new home is finally decided upon.
Barnes' goods were sent to Ada, I. T., where he has an uncle. This is near Sapulpa, and from Sapulpa Barnes had a long distance telephone talk with his wife before the goods were sent yesterday. She says they expect to locate somewhere in Texas and that the harness stock is to be stored at the uncle's only temporarily.
It was in Indian Territory that Barnes nineteen years ago committed the crime for which five years later was captured, and sent to the federal penitentiary, where he knew January, alias Anderson. Later both came to Kansas City. Barnes says that he found out Anderson caused him to lose a position with a saddlery concern about three years ago and had, after that, done things to injure his business on Southwest boulevard.
Against this is Anderson's alleged statement since returning to the penitentiary that Barnes made a practice of demanding sums of money from him. Barnes says that his business was profitable and that he did not need money.
After Anderson was returned to prison, Barnes announced that on his being set free he would exploit his motive for notifying Warden McClaughry. As Anderson will not be set free until July 19, and Barnes is already residing in a distant territory, Kansas City will probably be cheated out of this revelation.
While a notable change has taken place to the sentiments of the Southwest boulevard people on the Barnes-Anderson case, their gossip has developed some new observations. Men who at first were anxious to help tar and feather Barnes or drive him from the town, now agree that an injustice was done to him and that the wave of sympathy on the other shop was inexplicable in the light of the fact that most normal people do want the authorities to know the whereabouts of escaped convicts, whether good or bad.
Mrs. Barnes, the mother of a babe of 5 weeks when the sensation came, comes of an excellent family now living in St. Joseph, Mo. Two of her uncles held superintendents' positions with the Metropolitan Street Railway Company in the city for years, and are similarly engaged on other roads now. One of her own cousins in a practicing dentist of the city. The family, it is said, did not know Barnes was an ex-convict at the time of the young woman's marriage. Mrs. Barnes says they are leaving merely for business reasons and that all the neighbors were friendly and considerate with them.Labels: Charles Anderson, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, penitentiary, Southwest boulevard Special Report -- C. W. ANDERSON
THE LETTERS THAT BETRAYED.
They Show That Barnes Turned Informer for $60 Reward
Here is the correspondence through which William January, once a prisoner, afterwards Charles W. Anderson, model citizen, was apprehended, later arrested and taken back to the federal prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kas., and on account of which, as William January, he is again wearing stripes while the wife and little daughter are left helpless at home:
"Kansas City, Mo., March 21, '07
To the Warden.
Dear Sirs: -- I understand that you have a man that escaped from the old prison in 1898 by the name of January. His number was 892 or 292 or some such number. If you will send me his picture I will loket him for the reward and expenses. Let me know by return mail or telephone me."
The informer signed his name with a rubber stamp. His name is Barnes and he is a harness maker. In a few days another letter was forwarded to Warden R. W. McClaughry. It bore no date and read:
"As I have not heard from you in regard to the prisoner by the name of Bill January. I have still got him located easy to get. You send a man down and I will tell him or show him where he is at. I would arrest him but I don't want anyone to know it. I found it out on the quiet and may find out more. Write me about what to do. I will show him up for the reward of $60."
Again Barnes, who possibly can't write plain enough to be read, signed his name with the rubber stamp. He was trafficking in a human being for which he was to get $60 -- but he did not want to be known. On March 22 Warden R. W. McClaughry wrote to Barnes as follows:
"Your letter of March 21 came to hand. In reply I have to say that a prisoner named William January, No. 308 (clothes 272) did make his escape from the United States penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kas., on the night of December 9, 1898, and is still at large.
His present whereabouts are unknown to us. He is still wanted by the United States government on the charge of being a fugitive from the penitentiary.
I will pay the reward of sixty dollars ($60) for his arrest and detention until delivered to an officer from this penitentiary, or I will pay in addition to the reward the actual and reasonably incurred expenses between the place of arrest and this penitentiary on condition that the right man is delivered here. Will be pleased to hear from you at an early date. We have plenty of means to positively identify the man if he is delivered here. "
I seems that no more letters passed between Warden McClaughry and the informer, Barnes. Instead, however, the warden wrote to Chief of Police John Hayes on April 18 as follows, sending Barnes' letter:
"Inclosed find copies of correspondence which I have had with a man in your city a Mr. -----Barnes of No. -----. I do not know anything about this man Barnes, but rather suspect that he is a former prisoner from this penitentiary and that he is well acquainted with the escaped prisoner, William January, No. 272, whom we want back here to serve the unexpired part of his term which he owes here. I will pay $60 (sixty dollars) for the arrest and detention of January until he is safely delivered to an officer from this penitentiary. I will be very much obliged if you will kindly detail a couple of officers to go and see this man Barnes and see if they can get this man January. If your officers learn that January is out of Kansas City please call me up on the telephone and I will decide what to do about it. Thank you in advance for anything you may do for me in this matter, I remain, Very respectfully, R. W. MCCLAUGHRY, Warden."
The correspondence was given into the hands of Detectives Oldham and Ghent, with instructions to see Barnes. They did so on strict instructions from Chief Hayes to arrest January on view and bring him in. It has not been so stated, but it seems rather odd that January should have been arrested on the same street where Barnes has a small business., but it looks as if the escaped man may have been called down there for some purpose or other by the man who sought only the $60 reward. The detectives carried a photograph of the man wanted. Barnes identified it as that of Charles W. Anderson.
"When the man was pointed out to us on the street," the detectives said yesterday, "we arrested him, just as we would have arrested any other man for whom we had been sent out. The first thing Barnes mentioned to us was the reward. We told him that was a matter purely between him and the warden, as we expected no reward and were only sent to arrest January on orders from the chief.
"If it is true that Barnes cannot receive the reward after all, on account of some technicality, we want to state right now that not one penny will be touched by us. We knew nothing of Anderson's life here and never knew he was married and had a little baby until after the arrest. Even had we known that, however, acting under orders as we were, we still would have been compelled to arrest him."
Mrs. Charles W. Anderson, leading her little girl by the hand, went to police headquarters yesterday afternoon to ask only one question.
"What is the name of the man who caused my husband's arrest and where does he live?"
She was given all the information and told just how the arrest was brought about. "That man may have a wife, perhaps children, too," she said, as big tears trickled down her pale cheeks. "If he has I hope that they may never be caused to suffer as I am suffering now on account of the greed of a despicable informer." She made no note of the man's name, saying that she could never forget it as long as she lived. Then she and the little girl left the station hand in hand.Labels: Charles Anderson, detectives, Leavenworth, penitentiary, Police Chief Hayes, police headquarters Special Report -- C. W. ANDERSON
STYLE OF PETITION BEING CIRCULATED IN ANDERSON'S BEHALF.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Sir: -- We, the undersigned citizens of Kansas City, Missouri, respectfully petition your excellency to grant a full pardon to one Charles W. Anderson, who is now confined in the federal prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and in support of this petition beg to submit the following brief statement of the facts: The prisoner, Anderson, was confined in the prison nearly thirteen years ago, at the age of 21 years, under a five-year sentence for larceny from the postoffice of Stillwater, O. T. He served within eight months of his term (allowed time off for good behavior), when he embraced an opportunity to escape and fled to Kansas City, where he has been for the last nine years. On the 19 th day of April, 1907, another ex-convict, who was confined in the prison at the same time, recognized Anderson, and disclosed his whereabouts to the federal authorities, and for the $60 reward originally offered for his return, Anderson was immediately arrested, and on the next day was taken back to prison. During the nine years that Anderson lived in this community, we have learned to respect and honor him as one of our best citizens. He married an estimable young lady, and to them was born a daughter three year ago. He worked hard until he accumulated sufficient funds to start a small business of his own, and always encouraged his few employes along the lines of honesty and sobriety. His industry and his devotion to his home and family have won for him the respect and confidence of this community to an unusual degree, and we can safely say that there is not anyone of us in whose integrity greater confidence has been reposed than in Mr. Anderson, and this has extended over a period of nine years. We fell, therefor, that these years of exemplary life has fully atoned for a crime committed when a mere boy, and that the ends of justice will be the best subserved by restoring him again to his family, and we ask this with the full confidence that if clemency is extended to him he will be as good a citizen in the future as he has been for the last nine years. He was confined in prison under the name of William January. 
CELL OCCUPIED BY ANDERSON IN
THE FEDERAL PRISON.
Labels: Charles Anderson, Leavenworth, penitentiary Special Report -- C. W. ANDERSON
WIFE HOPES FOR PARDON SOON.
Visited Anderson Yesterday -- Grateful for Efforts in His Behalf."It will only be a few days, I know, before baby and I will have him with us," said Mrs. Charles Anderson last night at her home, 1117 Holmes street, in referring to her husband. "But God only knows how long those days will be to us. It seems now that years have passed since he was taken away. Everyone has been kind to us, thought, and I probably should not complain."
Mrs. Anderson and her 3-year-old daughter, Lucille, went to Leavenworth yesterday, and were allowed a two hours' conference at the penitentiary with Anderson. They returned last evening. After their return, several friends called at the home to offer consolation and to encourage her in her trouble. Among them were Fred Aldergott, J. K. Butler, J. B. Gurnan and R. H. Kerr, all former associates of Anderson, and among those most actively interested in the movement to obtain his freedom.
"My husband was in fairly good spirits today," said Mrs. Anderson. "He had only learned today what was being done in his behalf by the people of Kansas City, and I tell you he is grateful. He cried when I told him how kind the people are to baby and me, and when I told him how a mighty effort is being made by the people to secure his release, he seized baby in his arms and cried still harder. Baby cried and I cried, too, but they were not entirely tears of sorrow. I had gone there with the intention of cheering him, instead of making him more depressed, and determined not to cry, but it was the thought of the kindness of our friends that prompted me to do it."
Warden McClaughry gave Mrs. Anderson permission to see her husband on any day she visited the penitentiary, excepting Saturdays and Sundays. She will try to visit the institution once every week.
"If my husband is not pardoned," said Mrs. Anderson, "I will probably have to move to Leavenworth, where I will be near him."
Anderson is working in the laundry department at the prison. His duties are not arduous, and, as he told his wife, he has received excellent treatment since his return. Labels: Charles Anderson, Holmes street, Leavenworth, penitentiary April 22, 1907
UNITE FOR PARDON.
BUSINESS MEN ACTIVE ON BEHALF OF C. W. ANDERSON. PETITIONS QUICKLY SIGNED.
MASS MEETING WILL BE HELD TONIGHT ON TWELFTH.
Persons Who Did Not Know Ander- son Are Interested in the Move- ment to Secure His Release-- Only the President Can Free Kansas Cityan.
Today a thousand men, representing every walk of life in Kansas City, will begin working to secure a pardon for Charles W. Anderson, who escaped from the penitentiary at Leavenworth nine years ago with but eight months of five years sentence before him for robbing a post office in Oklahoma, and was arrested here Saturday and taken back to the prison.
A mass meeting of business men who knew Anderson will be held tonight at 702 East Twelfth street with a view of securing a pardon. Petitions were circulated yesterday and one of them had forty signers within an hour after it had been drawn. Last night seventy-five names were on the list.
This petition was drawn in behalf of Anderson to be presented in connection with a petition which will be sent to President Roosevelt. Other similar petitions, to be attached to an original paper which will be presented at the meeting tonight, have been scattered about the city and the signers ask no questions. Many of them know Anderson personally and describe him as a hale fellow well met, honest and trustworthy.
THREE PETITIONS OUT. Congressman E. C. Ellis has been invited to attend the meeting tonight and it is expected that he will be there. When asked last night what he would do for the prisoner, he said: I have not investigated the matter as much as I should like to, but will do so tomorrow and if he is as worthy as he is said to be I will present the petition for his pardon to President Roosevelt. If the reports of him are true I will be very glad to take the matter up." The petitions started yesterday will be given active circulation today. One of them was placed in Brooks' restaurant, 210 East Twelfth street, another at Clifford's cigar store at Twelfth street and Grand avenue, and a third, which received more signatures than the rest, in Lorber's cigar store, 317 East Twelfth street. Lorber, who has known him in a business way for several years, says that Anderson has been prompt in his payments and that he did not hesitate at any time to trust "Charlie" for $75 or $100. In fact, when Anderson wanted to buy his partner's interest in February, a year ago, Lorber advanced the necessary money to him on Anderson's mere statement he did not have enough money to make the purchase. "Did he pay it back?" exclaimed Lorber, almost in astonishment that the question should be asked, "Well, I should say he did. And quickly, too. And more than that, all of his payments on bills of goods were made promptly. No one questioned the honestly of Anderson." BUSINESS RECORD HERE. All of his friends know him as Anderson. "Charlie," they call him, and in the familiarity of the name itself they express sentiment of men who, when they know a man, know him well. Anderson first went into business for himself at 720 East Twelfth street, April 4, 1905, in partnership with a man named Lowry, purchasing the latter's interest in the restaurant over a year ago. After running the business alone for a year and two days, he sold out, and started to look for a better location. He was always cheerful, it is said, and everyone who refers to his home life speaks of his affection for his little girl, 3 years old, and his wife. "Is it justice to take a man who is working industriously and trying hard to succeed, back to prison for a crime committed twelve years ago?" asked a friend of his last night on a street corner where the arrest of Anderson for a forgotten robbery was the chief subject of discussion. A number of citizens called on Charles Riehl, assistant prosecuting attorney, last night to have him draw up the petition which will be presented to President Roosevelt. It is doubtful if Kansas City ever took as much interest in the release of a prisoner as has been shown in seeking the liberation of Anderson. Not only those who knew him but men who never heard his name before are actively working for his release. Labels: business, Charles Anderson, cigars, Congressman Ellis, Grand avenue, Leavenworth, penitentiary, post office, President Roosevelt, Twelfth street April 17, 1907 PRINTER TOOK ALL THE E'S.
Ruined Fonts of Type and Asked Penitentiary Sentence
Judge Wallace, of the criminal court, yesterday refused to accept a plea of guilty from Fred A. Kallett, a printer, charged with grand larceny, whoo had ruined nearly every font of type in a printing office by stealing and destroying the "e's." Kallett wanted to be sent to penitentiary. He haad been told by Lewis McCandless, the assistannt prosecutor, who had filed the information against him, that instead of being guilty of grand larceny, he might only be guilty of a misdermeanor, and receive a jail sentence, but Kallett did not want to go to jail.
"I prefer to go to the penitentiary," he said.
McCandless advised Judge Wallace of the case, and the judge refused to accept the plea of guilty, and asked to have the printer brought before him this morning, when the case will be tried.Labels: crime, criminal court, Judge Wallace, penitentiary 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 14, 1907 INTRUDER GETS FIVE YEARS.
Women's Screams Frightened Joseph Goldberg From Oak Street Home Joseph Goldberg, who was discovered in the home of Louis Greenberg Wednesday night by one of Greenberg's daughters and frightened from the house by the screams of the women, pleade dguilty to a charge of grand larceny in the criminal court yesterday and was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. Goldberg was arrested by a policeman a block form the Greenberg house, at 1828 Oak Street. Labels: crime, criminal court, Oak street, penitentiary April 14, 1907
THINKS PRISON WILL CURE HIM.
Plea of Guilty Entered by Former Sailor for This Reason.
Admitting himself to be a slave to the drug habit, William McKenzie, 37 years old, a college graduate, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary by Judge Wallace, of the criminal court, yesterday. McKenzie told the judge that while on a United States warship eighteen years ago, an accident received made the use of morphine necessary, to relieve his suffereing and that since that time he has been addicted to the drug.
It has wrecked me mentally and physically," said McKenzie, "and while under its influence I know I have done things which are criminal. Since I have been confined in the jail I have received treatment which has benefited me greatly and I believe if it were continued, I could be cured."
"I feel sorry for you," said Judge Wallace. "I will let you plead guilty to grand larceny and give you the minimum sentence of two years in the penitentiary. I think it is the best thing to do under the circumstances. You will be treated there for your unfortunate habit, and, I hope, be cured."Labels: criminal court, Judge Wallace, military, penitentiary April 11, 1907 WHEN SON IS CONVICTED.
Aged Mother Faints in Court and Begs for Death.
Mrs. Catherine Cavanaugh, an aged, white haired woman from Colorado City, Col., came to Kansas City several months ago because her son, M. G. Goodale, was under arrest charged with a serious crime. She talked with him daily and, mother like, was at once imbued with the thought that her son was innocent. She visited him often in the hope of soon seeing him free. The case was put off twice and Mrs. Cavanaugh's money gave out. Then she was compelled to seek shelter and care from a charitable institution, the Helping Hand institute.
She has been there now over two months, awaiting the day when her son would be free to go home with her and gladden her declining years. Yesterday the case went to trial and the faithful, always hopeful mother was present during it all. When the jury brought in a verdict of seven years in the penitentiary, Mrs. Cavanaugh fell back in a faint. When her son was led from the court room, she did not know it.
Deputy Marshal N. B. Olson went to her assistance and when she had revived started with her to the Helping Hand. "I have noting more to life for now," she told Olson, "for my son is dead, dead, dead. Let me go to the river and end it all."
Olson said that Mrs. Cavanaugh begged piteously to be taken to the river or even to be shown where it was. She tried in her feeble way to tear loose from him at one time and throw herself under a passing street car. At the Helping Hand last night Mrs. Cavanaugh, who is over 80 years old, was being closely watched.
The testimony on which Goodale was convicted was given by Mrs. Cavanaugh's own daughter, Goodale's sister. The charge was a statutory one.Labels: courtroom, crime, Helping Hand, penitentiary 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 March 28, 1907 FINGER PRINTS FOR CROOKS.
Kansas City Police Department Adopts a New System.
The finger print system for identification of criminals has been adopted by the local police department, and, beginning this morning, finger prints of each criminal or suspect arrested will be taken by the police bureau of identification. Harry E. Stege, director of Bertillon measurements and rogues' gallery photographer, spent yesterday at Leavenworth, where, under the direction of M. W. McClaughry, record clerk at the United states penitentiary, he received final instructions in taking and filing finger print measurements.
For a number of years the rogues' gallery has been a part of the system of identification of criminals used by the local police department, and about eight years ago the Bertillon system of measurements was adopted. Efficient as these have proved in aiding to run down criminals and in their identification, the addition of the finger print system, it is believed, will make more perfect the means by which identification may be made.Labels: crime, Leavenworth, penitentiary, police March 22, 1907 HIS SPEECH BETRAYED HIM.
Jury Gives Highwayman Six Years -- Pal Pleads Guilty, Gets Five.
Mike Savage says he is an Irishman, but he doesn't make a noise like one. He was in the criminal court yesterday and was given a sentence by a jury of six years for highway robbery. It was charged that he, with the assistance of a man named Sam Hight, held up E. E. Ellis, a brother of the congressman, near Twenty-fifth and Troost on the evening of January 5 and got $3.50 from him.
A part of the testimony for the prosecution was to the effect that the man who held up Mr. Ellishad an unusual impediment in his speech. Mr. Ellis testified that the man who had the revolver exclaimed: "Det up you han's' det 'em up, det 'em up."
During the trial Savage was not permitted by his lawyer to go on the witness stand. Throughout the trial he was mute. But he gave himself away as he left the court room after the verdict was in.
"I dant a new drial," he exclaimed, shaking his fist at Judge Slover. "I dain't doing to be done dis way in dis court."
It was to laugh, and all of the court officials, even Judge Slover, laughed.
Savages wife had made a scene in the court room only an hour or so before and was forcibly put out by the deputies. Hight, Savage's accomplice, pleaded guilty and took a sentence of five years -- one year less than Savage got by standing trial.Labels: Congressman Ellis, courtroom, crime, criminal court, highway robbery, Judge Slover, penitentiary, Troost avenue, Twenty-fifth street March 22, 1907 ADMITS SHE STOLE A HORSE.
Woman and Her Companion Are Sent to the Penitentiary. Irene Napper, 24, and Arthur Lowry, who is five years older, pleaded guilty to horse stealing in the criminal court yesterday afternoon. The woman was sentenced to the penitentiary for two years and the man for seven. They stole a team and buggy belonging to W. H. Hand from in front of the Bell Telephone building at Sixth and Wyandotte streets on March 2. Lowry had already stolen $8 from another man and had taken the woman with him to Leavenworth. They returned in a day or two and, seeing the rig, took it. They started to drive to Wichita, Kas., but got no further than Lawrence when they were arrested. "Are you married to this man?" asked Judge Slover of the woman. "No," she said. "Have you ever been married?" "Yes. My husband is in the penitentiary." "Did you know that this man Lowry has been in the penitentiary?" "Yes. He has been there twice in Kansas. Five years for horse stealing and five years for killing a man." "Who was it stole this team?" "I did." "How did you happen to do that?" "I don't know unless it was because he told me to." The woman said she was born in Rich Hill, Mo. When Judge Slover pronounced the sentence on the two, the man said, cheerfully enough, "Thank you, judge." Labels: accident, animals, crime, criminal court, Judge Slover, Leavenworth, penitentiary, Sixth street, Wyandotte street March 3, 1907
TWELVE HOURS AFTER CRIME.
Oscar Riley, Who Robbed a Store in Morning, Sentenced in Afternoon
If retribution overcame the average violator of the law as it did Oscar Riley, the chances are taht more criminals would stop and take second thought before acting. Riley is a young man who is not a dessperate character, but who figured that by theft he could supply his wants in a quicker manner than by manual labor. Among other articles of wearing apparel of which he was a trifle shy were shoes, so the display of footwear in the shop window of Greenburg's store on Grand avenue attracted his attention at an early hour yesterday morning. It was true the hour was wee when he gazed upon the shoes in the Greenburg window, but he was accustomed to such hours and his personal need of better footing caused him to stop and hesitate.
It was 3 o'clock yesterday mrning when Riley decided to break in and help himself to Mr. Greenburg's shoes. No one interfered with his trespassing, but after he had selected the pair of shoes that best suited his fancy and was in the act of making his "get away," he was taken into custody. When arraigned before Judge Slover in the criminal court yesterday afternoon, he admitted breaking into the store and stealing the shoes, and received in return for his admission of guilt a term of three years in the penitentiary at Jefferson City.Labels: crime, criminal court, Grand avenue, Jefferson City, penitentiary January 5, 1907
WAS A BAD MAN ONCE.
Former Stage Robber and Man Slayer Passes Through City
A bad man from Texas was at the Union depot last night. His name was L. A. Potter. Today it will be changed to a number, for he will be enrolled at the federaly prison at Leavenworth, where he went to spend the balance of his life. Taciturn, morose, he sat apart from the twenty other prisoners who were being transferred in a prison car to the federal prison. All efforts to draw him into conversation failed. Twenty-five years ago Potter was a terror of the Texas plains and of the Panhandle country. He robbed stage coaches and he killed those who opposed him. He shot Hal Gosling, a deputy United States marshal, to death in 1885. He has spent twenty-two years in prison and will round out his life there for the crime.
In the same prison car, on the way to the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, from the Illinois state prison at Chester, were thirteen others. James Ryan, a post-office robber, was one of them. He sent his regards to Chief Hayes.
Edward E. Watts, chief deputy United States marshall of the East district of Illinois, with six deputies, was in charge of the car. He left on the Missouri Pacific at 10:10 p.m., expecting to turn his charges over to the prison authourities before midnight.Labels: crime, Leavenworth, penitentiary, Police Chief Hayes, Union depot January 5, 1907
FREEDOM IF HE WEDS.
Edward Taylor, Fiance of "Girl Burglar," Released on Condition
On the condition that he use a marriage license which he had secured and marry Miss Cassie Pope, Edward W. Taylor, fined $100 in police court yesterday for vagrancy, was given a stay on the fine. He had to promise to leave the city.
Cassie Pope was arrested about a year ago in company with a man named Phillips. She confessed that together they had robbed at least a dozen houses here in the city. A great deal of the stolen property was recovered and Phillips sent to the penitentiary.
Taylor and Miss Pope met at the home of the former's sister two weeks ago. They planned marriage and Thursday the sicense was secured. The police arrested Taylor on suspicion, however, and he was yesterday convicted of vagrancy. He has been working as a railroad check clerk.Labels: crime, marriage, penitentiary, police court, railroad, vagrancy |
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