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June 21, 1909 MARKS CALLED A BLUFF.
Invaded an Italian Saloon Where He Had Been Threatened.
A few nights ago a carpenter, a citizen of Armourdale, Kas., strayed into an Italian saloon in West Fifth street. While there, he said he overheard the bartender and others talking of Commissioner Thomas R. Marks. Dire threats, even to cutting the commissioner's throat, or decapitating him, he claims, were made.
Believing he would do a service in warning the police of what he he heard, the carpenter went to police headquarters and told his story. While he was telling it, Mr. Marks came in and was called to hear what was said to be in store for him.
Suddenly Mr. Marks left the station. He knew the location of the saloon where the threats were said to have been made, and he went there.
"My name is Thomas R. Marks, one of the police commissioners of Kansas City," witnesses report him as saying. "I hear that someone over here is going to cut my throat or cut my head off before I reach the city hall tomorrow. Here I am and you may as well begin now."
Mr. Marks was so mad that for once he is reported to have used adjectives not in the dictionary.
"Notta me," said the man behind the bar. "Me say notta da word bout you, Mr. Commisinia de Marka. You doa one granda work. Me tink you one granda da man, good as Garibaldi or Georga de Wash. You come one wrong place; we all for Mr. Commisha de Marka."
About this time a customer arrived in the saloon, and, not knowing was was on, ordered a glass of beer. The man behind the bar, still lauding Mr. Marks, turned to draw the beer.
"Don't you turn your back on me, you stiletto-sticking, black-handed rascal," ordered the police commissioner.
The frightened Italian wheeled about with more profuse apologies, saying Mr. Marks was a greater man than "Mayor de Crit or Presidenta da Taffa."
After satisfying himself that all within his hearing had been thoroughly subdued and that no more threats would come from such a source, Mr. Marks strode from the trembling bunch of dark-eyed foreigners and went back to police headquarters. His venture was regarded as foolhardy by the police, none of whom he asked to accompany him. The police say, however, that the proprietor of that saloon now cannot have too much praise for "Mr. Commisha de Marka."Labels: Armourdale, Commissioner Marks, immigrants, police, police headquarters, saloon June 20, 1909 LEAVES THE POLICE FORCE.
Wm. Long, Jailer at Headquarters, Becomes Hotel Detective.
After more than a dozen years on the police department, William Long, the jailer at police headquarters, resigned yesterday to take a position at the Hotel Baltimore as night house officer. He will serve under H. W. Hammil, former lieutenant in the police department, who resigned to go with the hotel about three months ago.
Long was sent to the "woods" with others who thought that Hayes should have been retained as chief. He was moved back to headquarters five months ago.Labels: employment, Hotel Baltimore, jail, Lieutenant H. W. Hammil, police, police headquarters June 14, 1909 CONFISCATE 22 CASES OF BEER AT GALLAGHER'S.
POLICE ARREST 22 IN NORTH END SUNDAY RAID.
Eight Women Beside Mrs. Gallagher, Who, With Husband, Is Charged With Selling Liquor With- out a License.
Charged with selling liquor without a license, Jack Gallagher, ex-patrolman and former North End saloonkeeper, was arrested and locked up in the holdover at Central police station yesterday in default of $500 cash bond. He was arrested in a raid made by Captain Walter Whitsett on the Star hotel, Oak street and Independence avenue, at 11:30 o'clock yesterday morning.
Since Gallagher's saloon licenses were taken away from him by the board of police commissioners after he assaulted Albert King, a reporter for The Journal, he has been conducting a rooming house in the Star hotel.
Yesterday the lid in the North End was on extremely tight. Gallagher had twenty-two cases of bottled beer in a room in the hotel.
One of the numerous enemies Gallagher had made by his bullying attitude went to police headquarters about 11:00 and reported to Captain Whitsett that Gallagher was violating the excise laws. Calling Sergeant Edward McNamara and ten patrolmen, Captain Whitsett headed the squad in making the raid. Arriving at the Star hotel building, the police found the door leading to the rear stairway locked and barred. Entrance to the hotel was made by the front door.
TWENTY-NINE AND 22 CASES.
The captain and sergeant led the patrolmen in a rush up the stairway. Scattering out the patrolmen searched every room for evidence. Men and women, the police claim, were found drinking beer in several rooms. While searching the house the police discovered one room which was locked. Gallagher said he did not have the key. The prisoners were sent to the station in a patrol wagon which made three trips to take the twenty-nine persons placed under arrest.
When the locked room was entered twenty-two cases of bottled beer were found and sent to headquarters where they are held as evidence. Among the persons arrested were eight women besides Jack Gallagher's wife, who at midnight was released on a cash bond of $500.
All of those arrested said they lived at the hotel. Mrs. Gallagher denied that all of the women lived there, but said only two or three of them were roomers.
When the raid was made, Gallagher threatened to place charges against the police. Their jobs were to be had, according to him, and he told them he would get them. Until he was locked in the holdover Gallagher continued his swaggering tactics. He refused to discuss his arrest.
BEER FOR OWN USE.
Gallagher's wife informed the police that they had a government license, which expired in July. She denied that the police found anyone drinking beer, or that any beer had been sold. Before she was aware that the police had confiscated the beer, she said no evidence had been secured. When asked what they were doing with so many cases in the hotel, she said it was for their private use. Mrs. Gallagher said the police and newspapers were endeavoring to bankrupt them, but that they had plenty left. The habitues were released on $11 bond.
Jack Gallagher has had a varied experience in the North End, having been at various times a policeman, ward politician and saloonkeeper. Following numerous arrests for disturbing the peace, he was finally compelled to serve a term in the workhouse for an assault upon a newspaper man.
The officers participating in the raid under Captain Walter Whitsett were Sergeant Edward McNamara and Patrolmen George Hightower, Daniel Jones, P. J. Murphy, Vincent Maturo, Charles Walters, Walter Doman, Thomas Eads, Thomas Maddigan, Frank Rooth and Patrick Dalton.Labels: alcohol, Captain Whitsett, hotels, Independence avenue, Jack Gallagher, North end, Oak street, police, police headquarters June 14, 1909 CAN'T BE MARRIED ON SUNDAY.
Young Couple From Smithville Com- pelled to Postpone.
"It's a blame shame people can't be legally married on Sunday because it is a legal holiday," Mark Pate of Smithville, Mo., remarked to his sweetheart, Lovie Burge, as the two left police headquarters last night. The young people arrived in Kansas City from Smithville with the intention of being married.
A trip to the court house to secure the license revealed to the pair that trouble was ahead of them. Some one directed them to the county jail, but the deputy marshals pleaded ignorance as to marriage licenses and recommended police headquarters. Arm in arm the couple entered the station and inquired for a license.
"Bonds are the only legal papers we handle," Lieutenant M. E. Ryan informed them.
Then the officers became interested in the young people and by suing the telephone finally reached the county recorder, but he refused to issue a license on Sunday. A minister had been tentatively engaged to perform the ceremony by Holly Jarboe, desk sergeant, who later commanded the order.
The Smithvillians left the station discouraged, but said they would secure a license early in the morning. They came to Kansas City to avoid the "cut-ups" of their home town.Labels: courthouse, Holly Jarboe, police headquarters, romance May 23, 1909 THE WILL OF GOD IF I AM HANGED: SHARP
LEADER OF RELIGIOUS FANATICS DODGES RESPONSIBILITY.
Conflicting Testimony as to Who Started the City Hall Riot Brings Protest From the Defendant.
SHARP TRIAL'S SECOND DAY: Defense still fails to indicate any trace of an insanity plea and continues to question along self-defense lines.
Sharp interrupts and contradicts Captain Whitsett, while latter testifies.
Patrick Clark, captain of police, tells of his fight, barehanded, with Sharp, who had both revolver and knife.
Testimony as to fight on river admitted only sparingly by Judge Latshaw.
Sharp gives out statement to effect that evidence which gets at the cause of the riot is being excluded. Also ridicules introduction of his overcoat as evidence, as not proving anything.
"If they sentence me to hang it will be the will of God."
With these words James Sharp was led back to his cell in the county jail after the second day of his trial on the charge of killing Michael Mullane, a patrolman, in the city hall riot. It was the first time during yesterday that he had mentioned religious matters.
The day closed with the evidence of the state two-thirds finished and with no more traces of an insanity defense than were shown on Friday. A. E. Martin, of counsel for Sharp, stated that he had not announced any defense and that his purpose would be to break down the testimony of the state's witnesses. All of his cross-questioning, however, as told in The Journal yesterday, was directed towards showing that the band of fanatics under Sharp's leadership did not provoke the riot, but that it was started by officers. Self-defense is the logical name for such a theory of the case. The state is expected to finish its testimony by Monday evening.
Police officers gave the greater part of the testimony yesterday. Of them, Captian Walter Whitsett was on the stand the longest time. Whitsett gave his age as 41, his service in the police department as twenty years and his residence as 2631 Gillham road. On the afternoon of the riot he was at his desk in the city hall as captain commanding the headquarters precinct.
CHILDREN WERE SHOOTING.
"I heard the shooting," testified Whitsett, "took my revolver out of my desk and ran to the street. I met Captain Clark, who had been wounded, on the stairs. When I got to the middle of the street I saw Mullane standing with a club in one hand and a revolver in the other. There was a man in front of him with a revolver. The women of the band also were near at the time. There was a man with a long beard standing on the opposite corner firing in the direction of Mullane."
"Who was this man?" asked Prosecutor Conkling.
"That's him right there," said the witness, indicating Sharp.
"What happened then?"
"I fired three or four shots at him and his revolver fell out of his hand. Two or three children came up behind and began to shoot at me. When I got back on the street, after going into the station for another revolver, I saw Mullane staggering toward headquarters and helped him in. Later we searched for Sharp but could not find him. We immediately sent his description to every officer in the city and notified the surrounding towns.
"On the evening of December 10 we got word from Olathe that Sharp was under arrest there. I went there that evening with Inspector Charles Ryan."
Court adjourned at noon with Whitsett still on the stand. In the afternoon he resumed his story of the trip to Olathe. He found Sharp there in the office of Sheriff Steed. Sharp's beard and hair had been cut and he was wounded in both hands. There was a hole through his hat.
"I talked to Sharp in the presence of Mr. Steed, Inspector Ryan and Hugh Moore, a newspaper man Sharp told us--"
Mr. Martin for the defense here objected to Whitsett's telling of Sharp's statement.
"If a written statement was taken that is the best evidence," said Martin.
The statement was shown to Captain Whitsett and identified by him. Weapons used in the city hall riot then were introduced in evidence. First there was Sharp's .45 caliber Colt revolver, the handle scarred by a shot. Sharp told Whitsett the weapon was shot out of his hand. Then there was a .45 caliber colt which Louis Pratt had carried.
"I was told by Sharp that Pratt had bought his weapon in Kansas City," said Whitsett, but Sharp spoke out sharply in court to the witness:
"I didn't say that. Why do you want to tell such stuff as that?"
"I don't know. He might have bought it up the river," responded Whitsett.
EXHIBITED THE WEAPONS.
Then was shown the 38-caliber Colt, which Sharp said his wife brought in her bosom from the houseboat. Lena Pratt's 32-caliber pistol was then exhibited and identified, and the knife, with its four-inch blade.
"What was the purpose of all these weapons, as Sharp told it to you?" asked Mr. Conkling.
"He said it was to resist any officer who might interfere with his preaching. He said he also had two rifles and a shotgun and another revolver, the latter used by Lulu Pratt."
The overcoat worn by Sharp the day of the riot was then shown to the jury, as were the remnants of Sharp's beard.
"Don't see why they want to show the coat," said Sharp to W. S. Gabriel, assistant prosecutor. It doesn't prove anything."
On cross-examination, Captain Whitsett was asked about happenings at the river, following the street fight, but the state objected successfully to most of the questions. Just after an objection had been sustained, Sharp spoke up and said:
"Your honor, can I have a word? This man wants to tell what happened there, and he is cut off. Now ---"
"Make your objection through your attorneys, Mr. Sharp," answered Judge Latshaw.
BARBER TESTIFIES.
Inspector Charles Ryan followed Captain Whitsett on the stand. He recounted substantially the same details of the shooting and the trip to Olathe.
George Robinson, 2905 Wyandotte street, a barber at 952 Mulberry street, was the next witness, and told how Sharp came into his shop sat in the chair of Chester Ramsey and had his hair and whiskers cut off.
"He didn't take his hands out of his pockets. He said: 'My hands were frosted up North, where I've been fishing. I want this job done in a hurry. I want to meet a friend and have to get on a train.'
"When the job was done, Ramsey took a purse out of Sharp's pocket and took 40 cents out of it. Then Sharp went away."
The defense objected to the testimony of Robinson on the plea that the state had given no notification that he would be called as a witness. The objection was overruled. Robinson was not cross-examined, but will be recalled by the defense to give further testimony.
Then came William Thiry, a farmer who lives near Monticello, Kas. "On the evening of December 9 Sharp came to my house," said Thiry. "My son opened the door and then I went out on the porch. Sharp was standing there. He said, 'Brother, I want to tell you my circumstances. Wait till I sit down,' and he sat down on the edge of the porch. 'I'm paralyzed, brother,' he resumed. 'I lay down over there on a strawstack and tried to die, but the laws of nature were against me.'
"He kept his hands in his overcoat pockets and asked for food and a night's lodging. 'I am no ordinary bum,' said he. 'I have money to pay for my keep over night.' I consulted with my wife and we decided we could not keep him, but we took him and fed him. I telephoned Mr. Beaver, my brother-in-law, who lives a quarter of a mile from me and Mr. Beaver said he could keep him. While I was telephoning, Sharp came into the ho use and listened to the conversation.
"At supper he spoke of being a peddler and that his partner had turned him down because he was paralyzed in his hands. He said he wanted to get back to town to a good hospital. It was 8 o'clock when he left my house. I fed him myself. He didn't take his hands from his pockets."
"I am willing to acknowledge anything this man says," remarked Sharp. "He treated me alright while I was there."
The defense fought the introduction of this testimony on the same theory it had advanced in the case of Robinson. It objected further to Thiry's relating some of the conversation. Mr. Conkling insisted it was relevant as combating a defense of insanity, if such was to be the defense.
"We have never announced what our defense would be," said Martin.
"You have done so repeatedly in open court while applying for continuances in this case," said Mr. Conkling.
Court was adjourned after the defense had secured permission to bring a number of witnesses from Lebanon, Mo.
OTHER WITNESSES.
In the course of the morning session Captain Clark, who lost an eye in the riot, gave his testimony. He lives at 538 Tracy avenue, and has been on the police force for twenty-one years. He was sergeant in immediate charge of headquarters station the afternoon of the riot. Testimony was also taken from Howard B. McAfee, business manager of Park college at Parkville, Mo., who was making a purchase on the Fourth street side of the city market when he heard children singing on Main street and went toward the gathering. He saw Dalbow come from the station and shake hands with Sharp. Then someone behind Sharp fired. He saw Mullane trying to get away from the women, who seemed to be pursuing him. then he saw Sharp and Clark in their encounter. He helped Clark into the station and when he looked again Sharp was gone.
Preceding Mr. McAfee, there testified Job H. Lyon, a traveling evangelist. Just before the riot he had a talk in the Workingman's Mission with Pratt. Sharp and Creighton, the last named in charge of the place. Being warned against antagonizing the police, Lyon said Sharp waved his hand and said: "I am God. If any policeman attempts to interfere with me, I'll kill him."
The witness said Sharp made similar statements while brandishing his revolver in the direction of the city hall. Pratt and Sharp, said Lyon, pointed revolvers at Dalbow when he approached. Sharp, said the witness, fired the first shot.
After Sharp had been brought to jail here, Lyon, who often holds Sunday meetings for the prisoners, accused the fanatic of falsehood in regard to the story he told the Mulberry street barber. He asked Sharp to attend the jail services and Sharp said he himself was god, and, of course, would not come. Then Lyon told him that God did not prevaricate and Sharp refused to have anything more to do with the evangelist.Labels: Adam God sect, barbers, Captain Whitsett, children, Gillham road, guns, jail, Judge Latshaw, Main street, ministers, Mulberry street, Olathe, Parkville, police, police headquarters, Prosecutor Conkling, Sheriff Steed, Wyandotte street May 15, 1909 FOUR ITALIANS SENT TO THE WORKHOUSE.
BELIEVE THEY ARE BLACK HAND SOCIETY MEMBERS.
Two Were Fined $1,000 and Two $500 -- Any Attempt to Secure Their Release Will Be Fought.
Four Italians who were arrested by Detectives J. L. Ghent and "Lum" Wilson in a rooming house at 503 East Third street, and who are suspected by the police of belonging to the Black Hand society, were fined yesterday morning in the municipal court for vagrancy, and in default of payment of the fines were sent to the workhouse. Vincenzo Domenico and Frank Bruno were fined $1,000 each on two charges, while Francesco Amelo and Maro Choapa, the other members of the gang, were fined $500 each.
Ever since Italian business men received threatening letters demanding money a few weeks ago the detectives have been investigating the matter. Domenico and Bruno first excited suspicion, and after watching for several days, the detectives decided to bring them to police headquarters. When searched, both were found to be armed with revolvers. The other two Italians were arrested, and when their room, on Third street, was entered, where all had been living, several revolvers and shotguns were found.
In court yesterday morning, none of the prisoners professed knowledge of the English language. The court failed to establish that any of the men had been the authors of the threatening letters.
The police will fight any attempt to get them out of the workhouse as they regard them as dangerous characters and while it was not proved that they were actually members of the dread Italian society it is thought that they know more than they care to tell.Labels: black hand, detectives, guns, immigrants, police court, police headquarters, rooming house, Third street, vagrancy, workhouse April 21, 1909
BOY PRISONERS TELL OF SEVEN HOLD-UPS.
IMPLICATE OTHERS IN STATE- MENT TO INSPECTOR BOYLE.
Arrests May Lead to Breaking Up Band of Highwaymen Which Has Been Operating Al- most Nightly. 
FRANK M'DANIELS.
In the arrest of Joseph Tent, 20 years old, and Frank McDaniels, 18 years old, the police think that they have solved the identity of the mysterious highwaymen who have bee holding up persons almost nightly in Kansas City. The two, who are mere boys, admit that they have taken part in at least seven holdups in the last six weeks and Inspector Boyle thinks that they can be connected with several others.
For several hours yesterday afternoon, the boys were "sweated" in the inspector's office and at last were willing to make statements to the prosecuting attorney. Two or three others are implicated by the boys' confession and within the next few hours other arrests likely will follow. It is believed the boys are members of a gang of highwaymen, who prowl nightly in Kansas City.
The capture of the youthful bandits came about in a singular manner. In the reports of pawned jewelry that came into the hands of the detectives Monday afternoon was the description of a watch which had been taken from F. R. Hedges of 1004 Forest avenue on the night of April 15. It had been pawned Saturday, the pawn broker said, and a boy had left the watch at his office. Detective John Farrell stationed himself near the store and about 1 o'clock two young men entered the pawn shop and offered to redeem the watch.
PAWNBROKER GIVES TIP.
"Just wait a moment," said the pawnbroker, and he hurried outside. Farrell entered the shop and arrested both men. The younger proved to be Tent, who had secured a prospective purchase for the watch.
"I don't want to go unless you take the fellow that helped me," said Tent. "I don't want to go alone.
The chance to land another highwayman was satisfactory to the officer, and the two went to a photograph gallery at 310 East Twelfth street, where Tent admitted that Frank McDaniels, his partner, was working. The two climbed the narrow stairway and passed into the dark room of the gallery. Farrell was holding the young man to keep from losing his way. Suddenly he felt something pressing against his side, which instinctively he knew was a revolver. He jerked the revolver from the boy's hands. Tent denied that he had intended to fire.
"I was trying to get rid of it," he said to the officer, "and it was so dark that I couldn't see where I was placing it."
McDaniels was caught in the gallery and both were taken to headquarters. Both admitted that they had taken part in several robberies, but only two in each other's company. Experienced highwaymen had been their companions, the boys said, and the police are inclined to believe their story.
JOSEPH TENT.
In the inspector's office, the boys did not appear to realize the gravity of their deeds. Both admitted that older crooks had started them in the business. Both denied that they had started in the holdup business together, and claimed that they had known each other but a few days. Labels: crime, Forest avenue, highway robbery, Inspector Boyle, pawn brokers, police headquarters, Twelfth street April 8, 1909 NEW POLICE BOARD TO CLEAN UP TOWN.
MAKES FRANK SNOW ACTING CHIEF, ED BOYLE INSPECTOR.
Flahive Given Pick of Force and Told to Drive Out District 4's Tough Gang and Ignore the Politicians. 
THE POLICE BOARD AS IT IS NOW COMPOSED.
T. R. MARKS, MAYOR CRITTENDEN, R. B. MIDDLEBROOK.
Captain Frank F. Snow, property clerk at police headquarters, was appointed acting chief of police, and Edward P. Boyle, a detective, was appointed acting inspector of detectives yesterday by the new board of police commissioners.
Captain Thomas P. Flahive of district No. 4 was given his pick of the force, and told to drive out the gang of crooks and undesirables in his district, despite the interference of any politician. Democrat or Republican, and clean up a certain disreputable element that has infested that part of the city for so long a time.
Chief Daniel Ahern was placed in charge of the new district, No. 10, and Inspector Charles Ryan was told that he would be taken care of.
Thomas R. Marks and R. B. Middlebrook, the first Republican police commissioners Kansas City has ever had, being in the majority on the board did not wait for the presence of Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., to start the ball rolling. By appointment they met in the office of Daniel Ahern, chief of police, shortly after noon. Then they sent for Charles Ryan, inspector of detectives.
RYAN IN THE RANKS.
Telling the two officials that they would be cared for in some manner, the commissioners asked for their resignations. In a few minutes, they had them in writing.
Captain Snow and Ed. P. Boyle were sent for and told that Snow was to be made acting chief of police and Boyle acting inspector of detectives.
Later, when the board met with the mayor in the chair, Commissioner Middlebrook presented Ahern's resignation and moved its acceptance. Snow was then formally made acting chief. The same form was gone through in regard to the acceptance of Ryan's resignation and the temporary appointment of Detective Boyle to his place.
The next order of business was to take care of the deposed officers. Ahern was appointed captain of the new police district, to be known as No. 10. Ryan was made a detective, and assigned to duty under Acting Inspector Boyle, his former subordinate.
AHERN IS APPRECIATIVE.
Captain Ahern showed great appreciation when the board cared for him in the manner in which it did.
"I did not expect to remain," said the former chief. "My position belonged to the new commissioners, and they had a right to it. I certainly appreciate the magnificent manner in which I have been cared for, and will show it by doing my full duty and carrying out to the letter every order of the board."
Former Inspector Ryan had little to say except that he would line up with the men he used to boss with such severity, and do the best he could. It was intimated that Ryan may resign from the force later, but that could not be confirmed.Labels: Captain Flahive, Commissioner Marks, detectives, Inspector Boyle, Mayor Crittenden, No 4 police station, police board, Police Chief Ahern, Police Chief Snow, police headquarters, politics April 8, 1909 GOING TO GET EVEN, BERT BRANNON SAYS.
Arraigned on Charge of Receiving Stolen Property, Former Deputy County Marshal's Out on Bond.
Bert Brannon, no longer deputy county marshal, entered police headquarters yesterday afternoon shortly after his arraignment on a charge of receiving stolen property and his release on bond, and secured his possessions in custody of the police. He calmly loaded his revolver and placed the deputy marshal's star in his pocket. He talked with several friends in the lobby.
"Did you ever hear of such a joke?" he asked. "Why, I have the receipt in my pocket from the jeweler who sold me the diamond. But I'm going to get even with the man who started this," and he nodded significantly at Captain Walter Whitsett's office. "Some people will wish they had never heard of me."
Brannon was arrested Tuesday evening and kept in the holdover at headquarters until yesterday afternoon, despite the efforts of political friends to secure his release. He was arraigned yesterday afternoon before Justice Theodore Remley on a charge of receiving stolen property, pleaded not guilty and was released on a bond signed by his attorney, T. A. J. Mastin, and Alderman James Pendergast. Brannon's preliminary hearing will be had before Justice Remley this morning at 9 o'clock. The property in question is a diamond stud.
An attorney made an attempt to speak to Brannon yesterday morning while he was held on an "investigation" charge, and was refused permission. He immediately went to the prosecuting attorney and demanded that a warrant be issued for the chief of police and Inspector Ryan, charging a violation of the statutes for holding Brannon "incommunicado" for more than twenty-four hours. The warrant was not issued.
Joel B. Mayes, county marshal, yesterday called in the commission of Brannon, who had been a deputy marshal. Mr. Mayes said he wanted no unpleasant comment on the men connected with his office. The fact that he let out this deputy, he said, should not be construed as meaning that he was convinced of Brannon's guilt or innocence. Mr. Mayes dictated a statement to this effect.Labels: Captain Whitsett, crime, James Pendergast, jewelry, Judge Remley, police headquarters April 6, 1909 EXIT JONES AND GALLAGHER.
Retiring Commissioners Draw Two Months' Salary and Say Goodby to Associates.
A sort of farewell service took place yesterday afternoon at city hall, when Elliott H. Jones and A. E. Gallagher, the retiring board of police commissioners, paid their last visit to police headquarters in an official capacity. Incidentally, it marked the first time in the memory of the oldest policeman that a Democratic board retired in favor of Republicans.
The two men first visited James Vincil, the secretary of the board, who probably will say adieu to his quarters within the next month. Both men drew their salaries which they had allowed to accumulate during the last two months and left office smiling.
"I'll have to loook into the room where we have had so many sessions," said Mr. Gallagher, and the two men paused at the door of the room where the weekly meeting takes place. Mr. Jones did not seem particularly sorry that the last meeting was over.
"Well, goodby, Mr. Vincil," said both men, as they left the secretary's office. "Good luck to you."
The retiring commissiones then paid a visit to Captain Whitsett, Chief Ahern and Captain Frank Snow. They conversed a few minutes at each place and wished all good luck.Labels: Captain Whitsett, city hall, Commissioner Gallagher, Commissioner Jones, police board, Police Chief Ahern, Police Chief Snow, police headquarters, politics April 4, 1909 MAY GET WHITSETT'S JOB.
Rumored Captain Casey Will Go to Headquarters Station.
It was common talk among the politicians at the city hall yesterday that in case the new board of police commissioners made a general shift of all officers now in command of their different outside stations Captain John J. Casey, who is now at No. 6 station, would be shifted to headquarters in the place of Captain Walter Whitsett. A few days ago Thomas A. Marks is reported to have said that there would be a general change as soon as the new board took control.
Captain Casey is considered the most likely candidate for the important place at headquarters, owing to the fact that his brother, Senator Michael Casey, was active in lining up the Democratic senate in favor of the confirmation of Marks and Middlebrook. Casey is considered to be one of the most efficient officers in the department.Labels: Captain Whitsett, city hall, Commissioner Marks, No 6 police station, police, police board, police headquarters, politics April 3, 1909 WOMEN FIGHT TO SEE BOY CRUSHED BY CAR.
HYSTERICAL MOTHERS THINK INJURED CHILD THEIR OWN.
Strong Men Weep as Jimmie Palermo, Whose Father Saw Him Hurt, Is Taken From Under the Wheels.
While running across the street car tracks on Eighth street near Forest avenue about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, "Jimmie" Palermo, 5 years old, was run down by Independence avenue car 247, westbound, and injured to such an extent that both of his legs had to be amputated above the knee. The operation was performed at the general hospital immediately after the accident. Dr. J. Park Neal, who amputated the boy's legs, reported last night that he had survived the operation in a marvelous manner for one so young, and that he had a fighting chance for his life.
The boy is a son of Salvatore Palermo, an Italian grocer and butcher at 1103 East Eighth street, who lives on the second floor of 1103. The father, with Mack Carter, his butcher, saw the accident. The father ran to the scene, but became frantic when he saw his child pinned down by the front trucks of the car, and had to be taken away.
CROWD WEEPS AT SIGHT.
Two mothers, who thought that the child might be theirs, fought with tiger like ferocity with the crowd until they got to where they could get a look at the pale face of the little fellow.
The boy lay in such a position that he could not be moved until the car was "jacked up." The wrecking crew arrived in a few minutes, and with the aid of volunteers, the car tracks were elevated sufficiently. The boy's arm slipped to his side, and three marbles fell from his nerveless grasp.
"Take hold gently, men, and lift the boy out," said the foreman of the wrecking crew as the ambulance stretcher arrived.
"I just can't do it. I have seen enough to break my heart," said a big workman with sleeves rolled to the elbows, exposing a pair of muscular brown arms. He leaned against a trolley pole and wept bitterly.
As the ambulance was leaving another mother of the neighborhood arrived and battled with the dense crowd to get a look at the injured boy. Every woman in the crowd was crying, as were some of the men, and little brothers and sisters and playmates of the boy screamed with fright and grief.
FATHER SAW THE ACCIDENT.
"Mr. Palermo and I were standing in the door of his store when the accident happened," said Mack Carter, the butcher at the store. "We saw little Jimmie as he started to cross the street from the north to the south side about half way between the alley and Forest avenue. When he saw the car he made a motion as if to turn back. The motorman had slowed down at first, but put on speed again. It looked as if he calculated for the boy to cross the tracks before the car reached him, but Jimmie became confused and was struck by the fender and knocked across the track. It looked like an accident to me."
The grief in the Palermo home was tragic. Between sobs, prayers were said in Italian, and supplication made to Heaven to preserve the boy's life.
SNITCH LATE, BUT THERE.
While the family was in the midst of its grief a stranger appeared. Taking a card from his pocket he said, giving his name:
"Here is my card. I am a lawyer, but I got here a too late to see the accident. Send someone out into the street and get the boy's cap and those marbles. They are excellent evidence before a jury. Get the exact time of the accident , the number of the car and all the witnesses you can. I would like to handle this case for you."
Later in the evening Patrolmen William L. Cox and W. H. Schickhardt boarded car 247 and after riding to the end of the line arrested the conductor, H. E. Stoutz, 4100 East Ninth street, and the motorman, J. E. Warnike, 4600 Independence avenue. At police headquarters they made no statement and were ordered held for investigation, without bond, by Captain Walter Whitsett.
Representatives of the street car company insisted that a charge be placed against their men. Later in the evening an information was secured charging them with manslaughter in the fourth degree, a rather unusual charge while the boy was still living. They were taken to the home of Justice James H. Richardson, 2117 Prospect avenue, and arraigned on that charge. The men were then released on bond signed by representatives of their company. Their preliminary will be later. If the boy does not die, the charge will have to be changed.Labels: accident, Captain Whitsett, children, Dr J Park Neal, Eighth street, Forest avenue, general hospital, grocers, immigrants, Independence avenue, Ninth street, police headquarters, Prospect avenue, streetcar March 24, 1909 EPPERSON'S AUTO HITS BOY.
Chauffeur, 17 Years Old, Was Making Trial Trip With New Touring Car.
The trial trip of U. S. Epperson's new touring car yesterday afternoon resulted in the serious injury of Jesse Bridgeman, 13 years old, who was run over at Eleventh and Holmes streets. J. C. Collins, 17 years old, the chauffeur, was arrested. He was released at police headquarters, Mr. Epperson signing his bond.
The Bridgeman boy, who lives with his mother, Mrs. Gertrude Bridgeman, 1416 Locust street, came out of the Humbolt school, put on his roller skates and coasted down Eleventh street. A moment later, as he attempted to cross the street, he was struck by the car and hurled to the pavement. The machine passed over him, although he was untouched by the wheels.
Collins, who had thrown on the emergency brake, stopped the car and ran back. It was almost impossible for J. M. Maloney, a patrolman, to break through the hundreds of excited pupils to the spot where the child lay. Collins offered to take the boy in the motor car to the emergency hospital, but Maloney called the ambulance, which hurried to the scene. Dr. Fred B. Kryger found the child's left leg fractured in two places. He was also bruised about the head and body. He was sent to Dr. H. B. McCall's private sanitarium at 1424 Holmes street, where his condition was little improved last night.
The boy chauffeur has been in Mr. Epperson's employ about three weeks. He says the accident was unavoidable.
Mr. Epperson hurried to the emergency hospital as soon as he heard of the accident, and listened to the child's story. He said he did not believe Collins was exceeding the speed limit.Labels: accident, automobiles, children, doctors, Eleventh street, Holmes street, Locust street, police headquarters, skating March 22, 1909 INJURED WIFE'S MOTHER DOESN'T BLAME HUNTER.
MRS. SCANLON TELLS SON-IN- LAW SHE IS HIS FRIEND.
Husband Declares Reform School Was Suggested as Place for Girl -- Tells Story of Marital Troubles.
Charles Hunter, 19 years old, who shot and dangerously injured his wife, Myrtle Hunter, Friday morning, yesterday told visitors of the trouble that led up to his crime, and which is causing his detention at police headquarters. He said he loved his wife, but her waywardness caused the trouble.
When the boy and his child wife were married by Michael Ross, J. P., the mothers went to the court house with them to give consent. The girl's mother called at police headquarters yesterday afternoon to see Hunter. She told him she was still his friend and would do all she could for him.
"Even if Myrtle dies, Charles, we won't blame you," the prisoner was told.
The reform school was suggested by Mrs. Scanlon as the best place for the girl wife. Hunter informed a visitor yesterday. But he said he loved her and wanted to keep her at home if possible.
THREAT OF REFORM SCHOOL.
She left home one day and the mother announced her intention of having the police find the girl and sending her to reform school according to the story Hunter tells. Instead he asked her to wait and allow him to give her another trial. Hunter promised to find her and keep her at home.
After four days' search he declares he found her at a house on East Eighth street in company with another young woman and two men. While Hunter was in the room a rambler placed his arm around his wife and caressed her, which made him frantic with shame and anger. From there he took his wife home and she promised him she would remain away from her former haunts.
Then he says a clerk in a clothing store began to pay her attentions. Hunter said this clerk went to the Scanlon home last Thursday and asked for Myrtle. He made a second trip to the house in the afternoon. Mrs. Hunter opened the door, but refused to allow him to come in. Hunter said he was at the head of the stairs on the second floor and upon asking who the visitor was started down. The man left and his wife and Mrs. Scanlon prevented Hunter from following him.
WAS DRIVEN TO DESPERATION.
From the trials he had with his endeavors to keep his wife at home and the attempts by the clerk to take her away, Hunter claims that he was made desperate and driven mad. The climax was reached Wednesday night when the man is said to have collected a gang and announced his intention of going to the Hippodrome and going home with Mrs. Hunter.
Hunter and his wife were standing near the skating rink when the persistent admirer came up and spoke to the wife. She tried to avoid him and when she was unable to do so Hunter says he objected.
"I'll take her home if you have to go home in the undertaker's wagon," Hunter said he was told.
According to Hunter, his uncle, Claude Rider, 1728 Troost avenue, stepped up and said he was going to take a hand in the affair. As his uncle came up Hunter declares friends grabbed him and took him across the street while the other men fought. The police arrested them and took them to No. 4 police station where they were charged with disturbing the peace.
"I believe my mother-in-law was trying to arrange to send Myrtle to the reform school when I shot her," Hunter remarked.
He said he got the pistol at the Scanlon house and that it belonged to his wife's father. The condition of Mrs. Hunter was worse yesterday, but it was said that she still has a chance to recover.
Of late years Hunter has been following the skating rinks and in the summer has had charge of the rink at Fairmount park. At one time Hunter was an office boy for an afternoon newspaper and later became an advertising solicitor.Labels: domestic violence, Eighth street, fairmount park, hippodrome, marriage, No 4 police station, police headquarters, skating, Troost avenue March 15, 1909 ENDS DEBAUCH BY SUICIDE.
Man Believed to Be A. W. Butter- field Strangled Himself to Death in the Holdover.
While temporarily insane from the excessive use of alcohol, a man, believe to be A. W. Butterfield, committed suicide in the holdover at police headquarters yesterday afternoon by hanging himself with a handkerchief. He was dead when discovered by Philip Welch, the jailor, at 2:30 o'clock, and Dr. W. L. Gist of the emergency hospital said he had been dead about a half hour.
Patrolman L. A. Tillman arrested a man at Third street and Grand avenue at 9 o'clock yesterday morning and at the station had him locked up for safe keeping. The prisoner was drunk and resisted the jailor and Patrolman Bryan Underwood, who searched him at the desk. He was last seen alive by Jailor Welch, who entered the cell at noon to give him his lunch.
The suicide tied a handkerchief around his neck and to the bars of his cell door. With his face turned from the door, Butterfield then allowed the weight of his body to rest upon the handkerchief and slowly strangled to death.
A small gold watch, $1.70 in silver and a pair of gold eye glasses were taken from him. A small button worn by the suicide tended to show that he was a member of the United Brotherhood of Leather Workers of Horse Goods. He was about 40 years old. Coroner B. H. Zwart ordered the body taken to Stewart's undertaking rooms.Labels: alcohol, Coroner Zwart, doctors, Grand avenue, jail, police, police headquarters, Suicide, Third street March 3, 1909 FINDS HUSBAND HERE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.
WICHITA WIFE CAUSES THE AR- REST OF BOTH.
Picture of Girl Found in Heskett's Pocket, the Clue by Which They Were Located at the Peristyle.
In hopes of revenging herself on her husband, who, she said, had deserted her about two years ago, Mrs. James W. Heskett of Wichita, Kas., arrived in Kansas City yesterday morning, and through the aid of James Orford, a city detective, found her alleged husband with another woman at the Peristyle apartments at Ninth and Charlotte streets.
She saw both arrested and locked up at police headquarters last night. At the time of her marriage, ten years ago, Heskett's father was the sheriff of Sumner county, and he was his chief' deputy. At the time of the alleged desertion he sold his house and, the woman says, left his wife and child only $500. Until his arrest last night, the two had never met, nor had she received a word from him.
BOTH COLD AT MEETING.
"Yes. I want to prosecute them both," said Mrs. Heskett last night. She is a small woman, with bright blue eyes and blond hair. The blue eyes flashed when she made the declaration. "I thought I loved him, but now I wouldn't live with him for anything. I wouldn't give up my position in a confectionery store in Wichita, where I'm getting only $6 a week, to live in luxury with my husband.
Inspector of Detectives Ryan asked Heskett a few questions and called Mrs. Heskett into his office.
"How do you do," she said frigidly, and Heskett's reply was just as cold.
"What did you leave me and the baby for?" she continued.
"Now I mean to prosecute you, and before I leave I want to see that woman you ran away with. I just want to look at her once," and she stamped her foot. The husband did not reply, and was taken back to the holdover.
Mrs. Heskett was allowed to see her rival, who was sitting in the matron's room. Detective Orford and Inspector Ryan accompanied her.
THE TWO WOMEN MEET.
Orford introduced the two women.
"This is my wife," he said. Both bowed coldly. "You knew he was married, didn't you?" he asked.
Then the tears began to well up in the eyes of the second woman, and a moment later she was sobbing.
"I just loved him so much," she said, "and I still love him. He told me that he didn't love you, and that we would always be happy. I'm his common law wife, and we are married in the eyes of our neighbors."
Mrs. Heskett bit her lip.
"I'm the one that has suffered," she said, as the party filed out of the door. "Now one knows how I have suffered."
Heskett was a conductor for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe out of Wichita. He had known his wife since they were children, and had gone to the high school in Wellington together. After his term as deputy marshal there had expired he moved to Wichita and the two paid for a small home and were living happily.
LEFT PICTURE IN POCKET.
About three years ago Heskett met Miss Mamie Hensen of Englewood, Kas., on one of his trips. He finally lost his position with the railroad. After inducing his wife to allow him to sell the property, the wife says he kissed her one morning and told her he was going to Kansas City to hunt work. When he secured employment he would send for her.
When no letters came, Mrs. Heskett became suspicious, and remembered a picture of Miss Hensen which she had taken out of her husband's coat. She sent the picture to the Kansas City police, and Detective Orford located couple after a long search.
The couple, the detective says, had been living as man and wife at the Peristyle apartments for four months. The woman has been employed in a millinery house and Heskett was the shipping clerk in a wholesale wall paper house. He had not used an alias. James Heskett, Sr., moved to Clinton, Ill., six years ago, and is reported to be a wealthy farmer. Mrs. Heskett says that he has known of her plight, and has known of his son's whereabouts. She said last night that she would not return to Wichita until she had prosecuted her husband, and that complaints would be filed with the prosecuting attorney today.Labels: detectives, marriage, police headquarters, Wichita March 3, 1909 GRAY HELMETS VERSUS BLUE.
In Which Would a Policeman Look Best in Summer?
Would a policeman's appearance be improved if he wore a gray helmet in summer instead of the traditional blue of the Kansas City department?
Sergeant Richard Lang, inspector of uniforms, is contemplating bringing the matter before the police board relative to a change in the time honored color. He had on exhibition at police headquarters yesterday samples of the new style of helmets. The majority of the men were opposed to the gray helmets, owing to the fact that white gloves must be worn to keep them from being soiled by sweaty fingers.
"Wouldn't I look pretty with white kid gloves?" said Patrick Boyle, the short-stop. "I would look like I was in full dress attire at a fancy ball."
In defense of the new style, Sergeant Lang says that all of the larger cities now require the police to wear the gray helmets. He also contemplates bringing to the board's attention the establishment of an ordinance department and requiring all men to purchase their uniforms from the city. In this way the style would be the same, the material exactly alike and the men would have the benefit of uniforms at cost. New York has tried the plan with success.Labels: clothing, New York, police, police headquarters February 24, 1909 POLICE HOLDOVER IS A DISGRACE TO THE CITY.
Pardon and Parole Board Takes Offi- cial Cognizance of Conditions at City Hall.
Unsanitary, filled with vermin and a disgrace to the city, are a few of the things said about the holdover at police headquarters in the report of the secretary of the board of pardons and paroles, which report was made on motion of Jacob Billikopf. Frank E. McCrary, the secretary, investigated the condition of the holdover.
The jail for men is situated in the cellar and is a breeding place for disease, the report says. The room in which prisoners are held while waiting for their cases to be called in the municipal court, the report continues, is too small and not well ventilated, the foul air making it very offensive in the court room.
Captain Whitsett is quoted as saying that all prisoners arrested by the uniformed police are only held until the following morning, while those arrested by the detectives, or secret branch, are held longer. One case brought to the attention of the board was that of witnesses against Dr. Harrison Webber, accused of selling cocaine and having $8,000 in fines against him. Dr. Webber is detained in the matron's room, while two witnesses who bought the drug from him are being held in the holdover. They have been there now over twenty days. The three are being held as witnesses against members of a medical company.
While the board admitted its inability to remedy the unsanitary condition of the holdover, they suggested that even public buildings came within the jurisdiction of the tenement commission. The Humane Society will be asked to investigate the sanitary conditions, and, if possible, have them improved.Labels: Captain Whitsett, doctors, Humane Society, jail, narcotics, parole board, police headquarters, police matron, tenement commission February 12, 1908 ELEPHANTS KILL ZEBU AND INJURE THE ZEBRA.
For This and Loss of Time Owner of Arrested Menagerie Says City Must Pay.
For the loss of one zebu, killed by three elephants which broke loose and also disabled the zebra; the cancellation of three weeks' engagement at Santa Cruz, Cal, and the loss of transportation there amounting to $800, P. B. Glassock, proprietor of the menagerie arrested by the detective department Tuesday, under orders from Mena, Ark., says the city must pay.
Thomas C. Wingate, the sheriff from Mena, arrived here yesterday and said the party had been detained by mistake, and the show was released. Glasscock says he has two lawyers on the way here.
When six detectives acting under orders of Inspector Ryan surrounded the car in the railroad yards Tuesday and took the inmates to police headquarters, the car was run into the roundhouse to protect the animals from the cold. But in the absence of the trainer, the three elephants got loose and injured the zebu. The animal was dead yesterday when Glasscock went to the roundhouse to inspect his belongings.
The zebra was also badly injured and, according to the owner, will be unfit for exhibition purposes. In the absence of the circus employes, the elephants had done all but demolish the car.
Glasscock with his father owns sixty-one circus cars and has four small circuses on the road. He intends to stay in Kansas City until the matter is adjusted to his own satisfaction.Labels: animals, circus, detectives, police headquarters, railroad, visitors February 11, 1909 BOYS STOP RUNAWAY HORSE.
Two Italian Youths Avert Possible Accident on Independence Avenue.
The presence of mind of Michael Dominic and Frank Colletta, two Italian boys, probably averted a serious accident on Independence avenue yesterday afternoon when the two youths sprang into the rear end of a wagon which was drawn by a runaway horse. The animal was gradually stopped before any of the children, who had just been let out of school, were run over.
"We don't know whose horse it is," said Frank Colletta a few minutes later when they drove the horse in front of police headquarters. "We were pegging tops when the runaway passed and we knew we had better jump in and stop the horse if possible."
It was learned later that the runaway horse belonged to the Allen Heating and Plumbing company, 912 East Ninth street. The two boys drove the horse back to its owner.Labels: animals, children, immigrants, Ninth street, police headquarters February 5, 1909 RYAN AFTER HOP FIENDS.
Two Chinese Dens Raided and Opium Seized.
Though the ordinance against "hop" smoking is very vague, Inspector of Detectives Charles Ryan is going to put a stop to the evil if possible. Cliff Langsdale, city attorney, will give an opinion in the matter this morning. Charles Chu's den and Charlie Chung's dens on West Sixth street were raided last night and seven "hop" artists were captured and were taken to police headquarters and locked up. Each had varying amounts of opium in his possession. One man had $12.50 worth of opium in his pocket and was evidently preparing to peddle it. The crusade will continue for several days, and if the ordinance is lax, Inspector Ryan will ask the council to pass a more stringent law.Labels: detectives, immigrants, narcotics, police headquarters, Sixth street February 4, 1909 AL HATCH'S NARROW ESCAPE.
Bullet Whizzed Through Saloon Man's Bed Room.
The loss of a woman's comb came near resulting in the escape of a prisoner from the police at police headquarters at 1 o'clock this morning and the shooting of a man or his wife who were sleeping in their room almost a block from the station. John Slivins and Jennie Nelson were arrested at Twelfth and Broadway for disturbing the peace. They were taken to police headquarters in a patrol wagon. As the man and woman, in charge of Patrolman Hugh Dougherty, started to enter the station the woman said she had lost her comb. As Dougherty started back to the patrol wagon to look for the comb, John Slivins turned and ran. The patrolman pursued him and fired one shot. Slivins ran into the arms of Patrolman Pat Boyle a block from the station and was returned to the station.
The bullet from the patrolman's revolver entered the bedroom of Mr. and Mrs. Al Hatch at 429 Walnut street. The window was smashed and the bullet passed 18 inches over the bed where Hatch and his wife were sleeping and was embedded in a dresser across the room. Hatch reached for his revolver and ran downstairs. He said that Mrs. Hatch was terribly frightened and crawled under the bed. He went to police headquarters, where it was explained to him the reason for the shot.Labels: Broadway, guns, police, police headquarters, Twelfth street, Walnut Street January 4, 1909 BOSTON OFFICERS INDIGNANT.
Criticise Alleged Laxity of Kansas City Police in Losing Martin.
BOSTON, MASS., Januaray 3 -- (Special.) When Inspectors Gaddis and Sheehan returned yesterday from Kansas City after their fruitless trip to corral James R. Martin, alias James P. Douglass, for the Boston authorities, police headquarters was agog with excitement, for open declarations were made that the Kansas City police at least showed laxity in allowing Martin's escape.
The officers claimed they had seen Martin in the jail where he was held on another charge. Their report is that Martin appeared to be more of a guest than a prisoner. The inspectors reported Martin had signified a willingness to return to Boston peaceably and waive extradition. Then, say the disgruntled Boston inspectors, they awoke next day to find that their bird had flown overnight.
Martin is wanted here for forging and altering a check for $200 on a Boston jewelry house about six weeks ago. On Christmas day the two inspectors were ordered to Kansas City. Arriving there they found that Martin had been removed from the county jail to the lock-up in the city, where they allege he enjoyed considerable priveleges.Labels: Boston, crime, missing, police, police headquarters, visitors January 2, 1909 THERE'S A NEW WARDEN AT THE CI TY JAIL.
NUMBER OF ESCAPEES FROM THE CENTRAL STATION HOLDOVER.
Last Tuesday Night a Prisoner Even Stole the Lock from the Hold- over Door -- Some Noted Escapes There. 
JAMES DOUGLASS.
Prisoner With a Record Who Escaped From Central Station Holdover.
The monthly change list showing the assignments of police for January was posted yesterday. The changing of a jailer, as a rule, is of little not, but the list shows that Jailer Philip Welch has been removed from headquarters and made relief jailer, and jailer William Long, who was relief jailer, is stationed permanently at headquarters. Welch has been at headquarters over one year. In that time there were two jail deliveries on his watch.
On Decmeber 22 Patrolman J. D. Brown arrested James Douglass, alias Ryan alias martin. He was wanted in Boston for forgery and officers were notified to come for him. Douglass had the freedom of the corridor and gave little trouble. In fact, he made himself useful and gained the confidence of some of his keepers.
Last Tuesday, Chief of Detectives Thomas Sheehan and Detective Patrick J. Gaddis of Boston arrived here at 4 p. m. and at once went to headquarters and had a heart to heart talk with the prisoner. Of course he was willing to go back. He was very accommodating, even offering to stand half the night guarding himself on the way back and let the officers sleep.
At 9 o'clock Wednesday morning the Boston officers went to the station preparatory to taking their prisoner back. He was gone. So were four other prisoners, three city cases and a safe keeper.
DID HE TAKE THE LOCK?
The story then came out. Douglass had taken French leave of the city bastile about 2 a. m., leaving no future address. He had taken the lock from the main door leading into the holdover by removing the screws. Some say he took the lock with him -- just as a joke, it is supposed. Anyway, two officers have been guarding the opening ever since.
One of those who was taking advantage of the open door made too much noise about it as he ascended the iron stops, and in that manner Jailer Welch was aroused. He generally rested in a tilted chair right at the head of the stairs, but the prisoners went out a door leading from the first landing into the areaway back of the city hall. B. C. Stevens, the man taken back to Texarkana, Tex., Thursday, had an opportunity to gain his freedom, but refused. A new lock was being placed on the door yesterday.
On December 14 a man named Frank Madison was arrested by officers at No. 2 station on complaint of the Royal Brewing Company. He was sent to headquarters and the brewery people were on hand the next day to prosecute him. But he wasn't there. Somehow he was among the missing.
The police got Madison again in a few days, and asked him, "What became of you that time we sent you to headquarters and you weren't there the next day?"
"Oh, I just side-stepped the jailer," he said with a smile.
Some months ago there was a general free-for-all delivery. Twenty-three men got out. Saws were passed in from the outside and two lower bars were sawed and broken. Two desperate Greeks who were being held here for highway robbers and assault with intent to kill for Cripple Creek, Col., authorities, were believed to have been the instigators. They were afterwards recaptured, but it cost the Colorado authorities two trips here to get their men, they having arrived just after the delivery. A negro wanted in Alabama for murder was never recaptured and no attention was paid to the city cases that got away. Several plain drunks and safe keepers squeezed through the hole.
The two deliveries which occurred on Welch's watch are the only real jail breaking since the city holdover was built in 1886. One very small man, years ago, got into the air shaft which led to the top of the building and made his escape. How he did it no one has ever been able to explain. Others tried it after that but found their way blocked.
The man, Douglass, who removed the lock and left his compliments is said to be wanted in other places. On November 7 he was arrested at Twenty-second and Madison streets by Patrolman J. D. Brown and Jailer William Long. A saloonkeeper on the Southwest boulevard accused him of passing a bad check for $20.Labels: Boston, breweries, detectives, forgery, jail, missing, police, police headquarters, saloon December 31, 1908 BLACK HAND TRIES TO MURDER FAMILY.
TONY ARMENIO'S HOUSE BLOWN UP BY DYNAMITE.
Inmates Escape Injury, but Front of Building Is Wrecked -- Money Had Been Demanded of the Saloonkeeper.
Coming to the country twenty-one years ago, Tony Armenio prospered in business but gained the enmity of the Society of the Mafia, or Black Hand, members of which early yesterday morning attempted to kill Armenio and his wife and child by exploding a dynamite bomb in his living apartments. The Italian owns a saloon at 550 Gillis street and lives on the fourth floor above the dramshop.
Preceding the explosion yesterday morning Armenio on Monday received a letter, which was unsigned, demanding $5,900. If Armenio failed to give the money to "friends," the writer stated, his entire family would be killed. The Italian saloonkeeper did not heed the warning and thought but little of it, because he received a similar letter about a year ago.
A tenement house four stories high with storerooms occupying the ground floor, situated at 536 to 550 Gillis street, is owned by Armenio. Along the rear of the tenement is a porch, and it was upon this porch that the Black Hand arranged the bomb.
NOISE WAS FAR REACHING.
An explosion, the detonation of which was heard as far as Sheffield, occurred at 1:30 o'clock yesterday morning and wrecked the rear rooms of the apartments occupied by Armenio and his family. In the front room were Armenio and his wife, while in the room to the west was their daughter, Mary, 16 years old. The dining room is directly west of that in which the daughter was asleep. A window opens out onto the rear porch.
Just beneath the window ledge the Black Hand agent had removed a brick from the wall, and placing a bomb on the window ledge, balanced it with the brick. A fuse was attached and set off. The force of the explosion tore the window casing out and knocked bricks out of the wall, and caused the plaster to fall off the ceilings and walls of every room.
Mary Armenio was covered with debris and unable to get out of bed until her father and mother assisted her. The shock greatly frightened the Armenio family and the other inhabitants of the tenement house. Window panes were broken in houses a block away. As soon as the first excitement was over the Italian family joined the throng in the street below. Luckily none was injured by the flying debris.
The explosion played havoc with the tenement, but also performed many peculiar tricks. A two-by-four scaritling torn from the porch was driven through the door from the dining room leading into Mary Armenio's room. A bird cage, imprisoning a canary bird, was hanging to a window casing. All of the casings was blown away except a small part to which was attached the cage. The glass and plaster fell into the cage, but the bird was uninjured.
THEY'RE AFRAID TO TALK.
Nails were driven into the walls and door frames and the police believe that the bomb was composed of a beer bottle filled with nails and iron slugs.
As is always the case where trouble has occurred among the Italian inhabitants of Little Italy, the police are at a loss. When asked, the Italians invariably shake their heads and mutter: "I don't know." Never have the police been able to make the Italians say they believe a murder has been committed by members of the Black Hand, so powerful is the influence of the society.
The report of dynamite explosion was heard by practically every policeman on duty in Kansas City. Immediately afterwards the patrolman called up their various stations and reported. But not one of them was able to give definite information as to where the explosion occurred. At police headquarters at 2:45 o'clock they learned that the explosion occurred at 559 Gillis street. And it was 3 o'clock before they learned that it was caused by a dynamite bomb placed in the building with murderous intent.Labels: black hand, explosion, Gillis street, immigrants, police headquarters, saloon December 27, 1908 KIDS TRY TO REPEAT AT THE GIFT GIVING.
More Presents From Mayor's Christmas Tree.
It was announced in yesterday's Journal that about 700 children had failed to get a present at the mayor's Christmas tree in Convention hall on Christmas, and that tickets had been given them to return Saturday at 2 p. m., when sacks would be given them. About noon a telephone message was sent to police headquarters that over 2,500 boys were massed at the hall and police were asked for to keep order.
A great many of the policemen who were sent had been on duty there the day before and they recognized scores of boys whom they had seen get a package on Christmas day. When the kids were asked what they were doing there they answered, "We are after what we kin git that's what we're here fer." That class of repeaters were put out of line and only those who had tickets were admitted. With all of that care the little sharpers managed to get in on the second day's festivities.
After the packages fell short Christmas day -- on account of so many children from the outside which were not counted on -- Captain J. F. Pelletier, head of the purchasing committee,, went that evening and bought 1,000 more substantial toys and candy, nuts and fruit to go in the bags. Early yesterday morning, in response to a notice in The Journal, about twenty of the tired women who had worked so hard all week, reported at the hall and when the gifts arrived began work. All was in readiness at 3 p. m., but there was no crowding or jamming in the hall, as only those with tickets were admitted.
J. C. Chafin of the Franklin institute arrived at the hall soon after the long line of boys had been formed. As he walked up the line many of them ducked out, hid their faces and ran to the end of the line and got in again.
"Every child from my district was here yesterday," he said as he came in the hall. "They all got something, for I saw them. They are all outside again."
E. T. Bringham, superintendent of the Helping Hand institute, recognized many familiar faces from the North End which he had seen in the lines with sacks on Christmas day.
Many women came yesterday with one ticket and from two and a half dozen children. They wanted one ticket to admit them all. They swore that they had been overlooked, but when the little fellows were taken aside -- those little ones who know only the truth -- they would tell just what they had got when they were there the day before.
One woman with one little girl and one ticket was admitted. "I have four at home with the whooping cough. I want a bundle for them." She was given four extra bundles, appropriate for the sick ones and asked where she lived. "Over in Armourdale," she said, "and I want one of them whips for each one of them, and one of them tops that dance, and one of anything else you've got." She was given a street car ticket for her little girl and told to try and be satisfied with her five packages. She was mad and showed it by what she said in the most spiteful manner.
Two small boys who had succeeded in washing the stamp from their hands Christmas day in time to get back to the hall and get tickets of admission to yesterday's event, were heard to say after they examined their sacks, "Huh, dis is better'n we got yesterday, ain't it?"
Most of those who were admitted on tickets yesterday and who got sacks were of the very deserving kind. The were of the more timid ones who had been crowded out Christmas day and their joy was depicted in their faces as they marched happily away, bundles in arms. Between 500 and 700 packages were given out yesterday on tickets. The rest were put aside and will be sent out to the homes where there are sick children who could not get to the hall.Labels: Argentine, charity, children, Convention Hall, Franklin institute, Helping Hand, holidays, North end, police, police headquarters December 24, 1908 CHANCE FOR A DETECTIVE.
Maybe He Can Find Out Who Bun- coed the City Detective Force.
Consternation reigns among about ten detectives at police headquarters. They have work to do, detective work, and each one is keeping from the other his course of action. They are all searching for a clue to the wag who so kindly made them each a present of a substantial check -- all of which turned out to be bogus. Each of the detectives received a letter containing a check, worded as follows:
"Dear Blank: Inclosed please find my check for $10 which please accept for past favors. Merry Xmas, W. D. Blank.
One guardian of the peace immediately set out and paid his grocery bill with his check. Another indorsed his and banked it. Still another, in need of some ready cash, saw Captain Frank F. Snow, property clerk, who was accommodating enough to cash the paper for him.
It is not for everybody to know, but one of them is said to have paid a little saloon bill with his, while one did a very unusual thing -- he paid his doctor bill. This little detective wanted to surprise his physician, and he did, as the doctor indorsed the check to another, to whom he has not got to make good.
It was not until yesterday morning that the ten detectives, who had been so especially remembered "for past favors" this Christmas, began to get together and talk through their noses to one another about the matter. Then they began to take notes by way of comparing the letters. All are in the same handwriting, which is poor and the spelling bad. But the detectives never noticed that. All they saw were the checks.Labels: banking, detectives, forgery, police headquarters December 22, 1908 POLICE CAN'T UNRAVEL THIS.
Jupiter Brothers Do Their Tricks at Station, Mystifying All.
"You may be able to do that act on the stage, but I don't believe you can get away with it when your audience is gathered close around you," said Joe Steibel, assistant manager of the Orpheum, to the Jupiter brothers after he had seen their cabinet trick Sunday afternoon. Mr. Steibel, like all press agents, is of a suspicious nature.
"We'll do it anywhere on earth," retorted "Bud" Jupiter. And Mr. Steibel took the next car to the police station, where he made arrangements for the brothers to put on their act before the police.
The brothers arrived at police headquarters yesterday morning. They carried a gas pipe frame, an iron chair and a black cloth. The frame was erected, the cloth was thrown over it and the chair was put inside the cabinet.
"Bill" Jupiter sat in the chair and his brother tied him and sewed the sleeves of his shirt to the legs of his trousers. A crowd of policemen examined all the apparatus, searched the men and approved the knots and the sewing.
The curtain hung so the policemen could see the tied man's feet. The curtain was closed, and through a hole in it he stuck his head. Immediately, hands began to appear from holes all over the cabinet. They were evidently Mr. Jupiters hands, but they appeared and reappeared so quickly that it seemed as though there were a dozen.
Then the hands began to hand out flowers, carnations, roses and lillies. A tamborine, bells and a zither were handed in and these were played all at once.
The curtain was drawn back and Mr. Jupiter was found to be securely tied and the threads were not broken.
The Jupiter brothers are from Pond Creek, Ok. They used to do this trick for the benefit of the neighbors and had no idea that their act was of value until an agent for the Orpheum circut discovered them.Labels: Central station, oklahoma, police headquarters, theater, visitors December 15, 1908 BELIEVES HE'S ROOSEVELT.
Remarkable Fantasy of a Man From Grandin, Mo., With $290.
Joseph DeViera, 56 years old, was picked up at the Union depot yesterday afternoon in a bewildered condition. Sergeant R. P. Lang took him to police headquarters and turned him over to Colonel J. C. Greenman, investigator for the police department.
When searched DeViera had $290 but he acted as if he had been drugged. When Colonel Greenman asked him what was the matter he answered: "Ask J. B. White. He knows." Mr. White, who is connected with the Missouri Lumber Company in the R. A. Long building, was called over the telephone. He said DeViera worked for him at Grandin, Mo. He is an engineer and machinist.
"He was in my office this morning," Mr. White said. "He seemed all right then. When he left he said he would leave for home in the afternoon."
After being locked in a cell in the matron's room DeViera became very violent last night. He yelled with all his lung power that he was "Roosevelt, the mighty hunter." Then he became Napoleon I, and finally said, "I am the Christ, son of the living God, here to reform the world."
"Do you know Adam God, the reformer?" Patrolman Patrick Boyle asked.
"Sure," was the quick reply, "knew him in Africa when he was a baboon. He knows all about the origin of the species, just like I do. We are living too fast for the mighty hunter. I can hit a bear in the left eyebrow at thirty miles."
This sort of rambling talk, yelled in a tone to attract a crowd outside the station, DeViera kept up most all night.Labels: Adam God sect, Col. J. C. Greenman, mental health, police headquarters, police matron, President Roosevelt, R A Long building December 11, 1908 INTENDED TO TAKE THE CITY.
And After That "the Whole World," Said Mrs. Sharp -- Didn't Be- lieve "Adam" Was Shot. 
MELISSA SHARP, "EVE."
When Sharp was safely landed in a cell at police headquarters a reporter called to see his wife who was incarcerated in a cell in the women's quarter. She was asked:
"What would you think if you were told that y our husband had lost faith in the belief that he was the reincarnation of Adam and you of Eve?"
"Have they got him?" she asked. "I didn't think he would ever be caught."
"If he has forsaken the faith what will you do?"
"I guess there's nothing for me to do but forsake it, too," she said, rubbing her head in a bewildered fashion.
"Did you think bullets would strike him?"
"Of course, not. And he didn't, either. If we had, we never would have been so foolish as to go into a fight like we did. l We believed, and believed firmly, too, that while our bullets would take effect in the bodies of the officers, nothing could harm us. We believed that after we had started the fight, those who tried to oppose us would become paralyzed and their weapons fall useless to the ground."
"Then it was your intention to take the city?"
"To take the city? Yes, to take the whole world. We intended to do that from the moment the fight started."
"Do you realize, Mrs. Sharp, that you could have been killed at any time during that fight, but that the police refrained because you were a woman? Do you know that the big policeman, Mullane, whom you shot and who died today, could have killed you at any time he chose?
SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
"I have thought a little of that since I have been here. I guess they could have killed me, all of us, maybe. It's strange they didn't. I don't see how I came out alive."
She seemed to waver on the forsaking of her faith. She said she did not believe it when told that "Adam" had even been struck with a bullet. She didn't see how it was possible. When asked if she would go back to her old faith, as had Mrs. Pratt, she said: "I had no faith when I took up this. My mother and father down in Texas country were Methodists and when I was little I, of course, was prejudiced toward that denomination. Now it's hard for me to think. I don't know whehter I am receiving new light or the world is getting darker. I don't know what is the right thing to do. I wish I did. I would be more at rest."
When asked about her shooting of Patrolman Mullane, and the fight by the wagon on Fourth street was described to her, she rubbed her brow in a bewildered fashion again and said: "I remember seeing a big officer; remember seeing a wagon, too, but it is not clear to me. All is in a haze now. It's all like a dream, a bad dream."
She was asked if she recalled the time when her husband ran a saloon and a poker room in Texico, N. M., and if it was after he embraced the faith.
"Yes, I recall when he played poker and when he had something to do with whiskey, but it wasn't a saloon. He just sold it at the room. I don't know if it was after we had the faith. He quit drinking when he got the faith."
HE DRINKS NOW.
"Does he ever drink now?"
"Once in a while. We believed that it was not went into the mouth that defiled. It was what came out of it."
Anticipating trouble of some sort a detail of about thirty police spent the night in and about police headquarters. Every entrance to the city hall even was guarded and every person who approached was scanned and asked his business.
Sharp was photographed by Lieutenant Harry E. Stege soon after his arrival. Then his wounds were dressed by Dr. Fred B. Kyger in the matrons room, the police not caring to take Sharp to the emergency hospital. As he was being led to his cell in the holdover he was asked if he didn't think the devil had him. "No, you fellows all look like angels to me," was his quick reply.Labels: Adam God sect, alcohol, Fourth street, jail, murder, police, police headquarters December 11, 1908 THIS MAN CALLED THE POLICE.
Sherman Short, an Evangelist, Ap- pears at Headquarters and Tells How the Trouble Began.
Ever since the riot of fanatics Tuesday afternoon the police have been searching for the man who, greatly excited, ran into the station just after George M. Holt and told his story and cried, "Some of you had better come out here and see to these people. There are a lot of men and women over there on the corner, crazy as loons and all have guns. Even the children have guns. Somebody will be killed, sure. Hurry.
It was just at that juncture that Sergeant Patrick Clark said to A. O. Dalbow, "shortstop" at headquarters, "Go out there, 'Dol,' and see what's the matter." With a smile on his face Dalbow followed the excited man out of the door. Three minutes later he staggered into the door of the emergency hospital, fell on the steps as his revolver dropped from his nerveless grasp. He spoke but once and died. Then followed the bloody fight in which Michael Mullane lost his life and Sergeant Clark was so dangerously wounded.
Yesterday afternoon the much sought for man walked calmly into headquarters and announced that he had been a witness of the affair from its beginning at the Poor Man's mission, 309 Main street. John W. Hogan, an assistant prosecutor, was at the station and he took the man's statement.
THE PREACHER'S STATEMENT.
The witness, who is an evangelist, gave the name of Sherman Short. His home is now near Clarence, Mo., but he once lived here. His statement follows:
Tuesday afternoon I happened to be at Fifth and Main streets. There I saw Mrs. Sharp and Pratt's children holding a street meeting. She seemed frantic about something, fanatical, in fact. I heard her say, "If any one can convince us that we are not right we'd like to have them do it for we are awfully in earnest."
Then Mrs. Sharp said something about adjourning to the mission where the prophet would speak. I was interested and wanted to see this man spoken of as a prophet so I went on ahead, knowing where the mission was she had spoken of. When I got there I introduced myself to the prophet, who proved to be Sharp. He was talking to J. C. Creighton, who ran the mission.
When he began to talk to me he said, "My earthly name is Sharp. I am King David in the spirit -- the Lord of the vineyard. The spirit of King David is in me. Should it prove that I am the Lord of the vineyard I am going to reorganize things on this old earth."
Just then the woman and children came in. The children spoke to a man standing by the stove -- Pratt I learned later -- called him "Pa" and said "the Humane officer is after us." Right then Mr. Holt came to the door and addressing Sharp said, "Are you the father of these children?" He said, "I am," and Mr. Holt asked why they were not in school and added, "You'll have to keep these children off the streets anyway."
CHILDREN SAID "AMEN."
Sharp then began another harangue about being King David, the lord of the vineyard. Mr. Holt paid little attention to him but said, "If you don't properly care for these children we will have to do it." While Mr. Holt was talking Mr. Pratt and his children stuck their tongues out at him and called him names, at the same time saying "Amen" to everything Sharp would say.
Holt showed Sharp his star, at which the fanatic said, "I don't pay attention to such as that. God's got no policemen, no jails, no officers." Then Sharp began to curse in the vilest language at Mr. Holt, shoved him towards the door and said he'd fix him for that. There was some excitement in there and I did not see him strike Mr. Holt. I heard him declare that he'd preach right in front of the station and no one could stop him.
When Mr. Holt had gone Sharp took out a big knife and gun, flourished them and said, "Come on children; we'll show 'em what we'll do." The women and larger girls drew guns as they went out the door and marched toward police headquarters. He announced that he would hold a meeting with the children right in front of the station and would not be stopped either.
PRATT FIRED FIRST.
Mr. Short then told of the riot, saying that Pratt was the first man to fire a shot. His account differs little from that of other eye witnesses. Short said he had known J. C. Creighton and wife, who conducted the Poor Man's mission for eight years. Eight years ago, he said, he was in a meeting at Fourteenth and Baltimore which Creighton was conducting. "The night I speak of Creighton went into a trance, or appeared to do so, and scared a whole lot of people. He was taken to police headquarters and treated. He has always been a visionary man."Labels: Adam God sect, Baltimore avenue, Central station, Fifth street, Fourteenth street, Main street, ministers, murder, police, police headquarters, visitors December 10, 1908 LEFT REVOLVER IN A SALOON.
Handle of "Adam God's" Weapon Had Been Broken by a Bullet. Identified by Wife. More Arrests.
Five revolvers, two rifles and one shotgun, which belonged to the Sharps and Pratts, were taken by police during the fight Tuesday afternoon, and are now at police headquarters. One revolver which was left by James Sharp in the saloon of John Blanchon, had a broken handle.
It looked as if the handle had been broken by a pistol shot. The revolver was shown to Mrs. Melissa Sharp, and she identified it as the one James Sharp owned.
Yesterday morning the police arrested Mrs. J. C. Creighton, Edward Pennell and Mrs. F. T. Dixon, and held them in connection with the shooting. J. C. Creighton had already been arrested, and was being held. Pennell is a son and Mrs. Dixon a daughter of Mrs. Creighton. All of them live in the rear room of the Poor Man's Mission, 309 Main street.
Creighton made a statement to the police yesterday in which he said he saw Sharp arm his followers before they left the mission for the last time. He also said that he heard Sharp say, "Come on, we will shoot the police if they interfere."
He refused to answer Captain Walter Whitsett's question when asked why he did not inform the police of the threats.Labels: Adam God sect, Captain Whitsett, guns, Main street, police headquarters, saloon December 9, 1908 'HE DIDN'T TELL ME GOODBY.'
Mrs. Albert O. Dalbow Is Broken With Grief Over Her Husband's Sudden Death.
When Mrs. Albert O. Dalbow was notified at her home, 1210 East Forty-second street, of the death of her husband, she broke down completely and, although surrounded by women friends, could not be comforted.
"Oh! he was so good to me," she would cry over and over. "I cannot think that he is dead. He did not even get the chance to tell me goodby."
Mrs. Dalbow moaned for the greater portion of the night, repeating the one expression, "He was so good to me!"
A physician was summoned to treat her. The Dalbows had no children.
Albert Dalbow had been a member of the police force for about four years. The first year he served as a probation officer, as is required of all new officers, and after that time he was transferred to station No. 1, known as headquarters, where he was part of the "reserve force." This means that an officer may be called at any time to help suppress a riot or trouble in any part of the city. It is accounted by patrolmen as one of the most arduous as well as the most dangerous stations on the force.
Dalbow gained the reputation of never flinching when duty called and, although he had faced many dangers, it was a seemingly harmless "religious meeting" which caught him unprepared and caused his death.Labels: Adam God sect, Forty-second street, marriage, murder, police, police headquarters December 9, 1908 "EVE" THREATENED TO SHOOT.
But Ryan and Joffee Rushed Upon the Frenzied Woman and Captured Her.
Samuel Joffee, clerk in the city auditor's office, ran out of the city hall as soon as the firing began, and he, in company with Inspector of Detectives Charles Ryan, captured Mrs. Melissa Sharp, the woman who calls herself Eve, and disarmed her at Second and Delaware streets, whither she had fled form the scene of the battle. Mr. Joffee made the following statement:
"I was in the office when I heard the first shot, and ran out at once. The shooting was going on in front of Probasco's saloon. About that time I saw Eve running along Fourth street toward Delaware, with the three children. Inspector Ryan and I ran after her. She turned north on Delaware, and we caught up with her at the corner of that street and Second, where she had climbed a hill on the east side of Delaware.
"As she stood on top of the hill she drew her revolver and said she would kill the first man who came up. I picked up a brick, but changed my mind and, instead of using it, I ran up the hill with Mr. Ryan and as we grabbed her, all three of us rolled down the twelve-foot incline. At any rate, we got hold of her revolver and wrenched it away, then we took her on up to headquarters."Labels: Adam God sect, city hall, Delaware street, detectives, Fourth street, guns, police headquarters, saloon, Second street November 9, 1908
DETECTIVES DO NOT EXPLAIN.
They Can Order Anybody Locked in Holdover for a Night.
"It's a blame shame for five big, healthy men to pounce onto one lonely gazabo and then wait until in the morning to explain. But they do it every day -- so the records show." The above is a copy of a poster which hangs on the wall of a room at police headquarters above an old police report. The report is made out to the chief and explains that five detectives arrested one man at the Union depot and locked him up over night booked for investigation.
Instead of explaining to the officer in charge of a police station, detectives have their prisoners locked up over night and do the explaining to the inspector in the morning. A policeman is compelled to inform the officer in charge of the station what charge he wishes to place against a prisoner and the officer uses his discretion as to whether the prisoner should be held.Labels: detectives, police, police headquarters, Union depot November 5, 1908 BALL PLAYER STRAYS AWAY.
Western Man Had $2,600 With Him. Friends Fear Foul Play.
Circumstances surrounding the disappearance on Monday morning of W. H. Payne, a Western ball player and logger, with $2,600 on his person, have mystified the police, who have been asked to help locate him. Payne formerly lived in Triplett, Mo., and has a daughter named Arline, 17 years old, living there with an aunt. For the last ten or twelve years he has been living in Idaho where he was engaged in playing professional baseball and in the lumber camps. Two weeks ago he came east and went to visit his daughter. While there he renewed his acquaintance with J. W. Webb, and old schoolboy friend. He induced Webb to go back to Idaho with him, and last Saturday the two men came to Kansas City. Payne intended to purchase a new suit of clothes before returning to Lane, Idaho. The two men secured a room with Thomas Casey, a rooming house keeper at 700 Main street.
Monday morning Payne and Webb went to Lock's coal office, 513 East Sixth street, to meet Webb's brother, C. E .Webb. While in the coal office Payne said he would go to the bank and have a $100 bill changed and would then return to the office. He left at 10 o'clock and the brothers remained there waiting for him until 3 o'clock in the afternoon. They then went to the rooming house, where they were told that Payne had been there and left word for Mr. Casey to hold his room for him and his friend. He left his suit case and clothes at the rooming house. He did not pay for the room he had used. He has not been heard of since that time.
Tuesday night Thomas Casey called at police headquarters and reported the disappearance of Payne. The Webb brothers reported his disappearance yesterday afternoon to the police. The police suggested that Payne had probably left town in that way to avoid paying the expenses of the trip, but J. W. Webb said he believed he had met with foul play. Payne, he said, carried his money in bills which were tied around his leg beneath his trousers. He often displayed the roll of bills and his friends fear that he has either been murdered or drugged and robbed. Payne is 45 years old and of stout build. His fingers have been broken and bent by playing baseball.Labels: missing, police headquarters, rooming house, Sixth street, sports, visitors October 27, 1908 CONFESS MURDER OF SHOEMAKER'S SON
EDWARD CASSIDY AND THAD DYER CAUGHT BY POLICE.
Went to Bassin's Shop to Rob Him and Killed the Young Man When He Interfered With Their Plan.
When Edward Cassidy and Thad Dyer entered the little shoe shop of Elle Bassin and his son, Nathan, 1221 West Twenty-fourth street, at 10 o'clock Saturday night, they were bent on robbery. The confession of Cassidy to Captain Walter Whitsett late yesterday afternoon settled that question. They figured no interference, but when Nathan Bassin objected and grappled with Cassidy, the latter said he drew a revolver and shot him dead.
The murder took place in the shoe shop at 10 o'clock Saturday night, and when it was discovered it was a mystery. It remained so until Sunday morning, when Patrolmen Fred Nissen and W. J. Graham got a clue which led to the arrest of Dyer and Cassidy. A grocer, William Doarn, at the southwest corner of Twenty-fourth and Mercier streets, remembered that the two men had been in his place just before the killing and had said, "If you see anything happen around here tonight you haven't seen us."
Dyer was the first to confess yesterday morning after being questioned a long while. Then he laid the crime on Cassidy and said: "We went into the the shop with the intention of trying on a pair of shoes and wearing them out without paying for them . When we started out the young man grabbed Casssidy and he shot him . Then we both ran."
PURPOSE WAS ROBBERY.
This story didn't sound, as there were no shoes for sale in the shop. Dyer stuck to his story until Cassidy confessed; then he said the latter's version was correct. Casssidy told the following story to Captain Whitsett and afterwards made a statement to I. B. Kimbrell, county prosecutor.
"We were broke and wanted some money. We met in Water's saloon on Southwest boulevard about 8:30 p. m. Then we visited different places until about 9:45 o'clock, when we decided to hold up the old shoemaker. We went to Doarn's grocery store, across from the shoeshop, and saw Will Doarn in the door. We asked him not to say anything about seeing us in the neighborhood if anything happened.
"I'M AWFULLY SORRY."
"Then we went across the street," continued Cassidy. "Dyer stood in the door of the shop as I entered and ordered 'Hands up." The young man grabbed me, and I shot him. I wanted to get away. That's all. I'm sorry, awful sorry. I never went into the thing with the intention of killing anybody."
Cassidy and Dyer both ran from the place immediately after the shooting and separated. Cassidy remained about the Southwest boulevard until late and then went home with a friend. He lives at 908 West Thirty-first street, and Dyer at 703 Southwest boulevard. Dyer said he went home.
Dyer is the son of Edward Dyer, a member of the Kansas City fire department. The father was at police headquarters insisting upon his son's innocence yesterday just after he had confessed his part in the murder.
Both men are well known to the police. Cassidy was recently arraigned in the municipal court by Sergeant Thomas O'Donnell on a charge of vagrancy. They were taken before Justice Festus O. Miller late yesterday afternoon and arraigned on a charge of murder in the first degree. They waived preliminary examination and were committed to the county jail without bond to await trial in the criminal court.Labels: Captain Whitsett, grocers, Jews, Judges, Mercier street, murder, police, police headquarters, Prosecutor Kimbrell, saloon, Southwest boulevard, Thirty-first street, Twenty-fourth street October 19, 1908 IGNORED "BEARDSLEY RULES."
Nurse Is Reprimanded for Trying to Have Police Capture Ruffian.
Time after time the surgeons and nurses at the emergency hospital have been notified by the police that they were to call headquarters whenever any person who had been cut or shot appeared at the hospital for treatment. Several times the surgeons have treated persons injured by a cutting or shooting scrape that the police wanted but did not know where to find them.
Acting under the orders of the police department, which orders were given by Captain Walter Whitsett of police headquarters. Mrs. Frances Kaiser, the night nurse, called up the station Saturday night when B. F. Scott was brought in with his jugular vein cut. The officer who answered the telephone informed her that Captain Walter Whitsett and Lieutenant James Morris were not in the station. She told them that Scott would probably die but was told that there were no officers in the station who could leave.
Mrs. Kaiser, desiring to follow her instructions, then called up Chief Daniel Ahern at his home and informed him of the matter. Chief Ahern immediately summoned Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Hogan, who took up the man's statement. Last night Captain Whitsett went to the emergency hospital and attempted to reprimand the nurse for calling up the chief of police at his home. Mrs. Kaiser replied that she was only endeavoring to obey his instructions to notify the police when men were brought into the emergency hospital who had been cut or stabbed in a fight. She said when the police at the station refused to act she got hold of an officer who would. Captain Whitsett informed the nurse that the "Beardsley rules" were taken up for her guidance but the nurse said yesterday that she was under the impression that she was employed under the administration of Dr. W. S. Wheeler, the health commissioner.Labels: Captain Whitsett, emergency hospital, nurses, Police Chief Ahern, police headquarters, violence October 1, 1908 POLICEMEN GET $725.
Includes Uncalled For Cash and Re- ceipts From Old Horse Sale.
Captain Frank F. Snow, property clerk, tendered a report to the police board yesterday of the left-over property sale which was held at police headquarters July 18 last. Actual cash left behind for one reason and another amounted to $425.45, and the sale of "junk," as it is called, netted an even $300, making a total of $725.45. This money will be turned over to Thomas Cashen, treasurer of the Police Relief Association.Labels: organizations, police board, police headquarters September 20, 1908 WITS GONE AWRY; POLICE GATHER 'EM IN.
FIVE MEN OF FREAKY IDEAS PICKED UP IN ONE DAY.
Unfortunate Who Believed Sparrows Were Nesting in His Hair -- An- other Held Up Twelfth Street Traffic.
The holdover at police headquarters yesterday resembled an insane ward in a hospital. Before the day had closed five men, some a bit more "off" than others, were incarcerated there. One of the men who gave the name of Shea was found on the street sitting in a shady place. At intervals he was seen to shake his head and then spat the back of one hand with the other. When asked what he was doing he said: "The sparrows are pulling hairs from the back of my hands and building nests in my head. Shoo. Shoo." Then he would shake his head again. "Wrestling with 'Old John B.' " was the comment of the officer who took Shea to the station.
Another man, apparently suffering from the same trouble as Shea, gave the name of Baylay. He was a little more active than his brother in distress. Seeing turkeys wearing straw hats and little yellow goslings with plug hats and red neckties on, Baylay was busy chasing them about the street. He was really interested in his chase as he said he had "never seen the like before in all my life."
An aged man by the name of Nolde was picked up by a patrolman on Twelfth street and Grand avenue. He had stopped many street cars by waving his cane and had attracted quite a crowd. The old man believed that he was a motorman and that it was his duty to stop traffic as he was doing. He was booked for Colonel J. C. Greenman, who looks after the insane for the city and county.
The next unfortunate to arrive gave the name of "Robinson Crusoe" and said he was 103 years old. With his long, unkempt hair dangling about his shoulders, he almost looked the part. He finally gave the name of Farbis Foster. The old man was picked up at 1415 Main street. He had been wandering aimlessly about the streets for days. He was also booked for the attention of Colonel Greenman.
After "Robinson Crusoe" had been stowed away the most picturesque member of the quintette of "offs" arrived in charge of Patrolman G. M. Russell of No. 7 station. He was bareheaded and barefooted, with his trousers rolled to his knees. Around his neck was a piece of heavy string, to which was attached a quart tincup, somewhat battered. In the cup was a match. In the man's mouth was a small twig, at which he puffed as if smoking a cigarette. To add to the picture, the man was gently fanning himself with a weed. When searched the police ran upon what they at first took to be a "billy," but when brought to the light it was seen to be nothing more than a red corncob -- a big one, too, probably ten inches long.
"Don't throw that away," said the man, who gave the name of L. H. Miller; "I have just had that patented at great cost."
"Is that so? What's it used for?" asked Lieutenant James Morris.
"It's the finest thing in the world to kill mosquitoes, flies and the like," he said. With that Miller took the big cob and whacked away at a fly on the desk, and, of course, missed it. "See that?" he added gleefully. "Can you beat that? Put that in the safe until I call for it, and don't let anyone see how it's made, either."
Colonel Greenman will also look after Miller and his patent combination destroyer of insects.Labels: Col. J. C. Greenman, Grand avenue, Main street, mental health, police, police headquarters, Seniors, Twelfth street September 11, 1908 POLICE HOLDOVER WAS EMPTY FOR ONE HOUR.
For First Time in Memory of the Captain in Charge There.
For one hour, between 4 and 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the holdover at police headquarters was empty and the doors unlocked and opened wide. Never before in the memory of Captain Walter Whitsett, in charge at the station, has such a thing happened, and the captain was both joyful and sad.
The large cell rooms had a deserted and almost dejected appearance themselves. Lying on the floor of one of the cells was a battered derby hat, brown once, but black now. Close by it lay two paper bags which contained some remnants of sandwiches, and in another cell was one old shoe pointing towards the open door.
The jailer picked up a broom and with a quick stroke, brushed all of the trash out into the corridor and the place made neat, if not clean, for the next batch of prisoners.
As the officers on day duty stepped into the station to report, they were told of the wonderful happenings, and straightway endeavored to find someone to arrest, even if it was only a plain drunk. Officer Robert Hoskins was the lucky man, for just as his watch was pointing to five minutes of 5 o'clock, he heard a woman's screams come from a house at 9 East Seventh street. Upon investigation he found a man, drunk and disturbing the peace.
Exultantly the patrolman marched his prisoner to the nearest call box and summoned the patrol wagon. When it arrived he asked the driver to make the trip to the station as quickly as possible, for there was a chance that his was the first arrest since the jail cleaning. And so it was. At 5 o'clock the arrested man had been books as "drunk and disturbing the peace" under the name of Cole McCormack. After that the officers began bringing prisoners in two at a time, until the old holdover resumed its normal appearance and the inmates, rejoicing over the neatness of the place, whistled and sang and made music on frenchharps to their hearts' content, and the dismay of the police officers.Labels: alcohol, Captain Whitsett, jail, police, police headquarters, Seventh street August 25, 1908 HE BEGGED TO BE ARRESTED.
Police Kindly Complied With Roy Schultz's Request.
Roy Schultz, who formerly conducted a saloon at Tenth and Wyandotte streets, rushed into police headquarters last night, folowed by a pretty young woman, and requested to be locked up, saying that he had stabbed her. The woman, who gave the name of Anna Crisp and said she lived at Twenty-sixth street and Park avenue, declared that Schultz had not stabbed her.
When questioned she admitted that she had been stabbed in both hips in a quarrel while out buggy riding. The horse had started to run away and each held a line and it was to settle the question of which should hold both reins in the emergency that the stabbings occurred. Miss Crisp said that they had been quarreling because he had spent $3,000 on her in the last three years, and he had now only $50 to his name. The woman's injuries were trivial.
Both were locked in the holdover for a short time, and then released on $11 bond each, furnished by Schultz.
Schultz and Miss Crisp came into the lime light last New Year's night when she had trouble with H. R. Schultz, Roy's father, in the north lobby of the Midland hotel. Seeing her with Roy the father tried to induce the son to go home. Miss Crisp objeted and there was a regular hand-to-hand tussle for the possession of the youth. Finally the row reached the street and young Schultz tried to get Miss Crisp into a hack, but she was yanked back by the elder Schultz and then Miss Crisp alleged he struck her. At any rate she was arrested and later released on bond put up by J. H. Adams, a big-hearted real estate man from Texas, who had witnessed the affair.Labels: domestic violence, hotels, Midland, New Years, Park avenue, police headquarters, romance, saloon, Tenth street, Texas, Twenty-sixth street, Wyandotte street August 13, 1908 WON'T SPEND PENSION MONEY.
Aged Woman Prisoner Prefers Term in the Workhouse.
"I don't know who she is or what she has done, but here she is," Robert Weisman, the jailer at police headquarters, told Mrs. Lizzie Burns, the police matron, as he led an old woman into the matron's room yesterday afternoon. When the woman was asked why she was being held she said she was not sure, but supposed for disturbing the peace. She said she had been in the general hospital for seventy-six days.
Last week, she said, she threatened to strike another patient because the other woman was mistreating a patient. The prisoner is Mrs. Elizabeth Aldred, 56 years old. She said she draws a pension of $12 a month, but that she will go to the workhouse before she will give the city any of her money.Labels: general hospital, police headquarters, police matron, Seniors, workhouse August 3, 1908 HOW JARBOE KEPT COOL.
Police Headquarters Desk Sergeant Did It by Imagination.
Desk Sergeant Holly Jarboe, at police headquarters, has always been a man of an inventive mind. Yesterday, when the heat was most suffocating, he hit upon a plan to keep cool. Back of the booking desk at the Central station is, or was, a picture of an ice-bound boat with the North pole off in the distance. Jarboe sat for some time gazing at the picture and wiping perspiration from his brow and face. Suddenly seizing a pair of scissors from his desk, he took the picture from its place on the wall.
Deftly he cut out four large chunks of ice and the North pole. These he placed in his pocket, to the amazement of his brother officers.
"What's that for, Holly?" questioned Sergeant Patrick Clark.
"I just put a few hunks of ice and the North pole in my pocket to keep me cool," he replied as he place his handkerchief back in his coat pocket.
"Well, you certainly are that imaginative kid," said the sergeant, who later was caught in the act of pilfering the remaining pieces of ice from the picture.Labels: Central station, Holly Jarboe, ice, police, police headquarters, weather July 16, 1908 WAS HIS OBJECT MURDER?
Jack Gallagher Calls on King and Creates a Disturbance. 
JACK GALLAGHER
(From a sketch made in the Police Matron's Room at Central Station Yesterday Afternoon
Following his vicious inclinations, Jack Gallagher attempted to assault Albert King, a reporter for The Journal, who is lying seriously injured as the result of a previous attack made upon him by Gallagher, in Mr. King's apartments at 720 East Fifteenth street yesterday morning at 5 o'clock. Failing in his first attempt to satiate his brutal desires because of arrest, Gallagher returned to Mr. King's rooms after having been released on an $11 bond, and again tried to force entrance into the room, uttering violent threats while trying to break in the door. Again he was arrested, but this time he was held without bond, because he was taken before a police officer who knew his duty.
Shortly after 5 o'clock yesterday morning Gallagher went to the hotel in which Mr. King is staying and asked Mrs. Etta Condon, the proprietress, to show him to Mr. King's room. Mrs. Condon replied that it was too early for visitors, especially too early for a sick man to be awakened. Gallagher and a friend who had gone to the hotel with him insisted, saying that they were very intimate friends of Mr. King from St. Louis, and that they only had an hour to stay in Kansas City.
Mr. King, who is well known in Kansas City, had been receiving many visits from friends since he was injured; so Mrs. Condon said that she would see if Mr. King would see them.
NURSE ORDERED HIM OUT.
Gallagher did not wait until she had awakened the injured man, but brushed past her and stood over his bedside. Mr. King was aroused and turning in bead, saw his former assailant.
"Hello, Albert. How do you feel about it?" asked Gallagher.
"I feel pretty tough since you got through with me," replied King, "and I don't want to talk to you. Get out of here."
"I want to introduce my friend, Mike O'Brien, to you before I go," replied Gallagher, beckoning to the friend who had remained in the doorway. "You remember Mike, don't you, Al?"
King replied that he might have seen O'Brien before but did not recall the circumstance. Then he ordered them out of the room, saying that he did not wish to have anything to do with them. By this time Miss Mayme Lefler, Mr. Kin's nurse, had returned to the room. Noticing that her patient did not treat his visitors in a cordial manner, she bent over them and asked who they were.
Upon being told that one of them was Jack Gallagher she ordered them from the room. Gallagher stood and laughed at her until she finally pushed him towards the doors.
"Oh, I'll step outside and let you all talk it over for a minute," said he; "but I'm goin' to stay here till I see your finish," addressing the last remark to Mr. King.
Once the bully was out of the room, Miss Lefler locked the door and writing a note for passers-by, telling them to call the police station for help, she slipped to the open window ready to drop it out on the street.
Meanwhile Mrs. Condon had gone downstairs to a telephone and called the police. She was followed by O'Brien.
PACED THE HALLWAY.
Mrs. Condon returned to her hotel and saw Gallagher pacing up and down the hallway, bellowing out his mad threats to the closed door. Soon he stopped his loud talking and hid behind a turn in the hall. Every time a door would open or close he would hasten to Mr. King's door to see if King had left the room or if he might be caught in the act of leaving. Mrs. Condon tried to argue with Gallagher, but her words had no effect. Then she tried threats and told Gallagher that if he did not go she would call for help.
"Don't you dare call for help you--" he rasped between his closed teeth. "If you do I'll fix you," and he shook his fist in Mrs. Condon's face.
Just then Officer James Mulloy was seen hurrying across the street. He had been notified by the operator at No. 4 police station that Gallagher was threatening Mr. King. Miss Lefler called out to him and the officer hastened up the steps. When he reached the hallway he heard Gallagher threaten Mrs. Condon. Approaching Gallagher, the patrolman told him to come with him to the police station.
"It will take four of you to take me there," boasted the bully, as he began to beat and kick on Mr. King's door.
"Not this morning," said the officer as he dragged Gallagher to the head of the stairs. There they were met by three officers who had gone to the house with the patrol wagon from the Walnut street police station. Once in the patrol wagon Gallagher quited down.
When he was taken before Patrolman Gus Metzinger, acting desk sergeant, he was charged with disturbing the peace and locked up. His friend, O'Brien, pleaded with Officer Metzinger for his release on bond, saying that he would see that Jack went directly home and did not bother King again. The officer graciously complied and made the bond $11, which Gallagher himself deposited.
Twenty minutes afterwards Gallagher was back at Mr. King's door, demanding entrance. As Gallagher hurried up the hotel steps he was healed by Mrs. Condon, who tried to get him to go back. Finding that her p leas were of no avail she called out in a loud voice so that King could just hear her, "Jack Gallagher, you get out of this house at once."
KING WAS ARMED THIS TIME.
But Gallagher thrust her aside and went directly to the door of King's room. Miss Lefler had locked the door and helped King to a sitting posture in the bed. Armed with a large revolver which had been secured after the first disturbance, King sat ready for his assailant should he manage to break through the door.
Gallagher was demanding entrance, but he got no answer from behind the door. Through the door Mr. King and his nurse could hear Mrs. Condon pleading with him to desist in his bestial endeavors, saying that Mr. King was not in the room and that he had gone home immediately after Gallagher's first visit.
But Gallagher would not be satisfied. He demanded that the door be unlocked. Mrs. Condon replied that the maid had the keys and that he would have to wait until she could be found.
Inside the room, Albert King sat in bed with the revolver pointed at the door.
"I am going to shoot through the door at him," he told his nurse.
"No, don't do that," she cautioned, "you might hit Mrs. Condon. You can't tell just where she might be standing.
As a matter of fact, Mrs. Condon was standing between Gallagher and the door, keeping him from reaching the knob as he had attempted. For five minutes they stood at the door and argued whether or not King was in the room.
"Haven't you enough trouble already?" asked the woman of Gallagher.
"Yes, but King and The Journal have given it all to me, and now I'm going to give King his. He and The Journal run the whole police department, and they have put me down and out, so it's me or King now."
"Well, he's gone home now, out on Wabash avenue, so you can't find him here. You had better go on and leave me alone."
"I don't believe King has gone, I'm going to see, anyhow."
WAS READY TO SHOOT.
The it occurred to Gallagher to look over the transom and see for himself.
"Stand clear of the door," wh ispered Mr. King to Miss Lefler. "The minute his head comes up over that transom I'm going to shoot. I believe that I will be justified in doing so."
Gallagher grasped hold of the knob, with one hand upon the top of the door, which he with his great height could easily reach. He was just in the act of swinging up to the transom when Patrolman W. K. Latcham came bounding up the stairs. He had been called by H. F. Hollecker, a saloonkeeper at 716 East Fifteenth street.
"You're under arrest, Gallagher," he called, being warned by Mrs. Condon that Mr. King was inside the door waiting to shoot at the first opportunity. That stopped Gallagher, and probably saved his life; for if his head had appeared above the transom Mr. King says that he would surely have shot.
Then Gallagher began to beg to get inside the door or to look over the transom. By signs only Mrs. Condon had told Officer Latcham that Mr. King was in the room waiting for a sight of Jack Gallagher. The officer would not allow him to climb up the door.
"You've got to come with me," said the officer, "and you've got to come at once. You know I'm able to take you and take you alone, so come along and behave."
GALLAGHER KNEW HIS MASTER.
Officer Latcham said afterwards: "The coward began to crawl like a whipped cur and came right along, not giving a bit of trouble. I did not even have to draw my revolver on him. When we got downstairs we found the patrol wagon waiting for us and nothing else happened."
At the station the day shift of police had come on and Sergeant Halligan booked Gallagher for disturbing the peace and refused to allow him to be released on bond. He was taken to police headquarters with the rest of the prisoners who had been arrested during the night.
Gallagher said that he would not go in the patrol wagon with the rabble, but he found out that the officers were determined that he should and soon stopped his bullying and took his seat in the wagon beside a drunken man.
"S-a-y," was the word used by Gallagher when he was brought before Theodore Remley, acting police judge.
"Now you keep quiet until your time comes," remonstrated Judge Remley.
"All right, judge," Gallagher replied in his blustering, bullying manner. "I suppose you are going to fine me because Albert King said for you to."
After James Mulloy, the policeman making the arrest, Miss Lefler, the nurse, and several witnesses had told their stories to the court, Gallagher asked permission to ask questions of Miss Lefler.
His first question was so insulting and foreign to the case that Judge Remley told her not to answer.
"That's right," Gallagher snarled at the judge, "you take away my rights after convicting me on their testimony. Now fine me if you dare to."
"Your fine is $500," replied the judge.
"How about signing a personal bond' asked Gallagher.
"Wait a minute, Gallagher, I have another case against you," Cliff Langsdale, the city attorney, said as Gallagher was being led back to the holdover.
"That's right, stick me, fine me another $500, the police and papers are against me and I guess you are, too."
A few necessary steps required by law and Judge Remley levied a fine of $500 on the second charge of disturbing the peace.
Looking over towards the table occupied by the newspaper men, Gallagher said: "I know when the police reporters leave the station They leave here at 2:45." Swearing vengeance against the police and the newspapers, Gallagher was placed in the holdover, later to be removed to the matron's room.Labels: Fifteenth street, hotels, Jack Gallagher, Judge Remley, newspapers, No 4 police station, nurses, police court, police headquarters, police matron, violence, Walnut street police station July 8, 1908 POLICE WHO DRINK ON DUTY.
They Must Stop or Chief Ahern Will Know the Reason Why.
Every sergeant of police in Kansas City will appear at police headquarters today at 1 o'clock in pursuance to an order to that effect issued yesterday by Chief of Police Daniel Ahern. The chief said that complaints had reached him of late relative to patrolmen drinking and smoking on their boats or while on duty.
"The police manual," the chief said "absolutely forbids a patrolman to drink intoxicating liquor or to smoke while in uniform, whether on duty or not. The sergeants have become lax in their discipline and it is a fact that the policemen of Kansas City drink and smoke while on duty and in uniform. The practice must stop and the sergeants will be held responsible."
Chief Ahern will also remind the sergeants that the police manual exacts that the patrolmen are to present a neat appearance and that they are not to use their clubs except in extreme cases.Labels: alcohol, Police Chief Ahern, police headquarters, tobacco July 7, 1908 "OLD HOSS" SALE JULY 18.
Police Will Auction Confiscated Goods at City Hall.
On July 18 there will take place in a shady spot on the north side of police headquarters an event that is very interesting and is always looked forward to by many wise ones who are seeking great profit out of small investments. The event is called the "old hoss" sale. It means that on that day there will be auctioned off to the highest bidder all of the uncalled for and confiscated property on hand, and many thing known to have been stolen but for which owners were never found. As usual, Detective Thomas Hayde, who for years has acted as auctioneer, will do the honors again at the coming sale. The last "old hoss" sale was in October, 1906.
To give an idea of what will be on hand at this sale Captain Frank Snow, property clerk, has given out that he has watches and jewelry, tools of all kinds, many revolvers and knives of every make on the globe. In the clothing line he will have everything from workmen's overalls and jumpers to a swell dress suit which is silk lined.
Any man who has a horse and no harness would do well to visit the "old hoss" sale, as there are several sets of good harness to be sold, both single and double. Then there are separate pairs of lines, tugs, hames, single bridles and the like.Labels: auction, detectives, police headquarters July 7, 1908 STEGE WRITES OF SYSTEM.
Bertillon Sergeant Here Gets Into "Detective Bureau" Magazine.
"The Detective Bureau" is the name of a new police magazine which appeared at police headquarters yesterday in the form of volume 1, No. 1. It is published by Edward Smith in Detroit, Mich.
In its initial issue Sergeant Harry E. Stege, superintendent of the Bertillon system here, has a prominent place, besides a biography of Sergeant Stege, which is very complimentary, there is an interesting article in it by him entitled "Catching Criminals -- What the Bertillon System Is and How Operated."
The publiation also shows the faces of several well known confidence men, train theives, holdup men and safe blowers who were captured and "mugged" here. It also shows the picture of a safe blown here with nitroglycerine several months ago.Labels: police, police headquarters July 6, 1907 WIFE THINKS HER HUSBAND GUILTY
WILL NOT VISIT HIM IN HIS PO- LICE STATION CELL.
NEW GRIEF FOR MRS. HEADLEY.
HUSBAND'S ARREST FOLLOWED BY MOTHER'S ILLNESS.
Headley Is a Stationary Fireman, and Declares a "Job is Being Put Up on Him" -- Vic- tim Is Improving.
Just as Mrs. Ward Headley had finished reading of the attack upon 5-year-old Eunice Swift, with which her husband is charged, in the morning papers yesterday, her sister entered her room and told her to hurry to the bedside of their mother, Mrs. Melinda Greenstreet, who, it was thought, was dying. The bride of a week, already dumbfounded by the sudden knowledge of the crime for which her husband is under arrest, sat as one dead to the world, as if she had not heard the sad news which her sister had brought. It took much urging and explaining by the sister before Mrs. Headley collected her wits enough to understand just what was happening.
Hastily she arose from her chair and without a word walked bareheaded to her mother's home, 1706 Indiana avenue. There she found her aged mother at the point of death. Mrs. Greenstreet had not been informed of the charges against Mrs. Headley's husband, and without a word, Mrs. Headley took her place beside the bed. Later in the day when a visitor questioned her concerning her husband and his alleged crime, Mrs. Headley could scarcely speak, so great was the strain under which she labored.
THINKS HE WAS DRUNK.
"I do not know what to think of it," she said. "Ward was a particular friend of the Kelso and Swift families, and to learn that he had attacked those little children was a complete surprise to me.
"The only explanation I can offer is that he was crazy drunk. For three days steadily he has been under the influence of liquor. Friday night some of our friends came over to our house and gave us a chariavari. He was drunk when he went to bed that night and his actions were peculiar. Saturday morning when he got up he had not quite sobered, but he insisted on going to a saloon for another drink. Against my wishes he went, and he stayed two hours. When he returned he brought two bottles of beer with him.
"That afternoon he decided to go to the Kelso's, 'just for a few minutes,' he said. I understand that he had more beer there, but I have seen nothing of him since he left our home at noon.
"Am I going down to the jail to see him?" she repeated in reply to a question. "Well, I should say not. I am through with him for good. My mother is almost dead, and I wouldn't leave her for anybody. I don't think I will try to get him free, or to get him out on bond. I can't help believing the charges are true for the evidence is unmistakable."
Mrs. Kelso and Mrs. Swift, the mothers of the two girls, went to the Greenstreet home yesterday to see Mrs. Headley and to express their sympathy for the unfortunate young wife. "I feel very sorry for Mrs. Headley," said Mrs. Swift. "She is such a fine little woman, much better than Headley deserved. This and her mother's condition are a severe blow to her Mrs. Kelso and I will do all we can to help her through her trouble, but we will not let up on the prosecution of her husband."
VICTIM GROWS BETTER.
Eunice Swift, the little girl who was most seriously injured, is said to be greatly improved, but is still under a physician's care. Ethel Kelso is still suffering from nervousness and extreme fright.
Ward Headley, who is arrested and charged with the assault, is a fireman employed by the Browing King Clothing Company building. At police headquarters, where he is being held, he made the following statement:
"I am innocent of the crime they charge me with. I have known the little Kelso girl ever since she was born, and liked her very much.
"This arrest reminds me of the time I was arrested on the charge of stealing a watch, not many years ago. At that time they thought they had enough evidence to put me behind the bars, but I fooled them and proved that I was innocent. That's what I am going to do this time, too."
Headley requested that his wife be notified of his arrest, and that she come down to the jail to see him. He wanted to talk to her, and explain that thing were not as bad as they had been painted. He felt confident that he would be successful in making his wife believe that it was a put up game against him."Labels: abuse, alcohol, illness, Indiana avenue, marriage, police headquarters, violence July 6, 1908 DEMENTED BOY TAKEN HOME.
John E. Stroud's Father Says He Had Studied Too Hard.
John E. Stroud, the Kansas University Student who was taken in charge by the police last Thrusday afternoon and detained at police headquarters, after calling on Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., while mentally unsound, was taken home last night by his father, R. J. Stroud of Howard, Kas. Young Stroud, who had grown worse since his incarceration in a cell in the matron's room, was removed to the general hospital early Saturday morning. They physicians at the hospital strapped Stroud to a cot so he could not injure himself. When his father visited him at the hospital the young college student appeared to become quiet, and when they left for their Kansas home the demented man was very meek in his actions. Mr. Stroud said that his son had studied too hard while at the university and was not well when the college closed.Labels: general hospital, Mayor Crittenden, mental health, police headquarters, universities, visitors July 5, 1908 DEMENTED MAN WRECKS CELL.
John E. Stroud, the K. U. Man, Dis- plays Superhuman Strength.
John E. Stroud, the Kansas university man who has been detained at police headquarters since 4:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon because of his demented condition, was yesterday transferred to the general hospital. Stroud is laboring under the hallucination that he is under the spell of a hypnotist, and he came here with the idea that Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., could remove it.
Stroud has grown gradually worse since his incarceration and early yesterday morning almost demolished the cell in the matron's room in which he was confined. It was bolted to the floor and with the superhuman strength of the insane college student, although a slender man, actually tore the cage from its moorings on the floor. He smashed up two chairs in his cell and began on the iron bed, when that was removed. Stroud reached through the bars of the cage, grabbed a trunk standing near and, with the small purchase that he had, hurled the trunk across the room and upset it against a door.
He was determined to get out, and swore that he would wreck the city hall, but that he would gain his freedom. One of the things which is worrying the police matron is how Stroud reached an iron bed which stood entirely out of his reach across the room. When Mrs. Lizzie Burns went in the cell room at 6 a. m. Stroud had, in some manner, reached the bed, tore off its coverings and dragged the mattress to the side of his cell.
When the young man was removed to the general hospital later in the morning he had to be handcuffed, and on arrival at the hospital was strapped to a bed as he was still violent.
Chief of Police Daniel Ahern received a letter yesterday morning from R. J. Stroud, father of the demented man, at Howard, Kas. In it the father asks the advice of Chief Ahern about what disposition to make of his son.Labels: city hall, general hospital, jail, Mayor Crittenden, mental health, Police Chief Ahern, police headquarters, police matron June 24, 1908 THIS IS THE 'PORT OF MISSING MEN'
SOME OF THEM HAD MONEY, SOME HAD NONE.
Two Husbands Are Worrying Two Faithful Wives and Piling Up Telephone Bills by Remain- ing Away From Home.
Mrs. Susie Poser called police headquarters by telephone from Tulsa, Ok., yesterday and asked that her husband, S. Poser, here for three weeks, be sought by the police. He is a plasterer, 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He has light hair, blue eyes and fair complexion. Has been known to drink.
The mother of Samuel Keller, 17 years old, 913 Oak street, said her boy had left home Sunday morning and had not returned.
This report was among the lot of the missing: "Look out for George Wiley, 12 years old, blue overalls, blue blouse, barefooted and red-headed. Left home last Friday and not heard from since. Notify his mother at Independence avenue and Charlotte street, next to drug store."
Probably the most important person the police were asked to find, yesterday, on account of the fact that he was known to have had $868 and some valuable jewelry with him, was Frank Cook of Independence, Kas. His wife telephoned here and asked that he be located by the police.
Last Friday night Cook entered a hack at Fifth street and Grand avenue and asked to be driven to the Union depot to catch a 9 p. m. train. It was late and the train was missed.
"Bud" Landis, the driver, knew that Cook had with him a large sum of money. He drove slowly back uptown and at Seventh and Wyandotte streets called the attention of Patrolman J. F. Murphy and J. F. Brice, to the man in his hack. Cook was asleep. He had been drinking.
When searched at police headquarters, where he was booked as a "safe keeper," he was found to have $808, a valuable gold watch and chain and other jewelry. Cook was released Saturday morning and his money and jewelry returned to him. The missing man is 35 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds, has light hair, blue eyes and fair complexion. His wife said he might be found in a sanitarium.
A doctor at 1306 Garfield avenue asked that the police be on the lookout for W. H. Madden, a patient who took French leave. The doctor said that Madden was demented. He wanted the man detained until he could be notified.
Bert Murray, a "patient" at the city workhouse, while working in the barn there Sunday concluded to leave. He did leave. As his time is by no means up, Patrick O'Hearn, superintendent of that institution, asks the police to locate Murray and return him, not to the barn, but to the workhouse proper.Labels: children, Fifth street, Garfield avenue, Grand avenue, mental health, missing, Oak street, police headquarters, Seventh street, telephone, Union depot, workhouse, Wyandotte street June 18, 1908 MAN FROM DEADWOOD WAS AN EASY MARK.
Went for Ride With a Stranger, Who Borrowed His Money and Also His Purse to Hold It.
John Martin, a young farmer who arrived here yesterday from Deadwood, S. D., bound for Voland, Kas., is the easiest picking a confidence man ever had. He was not only "trimmed to a finish" by a "con" man yesterday, but was left at Thirty-fifth street and Troost avenue with a broken buggy belonging to E. Landis, 415 Wyandotte street. After "holding the bag" from 4 until 8 o'clock waiting for his new found friend to appear in another rig, John walked clear to police headquarters and led the horse.
Martin is 33 years old. When he arrived here he had $11.70 and a ticket to his Kansas home. While wandering about in the North End, he met a man who told him he was a horse trader, with a valuable string of ponies and he hired Martin to work for him. The man gave martin the lovable name of "Darling Smith," but said that he used the name of Milligan, after his stepfather.
After hiring Martin, "Darling's first move was to take his railroad ticket and leave it. John did not know where -- "but I was to get the money on it next week," he said. Just before noon Smith borrowed $5 of Martin's $11.70. After lunch they met by appointment and Smith had a rig in which he invited Martin for a ride, saying that it was "one of many." They drove to Electric park and on the way Smith informed Martin that he would have to use another $5 bill until tomorrow. That left Martin $1.70. In the park they took in all the concessions and John Martin was introduced to wonders he never believed existed -- the merry-go-round, shoot-the-chutes, the tickler, scenic railway and all.
Before they had proceeded far, in fact, just after they had had their pictures taken with "Darling Smith" on a burro and Martin by his side, Smith touched Martin for $1 more, leaving him with 70 cents.
"After he'd done that," said John Martin at police headquarters last night, "He borrowed my pocketbook with the 70 cents in it, saying he wanted to use it to carry his change. He was afraid he'd lose it, he said."
That last touch left John Martin of Deadwood, bound for Voland, completely strapped.
"And," Martin said, "I had a quart of good whisky, which I bought in Deadwood to take home to Pa -- paid $1.25 for it, too -- and when that feller Smith found I had it he said we'd better drink it. We did, or rather, he did, as he got the most of it."
On the way home from the park Smith was giving Martin an exhibition of fancy driving with one of his "trained" horses. He collided with a large wagon and smashed the right front wheel. Martin was left to watch the rig, while Smith returned to the city to get another vehicle. It was not until he had held the bag or rather the nag four hours that Martin began to wake up and take notice. He put the buggy by the roadside and started to town, asking all whom he met if they knew "Darling Smith."
The police have a good description of Mr. Smith and are looking for him. Mr. Landis, whose rig the "con" man had, took pity on Martin last night, and took him to his barn where he was given a bunk for the night. Landis said he might give Martin a job "until he gets on his feet and becomes a little wiser."Labels: animals, con artist, Electric park, North end, police headquarters, Thirty-fifth street, Troost avenue, visitors, Wyandotte street June 8, 1908 TOBACCO WAS SAWDUST.
Police Make Discovery After Guard- ing Supply for a Year.
"This tobacco was found at Missouri avenue and Walnut street night of August 9, 1907, by Fred Myers, 816 Bank street. BAILEY, Desk.
The foregoing was written on a tag which has now for nearly a year been tied to a dozen sacks of smoking tobacco in the possession of Captain Frank F. Snow, property clerk at police headquarters. That is, everybody thought the sacks contained smoking tobacco.
A man at the station had no smoking tobacco. He wanted a pipe full so badly that he tried to borrow one from all hands about the place. All were just out.
"There is to be an 'old hoss' sole of uncalled for and confiscated property pretty soon," an officer suggested. "See Captain Snow and he may fix you out with tobacco."
"Sure," said the good-natured captain. "Here is a lot that I have had for nearly a year. It was found on the street and has never been called for. Take a sack."
The citizen was grateful, and filled his pipe Those who were watching him noted the peculiar color of the tobacco. It was almost pure white. But the citizen did not notice it. He was talking as he stuffed the"weed" into the pipe. Then a burning match was applied to the well-filled pipe. As the citizen "tasted" his tongue and looked curiously at his pipe the fumes of burning wood filled the little room where he sat. Then he reopened his gift sack of tobacco.
"Sawdust, by heck," he exclaimed as all laughed at what they thought of the good joke Captain Snow had played on his friend. The man hurried in to tell the captain that he "bit" all right and that it was a "peach of a joke."
Captain Snow became interested. "Sawdust?" he said. "You are leaking language through your Merry Widow. I'll just show you that you are off."
When the captain examined the sack and was convinced that it was pure, unadulterated sawdust he brought out the other eleven sacks. One by one they were found to contain nothing but sawdust.
"Well, I'll be dinged; say, what do you think of that? Here I have been guarding that alleged tobacco for nearly a year waiting for an owner to put in appearance."
Some eagle-eyed individual then discovered that not a sack had a government stamp on it. Further inspection and this was found plainly printed on the back of each sack: "This package contains sawdust. To be used in window display."Labels: Missouri avenue, police, police headquarters, tobacco, Walnut Street June 7, 1908
POLICE REFUSE TO GIVE INFORMATION.
"NOT TRYING WIX IN THE NEWSPA- PERS," THEY SAY.
As in All Cases, They Are Seeking Evidence Against the Accused, Only, and Not That Which Would Free Him.
"The police will give no more information concerning the Wix case. I think we have given out too much of our side already. We do not intend to try the case in the newspapers."
So said Captain Walter Whitsett at police headquarters last night when asked if there was anything new in the case. By "Our side" he meant the prosecution. He said further that the publication of too much of "our information gives the other fellows a chance to get busy." In other words the police department, a public institution, is run solely to prosecute men. When a man is arrested, charged with a crime, it is a well known fact that the police set to work to get all they can against the man and seldom take notice of anything in the prisoner's favor.
If Clark Wix is convicted for the murder of John Mason as he now stands charged, it appears that it will have to be solely upon circumstantial evidence as, so far, the police have no positive evidence.
The man's watch found in pawn in Wix's name at Silverman's pawnshop, 1215 Grand avenue, and later identified by Mrs. Lizzie Mason, widow of the murdered man and Maude Wilson, was yesterday proved beyond a doubt to be the property of Wix. In his statement Wix said that the watch was his and the woman's watch was his wife's.
When J. B. Schmeltz, 1231 Grand avenue, was seen he said that Detective Fred Bailey called him up about the watch. His mark in the watch was 10232107. The 102 Schmeltz places in all his watches and the 32107 when separated means 3, 21, 07, or March 21, 1907, when the watch sold. The works number is 14160503 and the case 6219763. It is a Waltham, size 16.
WIX BOUGHT A DIAMOND.
When Silverman's pawnshop was visited it was learned that the watch pawned by Wix February 10 last bears exactly the same numbers. Schmeltz also said that he recalled Wix bringing a diamond stick pin to him to be set in a ring and said that he believed he sold him a small diamond ring within the last year, possibly the one Wix gave to Maud Wilson.
The numbers on the works of the woman's watch in pawn are 10437364 and the case 67074. That watch is claimed by Mrs. Mason, who said that her husband was carrying it when he disappeared. She said that the watch was brought second hand, so it would be hard to trace the numbers in that case. Wix says the watch is his wife's and she confirms him. Her description of the watch is identical with the one in pawn. Her nurse friends used to use it when she was a nurse at the general hospital, and they all describe it as a large-sized woman's wath, engraved case, with a diamond in the back. Captain Whitsett says that the watch is being held as evidence and no one not connected with the police or the prosecution shall be allowed to see it. Harry Way, Mrs. Wix's father, said yesterday:
"That watch was given to Harriet by her uncle, Cyrus Way, fifteen years ago. It was brought from Roscoe Smulk, a jeweler at Shelbina, Mo, who is now dead. An effort will be made to get the numbers there, but I don't think they keep them."
If the watch was ever cleaned or repaired by a jeweler here, the numbers will be found here, and the defense is working along those lines now.
WHEN HE WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD.
Some of the new information received by the police yesterday that, twelve years ago, while hunting near Ottawa, Kas., with a man named Alvin Keller, the latter was supposed to have been accidentally shot by Wix, and that the belief was that it was not accidental. Wix is now 23 years old, so, if that is true, he was only 1 years old when the informant seems to cast suspicion upon him.
It was learned yesterday that on Sunday, January 26, when Mason disappeared, he was about the barn of W. A. Marshall, 1417 Walnut, during the morning. He took John Nevins out and drove him through Penn Valley park in an effort to sell him a horse. Nevins, who is a horseshoer, did not take the horse. Then Mason called up George Coleman, a liveryman, and tried to sell him the buggy and harness. He was turning all his property into cash, as his wife had sued him for divorce.
While Coleman was looking at the buggy Mason left the barn. That was about noon. About 2 p. m. he called Marshall and said:
"I will be over pretty soon with Clark Wix, and I want you to knock that trade with me."
"I asked him what he meant," said Marshall, yesterday, "In his broken German he had used knock for boost. I don't see how he could have been talking in the presence of Wix, to whom he wanted to sell a team."
DISPLAYED HIS MONEY.
Detectives "Lum" Wilson and J. L. Ghent were assigned on the Mason case yesterday, and they took a new tack. They found out where Mason had often showed his money, that he did not choose his company well, and was often known to have shot craps with negroes. Any of that class may have known that Mason carried a large sum of money, and he might have been killed by them.
The police had several men in the office of Captain Whitsett last night, sweating them and taking their statements. Some of them are believed to have been men who worked for Wix at the time of Mason's disappearance. It is known that an old man named Barslow, a barn foreman, was told to be there at 8 p.m. One of the men who worked about there at the time and who knew Mason and his habits well is now being looked for by police with two different warrants for swindling transfer men and others for whom he worked. That is he collected C. O. D. money and decamped. That man's name is Gale Chaney, and his brother Tom also worked there. Another man now driving a newspaper wagon may be questioned by police.
Every person who ever knew Wix is now rallying to hi support in his hour of trouble. The verdict of many seen yesterday was, "He was the hardest worker I ever saw, and at the same time a man of jolly disposition. I can't conceive his committing such a crime and feel that he will come out all right."
Funeral services of John Mason, the murdered man, will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at Freeman & Marshall's undertaking rooms, 3015 Main street.
Burial will be in Mount Washington cemetery.
Prosecutor I. B. Kimbrell and the grand jury were ready at 10:30 yesterday morning to examine Clark Wix and the evidence in the case against him, on which he is held in the county jail for the murder of John Mason, but Inspector M. E. Ryan telephoned that he did not have his evidence in shape to present. The grand jury then adjourned until Monday.Labels: Captain Whitsett, detectives, Grand avenue, Main street, newspapers, nurses, pawn brokers, Penn Valley park, police headquarters, Prosecutor Kimbrell, undertakers, Walnut Street May 29, 1908
RECORDS PROVE MEN WERE MOVED.
AFTER BEING THREATENED BY MEN WITH A "PULL."
ONE ARRESTED WRONG WOMAN.
SHE HAD BEEN FINED 106 TIMES, BUT WAS EXEMPT.
"Ain't You Next?" Said O'Hearn's Friend; "You're to Let Her Alone." -- More of the Pow- er of Mickey O'Hearn.
After the order of the board of police commissioners Wednesday a reporter for The Journal had no trouble in seeing the books at No. 4 police station yesterday. And a view of these books proved the charges that every man since the first of the year, who has been active in arresting women "night hawks" has been taken out of plain clothes and removed from the district. One man was left in the district but he was taken from that special duty and put back into uniform.
The records showed that officers had been taken from that duty even before January 1 -- in fact, any man who has been too active since the reorganized police department took charge of affairs after Governor Joseph W. Folk's "rigid investigation" has been shifted. This is not only true of No. 4 district by even in No. 1 district, headquarters. This does not pertain alone to the arresting of dissolute women but to interference with certain saloons which were selling liquor on Sunday. That charge is made in regard to No. 1 district more than any other. Of course, some saloons have been caught; but they are not the influential ones; those run by "our political friends."
While the records at No. 4 station practically prove all the assertions made in regard to that district it is said that no blame can be laid at the door of Captain Thomas P. Flahive. It is not he who has had the men taken out of citizens clothes and transferred Those who know say he has been handicapped by having only a few men to do the work in his district and by an unseen power which has been able to have men removed when they did their full duty.
ARRESTED MANY WOMEN.
The records show that Daniel Doran, who worked there for years, arrested thirty-five women just before January 1. He was threatened by well dressed vagrants and told that he would be moved. And by the grace of the unseen power he was moved January 1, last, going in uniform to No. 9 -- the "sage brush" district.
The commanding officers and sergeants under whom Edward Prewett worked in No. 4 precinct speak well of him. He was there nearly eight years, and it was never said that Prewett did not do his full duty. In fat, it has been said that "Prewett would bring in his grandmother if ordered to do so."
In December, Prewett was detailed alone to bring in women of the streets. In eighteen days he brought in thirty-five of them. But from all sides, even from the women and especially the dude vagrants, he heard, "You won't last beyond January 1." One night Prewett arrested a woman named Kate Kingston. Last year this woman was fined $500 by Police Judge Harry G. Kyle, and at that time the records showed that she had been fined 106 times in police court.
"YOU AIN'T NEXT, ARE YOU?"
As he started away with the woman, "Ted" Noland appeared on the scene. "Turn that woman loose," he said; "you ain't next are you? She's to be let alone." Prewett was not "next," for he was also arrested Noland, and that was his undoing. Noland threatened the officer and told him he would personally see to it that he was moved. And Prewett was moved January 1, going in uniform to No. 6. Noland was fined $50 in police court the day following his arrest.
Noland is well known to the police, and in January, 1907, was fined $500 on a charge of vagrancy. That same Kate Kingston, over whom he threatened the officer, testified then that he and a man named Deerwester had beaten her at Thirteenth and Main streets. Deerwester got a similar fine. Their cases were appealed and the men were soon out out on bond.
Noland is a friend of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn, and, until recently, could be seen almost any day about his saloon at 1205 Walnut street; also about the saloon of Dan Leary at Fourteenth and Walnut streets. The records show that Leary has gone the bonds of scores of street women. At one time Judge Kyle objected to the n umber of personal bonds that Leary was signing and required that they be made in cash.
JUST SEE MICKEY.
The influence of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn may be better understood when it is known how he is reverenced by many members of the police department. When the Folk "investigation" was begun in May last year the commissions of probably half the department were held up. This conversation was overheard one day between two of the officers out of commissions.
"I'll tell you these are ticklish times," one said. "I have all my friends to work and am assured that I am all right."
"I'm up a tree," the other replied. "I don't know what to do. I have always tried to do my duty and can't imagine why I am held up."
"Why don't you see 'Mickey'?" his friend said with astonishment. "I thought you were wise. You know 'Mickey,' don't you You do; then go and see him and the whole things squared. That's what I did."
From that day to this the word has gone out through the whole department, "See 'Mickey' if you are in bad. He'll fix it."Labels: Captain Flahive, corruption, crime, Governor Folk, Judge Kyle, Main street, No 4 police station, No 6 police station, No 9 police station, police, police headquarters, politics, saloon, The Journal, Thirteenth street, vagrancy, Walnut Street May 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 18, 1908 LASOLA CUT HIS RIVAL'S THROAT
SLIPPED UP ON DE ROSA, DIS- GUISED BY A BEARD.
BELONGS TO THE BLACK HAND
De Rosa Shot at His Assailant, Police Shot at Him, and Everybody Missed -- De Rosa Only Scratched.
Shots, cries, hurrying feet; a cut throat, poor marksmanship, a woman; black whiskers, Black Hand and a bunch of policemen that couldn't hit Clay county if it stood on edge, were factors in a riotous drama near police headquarters at 11:30 o'clock last night.
It started when Alessandro De Rosa, who is a bartender at 302 Main street, went to his place of employment to roll a few lemons and knock a bung or two for the brief, but brisk, hour of trade between midnight and 1 a. m. Alessandro had inserted his key in the front door lock and was bending over it, grunting a bit because it turned with difficulty, when a heavily whiskered man darted from the shadow of the next doorway, slashed De Rosa's throat twice with a knife and ran.
De Rosa, who is tough under the chin, thanks to shaving for many years past in North End barber shops, wasn't much more than scratched. He jerked a revolver from his pocket and fired at the flying whiskers. Once, twice, thrice, he blazed away, but the person with the beard and dull knife ran up on Main street toward Fourth. De Rosa followed, shouting for the police and snapping his revolver, which had gone to sleep, at every leap.
The police were awake in Central station, Fourth and Main streets, at that hour. They heard the noise and turned out, several of them, just as the whiskered man wheeled into West Fourth street and galloped toward Wyandotte.
The police added their imperious commands to the tenor wail of Alessandro de Rosa, but whiskers bobbed along with hardy disregard. Shots sounded again, and the fugitive increased his gait, while Alessandro, who was behind the policemen, and ripe in experience, took shelter back of a fat telephone pole.
The fugitive passed into the penumbra of a wholesale house, became obscured in the eclipse of black shadow, and the police pelted on. When they came to the point where the man they chased had disappeared, they halted. Another man, but whiskerless, was walking toward them, calm, unagitated. They nabbed him, and led him into the light.
Alessandro de Rosa had come up by then, and when he saw the captive he exulted.
"It is Joe Lasola," said he, "but he wore whiskers w hen he cut my throat."
On the way to the station a policeman found the whiskers, lying where Lasola had cast them in his flight. They were made of black dyed wool, clumsy, dense, with a tin attachment to hook them on behind the ears.
De Rosa said that he had quarreled with Lasola over a woman. That was the whole trouble. Lasola, being known to him, knew he could not approach withing damaging distance in his own proper face, so he had made the whiskers and waited.
The police brought the woman from the address given by De Rosa. She said her name was Anita Zuvino and that she knew Joe Lasola to be a member of the Black Hand. She had lived with him formerly, she said, and offered as evidence a newly-healed knife wound on the back of her hand. Lasola received money each month from headquarters of the Black Hand organization, she declared.
Lasola repudiated everything, but the whiskers. He grinned when they were held up before him.
De Rosa's wounds are only slight. Lasola passed through the rain of fire without a mark. He was held by the police and will be turned over to the state authorities today.Labels: black hand, Central station, Fourth street, Main street, North end, police, police headquarters, violence, Wyandotte street May 16, 1908 BODY OF JOHN FAHEY IS FOUND IN MISSOURI RIVER.
Farmer Near Sibley Discovered It Thursday -- Missing Since January 31.
The body of John Fahey, missing since January 31, was found in the Missouri river near Sibley, Mo., Thursday afternoon by a farmer, James Finn, while fishing. A Buckner undertaker was called to take charge of the body, and some of the stationary of the Kansas City waterworks department was found in a pocket. From this Fahey was quickly identified, as his disappearance became widely known about February 17, when to gratify the man's wife a waterworks trench at Twelfth and Main streets was re-excavated on the theory that workmen might have buried Fahey alive while he was inspecting the pipe connections on the work there the night he disappeared.
At midnight on the night of his disappearance he called up the waterworks department to say that he had just inspected the job, and the hole was ready to be filled. A gang of eight men was sent to do the work.
Sergeant M. E. Ryan, at police headquarters, a brother of Mrs. Fahey, went to Buckner yesterday and identified the corpse positively. There was 75 cents in the trousers' pockets. The body was taken to O'Donnell's undertaking rooms, and Deputy Coroner O. H. Parker held an autopsy. No marks of violence were found which, taken with the fact that he was not robbed, would seem to indicate that the man, either by accident or suicidal intent, got into the river.
There will be private funeral services at O'Donnell's undertaking rooms this morning at 10 o'clock, with burial in Mount St. Mary's cemetery.Labels: Buckner, cemetery, death, Deputy Coroner Parker, drowning, farmers, Main street, missing, Missouri river, police headquarters, public works, Sibley, Twelfth street, undertakers May 14, 1908 WAS HIS OWN DETECTIVE.
Covert Causes Arrest of man Who May Have Robbed Him.
The police believe they may have the leader of the gang which held up P. P. Covert and wife on the night of May 4 and robbed Covert of a 2 1/2 carat diamond, a gold watch and $4 in money. The man was arrested yesterday afternoon at Eighth and Walnut streets. Covert himself is almost sure of the man, but wants his wife to also have a look at him. She will go to police headquarters this morning to see if she can recognize him.
Covert himself brought about the man's arrest. He was on his way to lunch Tuesday noon, when he saw the man sitting on a door step near Eighth and Main streets. He shadowed the man until police could be summoned.
"If I am right," Covert says, "this was the first man to put a gun to my breast and say, 'Hands up!' He is very tall as that man was, and fills his description in every respect. He is the only one of hte three who had any nerve. The other two, who appeared to be new at the business, were very nervous and shaky. The big fellow let them get a block the start of him before he lowered the gun from me and made strides himself. He made ten feet at each leap."Labels: crime, Eighth street, guns, Main street, police headquarters, Walnut Street May 14, 1908 WANTED HER CHILD ARRESTED.
Because She Played in Street, Having No Other Place to Play.
The great necessity for a playground in the North end was shown by an incident which took place at police headquarters last night. A mother, greatly incensed and trembling with anger, appeared at the station pushing before her a little girl of 11 years. She was crying bitterly and protesting.
"I have told you I would do it and I am going to keep my word," said the mother. Then to Sergeant Patrick Clark she said: "I want this girl locked up. She will play on the streets when I have told her not to."
"I haven't got any place else to play," said the little girl, between sobs.
"Where do you live?" asked the sergeant kindly, as he placed his arm about the child's back.
"At Missouri avenue and Main," she said, calming a little.
"How long have you lived there?" she was asked.
"All my life," she replied.
"Where else can the child play but on the street?" Clark asked the mother. "You take her home now and both of you enter into a bargain. You give this little girl so much time every day to play. All children have got to play or else they are not children. And you, little one, when your mother gives you a certain hour in which to play, will you come in when the time is up? There, I knew you would. Now both of you go home.
Mother and daughter left the station arm in arm.Labels: children, Main street, Missouri avenue, North end, police headquarters May 11, 1908 TWO OF AHERN'S LAMBS.
Took Sunday Drink in Peter Leary's Saloon, Then Arrested Him.
"What d'ye want?" shouted Peter Leary through the door of his saloon to Police Sergeant John Ravenscamp, who was thumping with his stick on the outside early Sunday morning.
"Sure, and I'm askin' that you let those policemen out. You've locked two good fellows inside.:
"G'wan and sleep," replied Peter, "There's no bulls in here."
"There are two of Ahern's choicest lambs," said John and he leaned against the front door.
Now John Ravenscamp is large and, when the door creaked, Leary waved him back and turned the bolt. As the sergeant entered, Plain Clothes Officers D. R. Lee and Pat O'Connor, who say they had been drinking at the bar with five citizens, stepped out and showed their stars to Leary.
Leary and John Shannon, the bartender, were booked at headquarters for selling liquor on Sunday and a full report was made out to be given to the police commissioners at their next meeting.Labels: alcohol, immigrants, police, police headquarters, saloon May 9, 1908 TWO BARRELS WERE ENOUGH.
Negro Stole Load of Whisky, but Left Part of It.
Jordan Coleman, a one-legged negro teamster for the Empire Transfer Company, stumped hurriedly into police headquarters about 4 p. m. yesterday and excitedly informed Captain Whitsett that somebody had stolen a wagon load of whisky from him.
"I left my wagon load with seventy cases and three barrels of whisky in the alley between Main and Delaware, Third and Fourth streets," he said. "I wasn't gone but a few minutes when I came back and the team, whisky and all had disappeared. A man said he saw another negro driving the load east on Third street."
About 6 p. m. Coleman's wagon was found standing at Independence avenue and Charlotte street. Two barrels of whisky were missing from the load. The police are looking for the "booze" and also the thief.Labels: alcohol, Captain Whitsett, Charlotte street, Delaware street, Fourth street, Independence avenue, Main street, police headquarters, teamster, Third street May 6, 1907 WANTED TO FEED HER RATS.
Woman Counterfeiter Begged Police to Take Her to Them.
The cases of George Elliott and Tillie Bullene, the confessed counterfeiters, who were arrested Saturday night in their room at 511 Locust street, were taken up yesterday by the United States grand jury. Sergeant Peter McCosgrove and Patrolman Joseph Enright, the arresting officers, gave their testimony and produced one of the most complete counterfeiter's outfits ever captured here.
Miss Bullene said that poverty drove her and Elliott to counterfeiting. Elliott made the money and she passed it. The woman cliamed that a sore hand needed constant attention and medicine had to be bought for it.
As she sat in the matron's room at police headquarters last night she had but two concerns -- her hand, which was giving her much pain, and the fact that her thirty-nine pet white rats, left behind at 511 Locust street, were suffering for food.
"I will promise not to make the least effort towards getting away," she told Captain Whitsett, "if you will only send some one along with me so I can feed my white rats. No one else wil care for them and it's downright cruel to let even a rat starve -- especially a white rat."
Miss Bullene cried bitterly as she said her hand pained her so. Dr. J. P. Neal fromm the emergency hospital, who examined the hand, said that iss Bullene was suffering from cancer. He also said that her hand may have to be amputated to save her life.Labels: animals, counterfeiters, crime, doctors, Locust street, police headquarters, police matron, women May 3, 1908 PASSED MONEY THAT WAS BAD.
WOMAN CONFESSES PART IN COUNTERFEITING PLOT .
WAS CAUGHT AT 511 LOCUST.
MAN ACCUSED OF MAKING THE MONEY ALSO CAUGHT.
Plaster of Paris Molds, Melting Pots and Other Paraphernalia for Producing Bogus Coins Dis- covered by Police.
In the arrest of a couple giving the name of George and Tillie Bullene at 511 Locust street last night, the police are certain they have a pair of genuine counterfeiters. Four plaster of paris molds, two of them still damp, two pots for melting metal, two batteries and a bad dollar were found in the room. All of the molds are of a dollar.
The woman confessed to Police Sergeant M. E. Ryan, the sergeant says, that for the past year she has been living with Bullene and has been passing the "queer" as fast as he made it. To reporters, however, she refused to make any statement.
Mrs. Bullene brought about the arrest herself. She entered Hudson's drug store at Fifth and Broadway early in the evening. She made a purchase which came to 15 cents, and pushed a dollar slowly along the counter.
T. H. Murphy, a drug clerk, was in the store visiting a friend. The woman's actions attracted his attention and aroused his suspicions. Taking the dollar in his hand he felt of it and said:
"This is a bum dollar. Where did you get it?"
"Well, I declare," said the woman, in apparent surprise, "Let me see who did give me that. Give it here. I think I know who gave it to me now."
With that she left the drug store. Murphy, still filled with suspicion, followed the woman at a safe distance. Many times she looked back, but he always managed to elude her vision. When she got to 511 Locust street she cast one more quick glance behind and darted hurriedly into the house.
Murphy felt that his suspicions were confirmed. He went at once to police headquarters and told his story to Sergeant M. E. Ryan, who detailed Sergeant Peter McCosgrove and Patrolman Joseph Enright on the case. They found both people at the house and placed them under arrest. In the woman's purse was found six "phony" dollars. No bad coin was found on the man.
Two of the molds show plainly that they have been recently used, and there are two which appear to have been made only a few hours, as the plaster had not set. In a match box with some small chips of copper was another "bad" dollar. It is well made, however, and has a ring almost like a good dollar. Ground glass is sometimes used to give counterfeit coins the proper ring. When Enright and Cosgrove brought the molds and metal pots to headquarters they mentioned casually that "there are two old batteries attached out there. We left them."
They were sent back to the room to bring in everything. The batteries are used to give counterfeit coins a thin coating of silver, it is said.
The woman's trunk was taken to Central station about midnight and searched. It was filled with small articles such as cheap soap, perfume, face lotions and other toilet articles which had not cost more than 5 or 10 cents each. She evidently had confined her operations largely to drug stores in passing the spurious coins.
The pair will be turned over to the federal authorities.Labels: Central station, con artist, counterfeiters, crime, druggists, Locust street, police headquarters May 3, 1908 ENGINEER HAD BEEN DRUGGED.
Matt Gaffney Fell Into Bad Company on Bluff Street.
Matt Gaffney, a Missouri Pacific engineer, whose home is at 739 Parallel avenue, Kansas City, Kas., was taken to police headquarters last night in an unconscious condition by Richard Miller, a hack driver for the Quinby Livery Company. Dr. George Dagg, who examined Gaffney, said that the man had evidently been "doped." Miller, the hack driver, said that he got a call at Twelfth and Main streets at 10:40 o'clock to go to a rooming house at 507 Bluff street. When he got there a woman gave him $4 and told him to take a man whom she brought out of the house to Seventh street and Parallel avenue, Kansas City, Kas.
Miller told the police that when he got to the address the man was unconscious and was unable to give him further directions. He then drove back to the police station. It was first thought that Gaffney was drunk, but the physician's diagnosis led the police to believe that he had been drugged. The woman who put Gaffney into the hack will be arrested if she can be found.
William Bedell, a traveling engineer friend of Gaffney's, called at police headquarters at an early hour this morning. He said that Gaffney has two daughters, Teresa and Julia. Teresa lives with Bedell, and Julia is a student at a convent in Paola, Kas.
Letters in Gaffney's pockets indicate that he had cashed recently a draft for $500. A later diagnosis by the emergency hospital physicians developed morphine poisoning.
The house at 507 Bluff street was closed early this morning when the police went to arrest the woman who placed Gaffney in the hack.Labels: Bluff street, doctors, Kansas City Kas, Main street, narcotics, police headquarters, Twelfth street April 14, 1908 SHE DASHED PAST THE JAILER.
Woman Escaped from Holdover and Outran a Man.
As an ordinary thing a woman cannot outrun a man, especially when both are anywhere near evenly matched. But a woman did outstrip a man last night, and a police officer at that. She did it after escaping from the women's holdover at police headquarters, too.
The woman who was so fleet of foot bears the name of Mrs. Kate Harmon. She is 32 years old, 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 115 pounds. She was not handicapped with a broad-brimmed hat, being bareheaded when she made the race.
Philip Welch, jailer, is something over 50 years old. He is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds. It was up to Welch to catch the fleeing Mrs. Harmon.
A messenger had called to see a woman who was in the holdover. Mrs. Harmon had been placed in for safekeeping. She was very nervous, walked the floor continually, and announced, "I want out of here."
As Welch stood in the doorway, his back toward Mrs. Harmon, she stole quietly up to him. When just even with him in the open door she made a dash for liberty. And she dashed some, too. Any one who doubts that may ask Welch.
"There she goes," screamed the woman whom the messenger had come to see.
By the time Welch turned around Mrs. Harmon had passed out of the areaway in the rear of the station, and was in the little street between the market and city hall. Welch made a dash after her. The course was along Fifth street, Mrs. Harmon leading by nine lengths and gaining at every leap.
In a short while Welch returned, panting and alone. "If any one had told me that a woman hampered with her skirts as she is, could run like that woman did, I'd call him a liar," was all he had to say.Labels: city hall, Fifth street, police, police headquarters, women March 28, 1908 SAVED GREEN'S TOMATOES.
Even Though He Had to Call on the Police for Help.
"I want some of you fellows here to call James Green, the old man, at Twelfth and Prospect, and have him call Jimmy Green, young Jimmy, his son, at Twelfth and Montgall, and have Jimmy tell his wife to go out on the back porch and take in them tomato plants. They'll sure freeze if they stay out all night tonight."
The foregoing request was made by an aged man who strolled into police headquarters last night and announced that he was "in deep trouble and needed some help." The request was so unusual, and as it was made in a drawling tone, the police only laughed. The old man's feelings appeared to be hurt because no one would take him seriously.
"I mean just what I say," he insisted. "I have been making a garden for young Jimmy Green. A short time ago I sowed tomato seed in a box. The plants came up and today I put the box out in the sun and went away and left it. When it began to turn cold a little while ago I thought of them tomato plants and want young Jimmy's wife to take 'em in, so I do. They'll all be ruined if she don't."
When it was seen that the old gardener was serious, James Green was called over the telephone. He said he would tell "young Jimmy" and that he knew young Jimmy would tell his wife. The old man was contented at this information and kindly thanked all who had aided him in saving the tomato plants. He game the name of John Hiltbrunner, and his residence as 309 Walnut street.
"I used to own 200 acres of the best land in Iowa," he said sadly. "My children all grew up, married and left me. After that my wife died. Then I lost my homestead and have virtually been turned out upon the world to make a living at the age of 63 years. Knowing nothing but farming I have been making my way as a gardener and manage to keep the wolf away when the season is on."
When asked why he did not go to live with some of his married children the old man hung his head. "Oh , you know how children are when they marry and settle down for themselves. Sometimes they forget the old folks."Labels: food, Montgall avenue, police headquarters, Prospect avenue, Seniors, telephone, Twelfth street, Walnut Street March 24, 1908 GAVE BOGUS CHECK FOR CAR.
Young Man of Many Names Says His Parents Are Rich.
A desire to ride in an automobile for even a short space of time, caused the arrest last night of a man believed to be A. W. Martin of Quincy, Ill. A week ago this man called to Missouri Valley Automobile over the telephone telling the company that he wished to be a White steamer car, and asked that a demonstrator be sent to him at the Midland. The request was complied with and the man, who gave his name as Martin, was taken for a spin.
At the end of the drive Martin expressed himself as being satisfied with the machine and signed a check on the Kansas-Nebraska bank in Wichita, Kas., for $4,200. After some communication the bank in Kansas informed the automobile company that A. W. Martin never had money in that bank. Martin was taken to the garage and was accused of having tried to pass a worthless check in payment for the machine. He frankly admitted that he knew the check was worthless and gave no further explanation. He was then taken to police headquarters at the request of the Pinkerton detective agency.
At police headquarters the man first gave the name of John Jones, and later told the officers that his name was A. G. Dorkenwald, son of the owner of Dick Bros. brewery, at Quincy, and made out a draft upon Dorkenwald for the amount necessary to gain his release. While he was being searched, however, the name of A. W. Martin, Quincy, Ill., and the name of the tailor who had made his clothes were found sewed on his coat.
He was then locked up and upon further questioning said that his real name is Earl Frazer, and that he had formerly lived in Chicago with his parents who were very wealthy. He said that his father and mother are now in San Monico, Cal. Frazer, or whoever he might be, did not appear troubled over his arrest, saying that he had no doubt that his folks would see that he was soon released and the matter cleared.Labels: automobiles, Chicago, con artist, forgery, Midland, police headquarters, Wichita March 16, 1908 MAY DIE FROM KNIFE WOUNDS.
Frank Vane Stabbed Near the Heart by Harry Thomas.
"I went out in the back yard to learn what Harry was swearing about and he stuck a butcher knife in my side and turned the knife around. That's all."
Frank Vane, who rooms at 543 Locust street, was talking as he lay on a cot in the emergency hospital. He was later taken to the general hospital, where Dr. Paul B. Clayton discovered that the knife thrust had cut his fifth rib on the left side clean in two and missed the heart by half an inch. Vane may die.
Harry Thomas, who admits he did the cutting, was arrested by Detectives Brice and Murphy. Jay M. Lee, deputy county prosecutor, came to police headquarters and heard Thomas's story, but decided that Thomas had been drinking too heavily to allow much reliability to be placed in his statement. Thomas is being held until Vane recovers or dies. Thomas rooms at 545 Locust street. Thomas is a railway man and has never been in trouble before. Vane, according to Police Captain Whitsett, is known to the police under the name of Robert DeWain.Labels: Captain Whitsett, general hospital, Locust street, police headquarters, violence February 28, 1908 JUDGE WALLACE'S BIRTHDAY.
For Further Particulars Ask Anybody at the City Hall.
A brand new "sell" has been going the rounds of the city hall and police headquarters and if there is a man down there who has not been caught his name has been supressed. It has to do with a new holiday and for that reason those hard woring city employes took the bait quickly. Here is the way Captain Snow worked the new gag on Police Judge Harry G. Kyle yesterday.
"I see we will have no court Saturday," suggested the captian.
"Is that so?" inquired his judgeship, trying to think what for.
"Yes," was the reply. "It's a new holiday."
"You don't say?" said the court, as he went clear under with the bait. "What's the occasion?"
"Judge Wallace's birthday," answered the captian gravely.
Just a dozen persons were present when the judge bit and just a dozen "good" cigars were purchased by his honor. Cigar dealers near the hall have profited on account of the "new holiday."Labels: cigars, city hall, Judge Kyle, Judge Wallace, police headquarters February 27, 1908 HE USED A NOTARY'S SEAL.
As Well as Several Stars to Arrest a Sober Man.
Armed with a deputy marshal's star, a Missouri Pacific special policeman's badge and a notary public seal, George Miller tried to arrest a man in a saloon at Fifteenth street and Grand avenue last night. Miller walked up to the man and, showing his different badges, told him he was under arrest. Naturally the man arrested wanted to know why, and a series of questioning took place during the course of which Miller told his prisoner that he was charged with having done a "stick-up" two nights before.
Miller insisted that the man go to No. 4 police station with him and there be locked up for further investigation. When they arrived there the prisoner told his story to Lieutenant Hammill, who immediately ordered the man with the badges locked up for safe keeping and teleponed to Marshal Sam McGee at the jail to ascertain whether or not Miller was what he represented. McGee told the officer that no man whose name was George Miller had ever been commissioned by the county, but as for the special policeman's star and the notary's seal, the marshal could not say. The man whom Miller arrested was released.
Miller, who lives at 113 West Fourteenth street, was sent to police headquarters, charged with drinking and impersonating an officer.Labels: Fourteenth street, Grand avenue, Lieutenant H. W. Hammil, No 4 police station, police headquarters, saloon February 18, 1907 AN APPEAL FOR MORE POLICE.
Speaker Spalding Says South Side Residents Are Unprotected.
D. R. Spalding, alderman from the Eleventh ward and speaker of the lower house, called at police headquarters last night to ask for better police protection in his district. Mr. Spalding lives at 2305 Tracy avenue an is much perturbed over two big burglaries which occured near him Sunday night and over several attempts which have been made in the neighborhood. He said neither he nor his neighbors had seen a policeman in the neighborhood in the last four or five months.
The matter will be taken up with the chief. Mr. Spalding spoke of taking the matter up with the council. When the complaint was referred to Lieutenant W. J. Carroll last night, he said: "There has been a man on that beat most of the time, especially of nights, for months. Tonight there are six or seven men out there in plain lothes. We are short of police out here, as they are all over the city, and often policemen have to be taken form the residence beat to be used in more congested districts along Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets. We are doing the best we can with the men we have on duty."Labels: crime, Eighteenth street, Kansas City council, Nineteenth street, police, police headquarters, Tracy avenue February 18, 1908 BUT WHICH HOTEL IS BEST?
One Negro Is Killed Over Question, Which is Still Undecided.
A negro killing over which is the best hotel in Kansas City, occurred at about 5:20 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the room of Jack Talbot, 1217 Baltimore avenue. Clarance Weil, who was killed, left after a first quarrel and came back armed with a .32 caliber revolver.
Jack Talbot was in bed. He got up and struggled with Weil, who was threatening to shoot him. As they struggled the pistol, still in its owner's hand, was discharged into his own head, as Talbot at that moment had pushed Weil's hand to a position that made this possible.
Talbot gave himself up and spent the night at police headquarters.Labels: Baltimore avenue, hotels, murder, police headquarters February 13, 1908 BADGES AVAIL HIM NOTHING.
J. E. Prewitt Is Locked Up, Despite His Many Breast Plates.
If J. E. Prewitt holds an office to represent each badge that was taken from him at police headquarters last night he should be one of the busiest men on the Western Hemisphere. Here is a list of his badges:
"Detective J. E. Prewitt" on a metal shield.
"Webster's Detective Agency" metal shield.
"Deputy United States Marshal" metal star.
"Police No. 11, Alexandria, La.," a raised shield -- very pretty.
The man of many badges walked up to the desk at police headquarters last night and told Lieutenant James Morris, in a confidential whisper, that he was a deputy United States martial looking for a negro wanted in Louisiana for criminal assault. He gave the name and a complete description of the man he wanted. Then he presented a letter of introduction from G. M. Duggar, chief of police of Alexandria, La., police force. It said nothing about his being a deputy United States marshal or a private detective at the same time.
Prewitt had apparently been drinking freely and got his dates badly mixed. He said first that he had just arrived in the city and later that he had been here eleven days. Then he said that he had been employed at the Topeka, Kas., insane asylum for the last eleven months and also that he had recently served two years on the police force at Alexandria, La.
When taken into Captain Whitsett's office to be questioned Prewitt's many badges were unearthed. Captain Whitsett also took a loaded revolver from the man's pocket. Prewitt was held for investigation.Labels: Captain Whitsett, detectives, police headquarters, Topeka, visitors February 11, 1908
JAILER ON RAMPAGE WITH BIG REVOLVER
STEPHEN DEHONEY ALMOST TAKES BYSTANDER'S LIFE.
Police Board's Employe at No. 2 Sta- tion Discharges Revolver, After Hitting a Citizen on the Head With It. While Stephen Dehoney, jailer at No. 2 police station, was resisting arrest by a brother officer at Fifth and Walnut streets last night, Dehoney's revolver, which he held in his hand, was discharged and the bullet came near hitting someone in a crowd which had gathered. Whether Dehoney, who had been drinking, was attempting to shoot Patrolman Charles D. Fuller, who was trying to arrest him, or whether the revolver was discharged by accident is not certainly known. The bullet shattered the plateglass window of the Dougherty & Lorber Commission Company, of 514 Walnut street. Fuller took Dehoney to police headquarters, where he was locked up "for safe-keeping." Fuller, in his report, said that while he was on duty at the Gilliss theater, a citizen came running in and told of an officer with a gun attacking him on the street. The citizen was bleeding from a wound back of his right ear and claimed that the officer had hit him with the gun. Fuller said that Dehoney had the revolver in his hand when a moment later, he accompanied the complainant outside and accosted Dehoney. A few minutes after Dehoney was locked up Miss Jessie Wilson, an actress with the Irwin company, scheduled next week at the Majestic, who came to the station to tell of an assault by an officer, identified Dehoney as the offender. "I was leaving the Wellington hotel about 7:30 o'clock, on my way to the Ashland," Miss Wilson told Police Lieutenant James Norris, "when I had to go pass a man scuffling with a negro. The man grabbed me roughly and said, 'Here, you're under arrest, too.' I was frightened, for he had been drinking. He showed me his star and I walked along quietly for a bit, but at Missouri avenue I jerked away from him suddenly and ran all the way to the Ashland hotel." Lieutenant Morris said last night that he would put no charge other than "safe keeping" against Dehoney, but would keep him until he had orders from Chief Ahern to turn him loose. The matter will eventually come before the police board, it is presumed. On one occasion Dehoney had trouble in a rooming house. Two years ago a couple of negroes ran to the station late at night and said that a man had fired two shots between them because they would not give him all the sidewalk. The police heard the shots at Fourth and Walnut and ran out. The negroes described the man who fired at them and soon pointed Dehoney out in Granfield's saloon where they said he ran after the shooting. No attempt was made to even detain him and the negroes fled. Not until a citizen complained to the police that they had not even searched Dehoney for a revolver was he held. Then the negro witnesses were gone and Dehoney was soon released. One time after that Dehoney was taken to police headquarters. He was with two deputy sheriffs, walking out on Independence avenue. Two shots were fired. The police took all three to the station, but they were released. Dehoney was appointed to his present position by the police board two months ago. He is said to be a personal friend of one of the commissioners. Labels: Fifth street, Fourth street, hotels, Missouri avenue, No 2 police station, police board, police headquarters, theater, violence, Walnut Street February 6, 1908
HAS WIFE LOCKED IN POLICE STATION.
DRUNKEN HUSBAND SAYS HE WANTS TO REFORM HER.
Is Himself Responsible for Her Con- dition and the Drunker of the Two -- Won't Stop Drink- ing, He Says.
Jsut at 9 o'clock last night a heavy-set, well dressed man, with dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes, weaved his uncertain way into police headquarters and asked where he could "get an officer right away." The man was plainly drunk.
He was referred to Lieutenant James Morris to whom, in broken sentences, he told this story: "I want my wife arrested. She drinks and I can't stop her. I want to have her locked up in here for the night and fined in police court in the morning. I will see that her fine is paid. I think it will do her good." Just then the man staggered back a few steps, hiccoughed, grinned and said: "What d'ye think of it?"
"Where is your wife?" asked Lieutenant Morris.
"In a hack outside," the man replied. "Oh, you can get her all right, all right. Y' see, I want to break her of drinking, see?"
When Patrolman Rogers was sent out to the hack to bring in the woman the husband hid in a side room, saying in an undertone, "I don't want her to know that I had anything to do with this, see?"
Rogers had to return for help and he and Jailer Phil Welsh took the woman before the sergeant's desk to be booked. She was a slender little creature, fair complexion, with wavy light brown hair which had become unfastened and hung loosely around her shoulders. She was pretty and was attired in the latest fashion. A friend of the complaining husband carried a large picture hat which had fallen off in the hack.
"Shall we place her in the matron's room for safe keeping or put her in jail with a charge against her?" asked Lieutenant Morris of the husband.
"Put a charge against her," he replied brokenly. "Y'see I want to break her. See."
The little woman told her name, giving the same name and initials as the complainant. She was then led down the long iron steps to the women's quarters. Not until the cell door was opened with a bang did she realize what was happening. Then she struggled weakly for a moment. In turning she saw her husband. Raising her hands in the attitude of prayer, she begged him, calling him by his first name, not to have her locked up. In his condition, however, the husband was obdurate. He was even stern.
"Do your duty, offishur," he said, trying to look dignified.
Lieutenant Morris booked the woman only as a "safe keeper," however.
The hack driver who took the people to the police headquarters said he got them at a cafe at Eighth and Central streets. Then the man wanted to go to a hotel, but when one was reached he changed his mind; he asked to be driven to "a good saloon." They were taken to a place on Grand avenue where both drank. After that he asked to be taken to the Memphis hotel, Tenth and McGee sterets, but when the cab reached there the man had again changed his mind and asked to be driven to police headquarters. That was done.
"They were quarreling all the way," said the hack driver. "I objected to taking the woman to the station for he was as drunk as she, but he was paying the bills and he had his way."
The name the man gave is not in the city directory, but it is said he is an insurance agent.Labels: alcohol, marriage, McGee street, police headquarters, Tenth street January 30, 1908 BABY LOST NEAR HOME.
Lela Weldon Enjoyed Her Ride to the Police Station.
A little girl, almost a baby, pushing an empty go-cart up and down Holmes, Charlotte, and Campbell streets in the vicinity of Fifth street late yesterday afternoon attracted some attention. The little one seemed to be in search of some place, but she kept steadily on, asking no questions.
After two hours of tiresome walking the tot pulled up at a grocery store at Fifth and Holmes streets and announced that she had "lost her mamma and home." She was given a cracker box to rest upon while the police were notified. The tired little one was carried to police headquarters and place in charge of Mrs. Joan Moran, matron.
About 7 o'clock the child's mother, Mrs. J. J. Pearson, 740 Locust street, called for her. She said the baby's name is Lela Neeley Weldon.
"I sent her about a block away for the baby buggy," the mother said, "and when she came out of the house she turned the wrong way. Then she got lost and began to wander about trying to find her home."
It was said by persons who saw little Lela that she was often within a half block of her home. She has lived here but six weeks, coming here with her parents from St. Louis. Most children howl like the Indians when taken in charge by the police, but Lela said she like the ride to the station on the "treet tar."Labels: Campbell street, Charlotte street, children, Fifth street, Holmes street, Locust street, police headquarters, police matron January 29, 1908
SAYS HE IS A PICKPOCKET.
Man With Much Jewelry Held by Police for Investigation.
"No, I'm not a burglar. Neither am I a stick-up man. I am a dip, a pickpocket, and a first-class one, too."
The man who made the foregoing remark while looking through the bars of the holdover at police headquarters gives the name of Otto Max. He is a structural ironworker and has hands which are very large, broad and calloused. The police say that a "dip," or pickpocket, always has long, slim hands as soft as a woman's, especially if he is an expert. They think Max has been in the "stick-up" business.
Max was arrested yesterday in a Cherry street boarding house. It was learned that he had given his landlady a gold watch, had given another to a roomer and one was found on him. He had also pawned a gold locket with a chain and a gold pin.
"I got all that stuff while in Fort Smith, Ark, two months ago," Max told Detectives Lyngar and Farrell, who arrested him. "And I got it by picking pockets. I am an expert."
When Max was searched at Central police station, a bunch of fine skeleton and pass keys, ordinarily used by burglars, was found.
Max said that before going to Fort Smith, he had worked at his trade in Seattle, Wash. He blamed the recent financial panic for his downfall. He said that circumstances had forced him to become what he was and that he soon found that he was adapted to that class of "work." He is being held for investigation.Labels: Cherry street, crime, detectives, police headquarters January 16, 1908 BOGUS NOBLEMAN ARRESTED HERE.
POLICE MAY HAVE MAN WHO SCANDALIZED PITTSBURG.
SOLD ENTREES TO SOCIETY.
POSED AS A TITLED ENGLISHMAN AND REAPED A HARVEST.
Many Smoky City Millionaires Paid Him Large Sums in Hope of Gaining Admission to the Court of St. James.
The police believe they had a foreign nobleman for a guest last night. If they are not mistaken their prisoner is none other than the person who recently set Pittsburg ablaze by collecting money from those funny Pittsburg millionaires on promises to introduce them into real British society.
For two weeks, the police say, this supposed nobleman has been in Kansas City part of the time visiting an East Twelfth street hotel. Ostensibly he was here to seek a profitable business investment, and was negociating for the purchase of property on Troost avenue. For some reason the suspicions of the police were aroused, and he was watched by detectives. Among others, Detective Ghent was working upon the case and he came to the conclusion that the man was none other than the Pittsburg celebrity. Tuesday night the detective traced the suspect to the Coates house, where, with a woman, he registered as from St. Joseph.
NO CHARGE AGAINST HIM.
Yesterday Detectives Boyle and Oldham were put upon the case. They traced the man and woman from the Coates house yesterday evening about dinnertime to the Morton Restaurant on Main street, and from there to McClintock's restaurant in Walnut street. As the two were entering McClintock's, the detectives placed the man under arrest. He was taken at once to police headquarters, booked for "investigation" and locked up in the holdover. Before he was locked up, he is said to have admitted that he was J. R. Spaulding, and that he was the man concerned in the Pittsburg scandals of last December. "Investigation" prisoners cannot be interviewed by reporters.
It is said no charges will be placed against the man. He will be presented at "show up" this morning and if he is the Pittsburg nobleman, will be ordered to leave town at once. The woman was not held.
MILLIONAIRES HIS MARK.
Reginald Spaulding, alias George Frederick Spate, alias Oscar F. Spate, by all of which names he was known, created a sensational scandal in Pittsburg last fall, when it was discovered he was an imposter, masquerading under pretenses of noble English birth. One of the most picturesque adventures of modern times, he readily won his way into the confidence of Pittsburg's millionaires by pretensions that were, to say the least, romantic. He offered, for a monetary consideration, to use his "social position" to obtain the introduction into the court of St. James of Pittsburgers who were able to pay the price. When it was discovered he was an ex-convict, a high-class confidence man and a bogus nobleman, Pittsburg was scandalized as much as it is possible for Pittsburg to be scandalized.
Investigation of his record disclosed some remarkable enterprises. Once as a representative of a fake South African trading company, he appointed a number of "agents" who were required to deposit $100 with him to secure their commissions in a promising get-rich-quick scheme. For this he was convicted and served two years in an English prison. That was 1903.
In 1902, he was married to Muriel, daughter of Lord and Lady Suffield, who had left her home because of a difference with her parents, and gone to South Africa as a Red Cross hospital nurse. Her name was removed from the records of the British nobility.
Spate, who is said to be of a younger son of a noble English family, had served as a subaltern in the British South African army. It was then he met and married the Lady Muriel. Later he is said to have interested his wife in a "salted" diamond mine, by which he realized a neat profit. Then he is said to decoyed the lady into the heart of Zululand, where he "lost" her. In order to find her, he made himself chief of a new Zulu kingdom and was starting out to avenge the disappearance of his wife, when she herself appeared in Johannesburg. It was after this he was sent to the British prison.
When the story of these adventures reached Pittsburg, the man was arrested, sat for his picture in the rogues' gallery and was ordered out of that city. Since then he has been lost. If the man arrested last night is really he, the police will be interested to know whether he was contemplating some other business coup in Kansas City.Labels: Coates house, con artist, detectives, hotels, Inspector Boyle, nurses, police headquarters, restaurants, Twelfth street, visitors December 26, 1907 GET UNION DEPOT "MASHER".
Police Arrest Man on a Charge of Annoying a Topeka Girl.
Sergeant Harry Stege, while working in plain clothes at the Union depot yesterday noticed a man who appeared to be annoying a girl. The man sat down by her and began talking to her. The girl appeared to be trying to avoid him. When Stege asked the girl if she knew the man she said, "No, and I don't want to, either."
At police headquarters, where the man was booked on a technical charge of vagrancy as a "masher," he gave the name of Miller. He said he was a telegraph operator from Indiana. His case will come up in police court this morning. The girl whom he is said to have been annoying gave the name of Ada Torrence of Topeka, Kas.Labels: mashers, police headquarters, telegraph, Topeka, Union depot, vagrancy December 20, 1907 HE DIES AT SERGEANT'S DESK.
Obscure Light Goes Out in Unsympa- thetic Surroundings.
An old, ragged, homeless man dropped dead before the sergeant's desk at police headquarters last night. Who he was nobody at the station knew. Neglect, exposure, alcoholism, starvation, perhaps, was the cause. The last kindly hand extended to him was that of a broken-down old negro. His deathbed was a floor, and his attendants a crowd of policemen and reporters who wondered if he were drunk.
About 8 o'clock Andy, a one-armed negro who hangs around police headquarters, saw the old man stagger and fall upon the sidewalk just west of the station. Except old Andy, none of the crowd of men on North Main street at that hour seemed to know or care about the sick man's distress.
Old Andy ran to the prostrate man and lifted up his head. Then he notified the police. Two officers carried the ragged one inside the station. He died before Lieutenant Morris could learn his name.
Not a scrap of paper was found upon the body to identify it. The coroner and an undertaker were notified.Labels: death, police headquarters, Seniors December 11, 1907 YOUNG SEERESS IN TROUBLE.
Blanche Brewer Takes Up Fortune Telling and Is Arrested.
Blanche Brewer, 22 years of age, who was arrested on the complaint of a Miss Piper, who lives at 432 North Montgall avenue, yesterday morning, told a pitiful tale of poverty and desolation to the police officers at police headquarters.
Blanche had been going about from house to house trying to make a living for herself and her invalid sister by telling fortunes. The two young girls are orphans and have no relatives who can be found. They came here from Topeka, Kas., about two weeks ago and neither of them has been able to obtain employment. They had no money and no way of making a livelihood.
Becoming desperate, Blanche, the younger of the two girls, hit upon the scheme of fortune telling, though she really knew nothing whatever about the tricks of that trade. She succeeded in bring an average of 50 cents a day home of the sustenance of her sister and herself.
Three days ago, she told Miss Piper's fortune and took as a pledge for payment a shirtwaist suit. Miss Piper says that the garments were loaned to the girl for two days in payment for the seance. Accordingly she telephoned to the police and told them that the girl, Blanche, had stolen the articles. Upon investigation the suit was found in the girls' room at 416 West Thirteenth street. Blanche was arrested and taken to the matron's room, where her sister called last night and substantiated her story.
The police will probably turn the matter over to the Humane Society.Labels: Humane Society, Montgall avenue, orphans, police headquarters, Thirteenth street, Topeka November 29, 1907 WOMEN NURSES MAY GO.
MEN TO SUCCEED THEM AT THE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL.
City Physician Sanders Said to Be Contemplating Removal of Wom- en Who Are Thought to Have Talked "Too Freely."
For some time the rumor has been circulating that on the first of the month the nurses now on duty at the emergency hospital in the city hall will be replaced by male attendants. When Dr. St. Elmo Sanders was asked about the matter he said:
"Yes, I have hard the rumor, and it has been suggested to me that I make the change. I am not saying that such a change will be made, but I will admit that it has been under consideration."
Under the old police surgeon system, where all injured persons were treated in a little room in the areaway in the rear of police headquarters, the main objection to the system was that there were no provisions for the care of injured women. In many instances women, unaccompanied, sustained injuries and were taken to the police surgeon's room in an ambulance. It was often necessary that the surgeon have assistance in preparing his patent to be taken to the general hospital or home. No women nurses being about, this assistance had to come from police, jailers, or bystanders -- all men. The windows to the operating room were uncontained. Oftentimes a woman had to be left in pain and suffering until a female relative, or friend, could be called to be present at what treatment had to be given before the injured woman's removal to a hospital or home.
Since the establishment of the emergency hospital, on January 7 last after the police board did away with its surgeons, the one great pride that the public has had in the institution has been the fact that trained nurses were always on duty. In the miniature hospital is a complete operating room. To one side of that is a female ward with three snowy beds and on the other a male ward with nine beds just as white.
Now when a person is taken there injured, and it is the opinion of the surgeon that he or she not be moved for a time until the shock of the injury is over, proper care can be taken of the victim . Twice during last week it became necessary to take women to the emergency hospital in an ambulance. Madam Anna Etienne, suffocated by smoke in a fire at the Missouri building, was cared for and tenderly placed in bed by the nurses. She died the following day. The other woman, who was struck by a street car, had to be disrobed and placed in bed for the night. Who is to care for women patients in case the trained nurses are removed Dr. Saunders did not say.
It was a great surprise to hear even a rumor afloat about the removal of the female nurses and many wondered why the move, if such is to be the case, was to be. The only reason given, and that, too, is based entirely on rumor, is that it was believed that the nurses at the emergency, who all live at the general hospital, have disclosed information about doings at the general hospital. It was said that they heard a great deal of gossip out at the hospital and then gossiped again when they reached the city hall, and in that way a great many "tips" were given the press. So far as can be learned, however, not a nurse has been guilty of "telling tales out of school," even though they have been accused of it. Dr. Sanders said he would know by December 1 if the change to male attendants was to be made.Labels: city hall, doctors, emergency hospital, general hospital, nurses, police headquarters, women November 25, 1907 CAUGHT IN POLICE RAID.
Gambling Paraphernalia Captured in Eighteenth Street Raid.
In a raid upon an alleged gambling house over a saloon at 1412 East Eighteenth street, Police Sergeant Smith and Patrolmen Dyson, Dyer, Dorset and Couch captured four frequenters and paraphernalia. They raid was made early Sunday morning and, in addition to the customary appointments of a poker room, a goodly store of intoxicating liquors was also seized and confiscated.
When the police entered the room they found evidence that a prosperous poker game had just been in progress. William Rowlins said to be the game keeper, and four men found in the room were placed under arrest. A poker table, twelve bottles of beer,a quart of whisky, poker chips and playing cards which were found in the room were taken to headquarters police station. Rowling gave bond in the sum of $51. The others were released on small personal bonds.Labels: Eighteenth street, gambling, police, police headquarters November 5, 1907
MESSENGER BOY OF 15 DRUNK.
A Policeman Found Him in an Alley With Two Messages.
A boy in the messenger uniform of the Postal Telegraph company was taken to police headquarters drunk yesterday morning.
"I found him in the alley behind the R. A. Long building," John R. McCall, a patrolman said. "He had two messages. I don't know when he started with them but from the way he was progressing, they certainly wouldn't have reached their destination on time."
Several boys who came to the station said the messenger was about 15 years old and was called "Bosco." He was taken to the detention home.Labels: alcohol, children, detention home, police, police headquarters, R A Long building, telegraph October 26, 1907 BUT IT WASN'T CARRIE NATION.
Beer Ran in the Gutter, Due to a Street Car Accident.
Beer literally ran in the gutters last night about 6:30 o'clock, when an east-bound Fifth street car ran into a beer wagon belonging to the Kansas City Breweries Company near Guinotte and Woodland avenues.
Cases of bottles were knocked from the wagon to the pavement and broken, the beer running in an amber stream into the gutters, while the crow of laboring men going home gathered about and watched it with wistful eyes.
Bill Slaughter, 45 years old, a negro, who was stealing a ride on the back of the wagon, was knocked to the tracks, and the front trucks of the car ran over his left ankle, crushing it so badly that his leg will probably have to be amputated below the knee. He was taken to the general hospital.
Homer Dantol, the driver of the wagon, was not hurt. W. B. Hanlon and B. E. Racker, patrolmen, were on the car, and arrested Dell Robinson, the conductor, and W. M. Prettyman, the motorman. They were taken to police headquarters, and released after making a statement.Labels: accident, alcohol, breweries, Fifth street, general hospital, Guinotte avenue, No 3 police station, police headquarters, streetcar, Woodland avenue October 19, 1907 LEO SHULFER ARRIVES.
Husband of Woman Shot by Son Calls on Police.
Leo Shulfer, husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Shulfer, who was shot and killed by her son, George Smiley, early Tuesday morning, appeared at police headquarters at 6 o'clock yesterday evening. Shulfer had been drinking. He evidently intended to convey to Captain Whitsett, who questioned him, that he had not heard of the tragedy until Wednesday night, when friends in Minneapolis, where he worked as a furrier, read of the killing in the papers and told him about it. Shulfer was not sure when he left Minneapolis for Kansas City, but said he had just arrived.
His visit at the police station was to learn where his wife's body was and where he could see her son. Shulfer asserted that he and his wife corresponded as late as two weeks ago, when he sent her $15. He said that she was at that time considering going to live with him in Minneapolis, where he has a $25 a week position.
Shulfer denied that he and his wife had had serious troubles or that he had forced his way into the house at night through a window last summer when he returned from the North.
He said that George Smiley, his step-son, was strong willed and rash, and seemed to want his mother's money.
At the police station Shulfer was persuaded not to go to the morgue last night to see his wife's body, and was allowed to go to a saloon on East Twelfth street run by Otto Weber, a friend of his, to spend the night.
The stepson, George Smiley, who fired the fatal shot, is staying at the home of a cousin, Louis A. Klein, near Thirty-first street and Myrtle avenue. Shulfer did not go to see him last night.Labels: Captain Whitsett, murder, police headquarters, saloon September 30, 1907
THOUGHT POLICE ROBBED HIM.
Aged Man Taken to Central Station for Safe Keeping.
"A man put his hands right in my pockets and took my money away from me. I remember that he took four $20 gold pieces, and all the time he was robbing me, a man watched him through a window and never said a word to make him stop."
Henry Mull, 70 years old, and feeble in mind and body, was telling Humane Agent McCrary yesterday afternoon in the police holdover how he believed he had been robbed. Late Saturday night he was found in the Union depot by Detective Bradley. He could not tell his name, where he came from or where he was going. He was taken to police headquarters for safekeeping. The officers took his money to keep for him, and he believed they had robbed him. He had $98 in cash, a check for $25 and a railroad ticket, which bore his name, was from Anaheim, Cal., to Springfield, Ill.
After McCrary had talked to him his memory partially returned. He has relatives in Springfield. He was taken to the Helping Hand, where he will be cared for while his relatives are communicated with.Labels: Central station, Helping Hand, Humane Society, mental health, police headquarters, Seniors, visitors September 19, 1907
GONE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.
W. T. Blackburn Tells a Strange
Story to the Police. W. T. Blackburn, of Sedalia, Mo., with four children ranging in age from 2 to 10 years, walked into police headquarters yesterday to ask assistance in finding his wife who, he said, had gone away two seeks ago, taking $312 of his money. He said he had saved some money which he had at his home in Sedalia. While he was away at work his wife, he alleged, took what money there was and then called in a second-hand dealer to sell the furniture. Neighbors told Blackburn that his wife left with another woman. Blackburn came here with $30 which, he said, his wife had overlooked. He said she had written his 10-year-old daughter telling her a letter addressed "general delivery" would reach her mother. Labels: marriage, police headquarters, Sedalia September 17, 1907 POLICEMAN HELPED HIM OUT.
Overstudious Law Clerk Locked in Bank Building.
"Send someone to let me out quick. I'm in the First National Bank buiding, and I'm afraid someone will find me and think I'm a bank robber."
This request came over the wire to police headquarters last night after midnight.
Patrolman Cumming answered the call and found a young man making futile attempts to get out of the building. He stated that he was a clerk in the offices of Lathrop, Morrow, Fox & Moore, and that he had worked later than usual, with the result that he had been locked in.Labels: banking, First National Bank building, police headquarters 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 September 10, 1907 NEGROES FLEE FROM SKULL.
Were Called to Tell About a Shooting Scrape. In a quarrel at 249 East Third street last night Mattie Hicks, negress, shot Lotta Holden, negress, through the left side. The injured woman was taken to the emergency hospital. Her condition was pronounced critical early this morning. Mattie made her scape. A little later several witnesses, mostly negroes, were assembled in the "sweat room" at police headquarters. Assistant Prosecutor Hogan was presiding. He stood at a table littered with papers. He commenced the preliminary questioning and in removing the papers from the table uncovered a grinning skull.
"Oh mah soul," screamed a buxom negress. "There's her ghos' now!"
The remaining witnesses echoed her cry and in less than five seconds there was not a negro in the room. They were all rounded up and tremblingly accepted the explanation that the skull was only a portion of the ornamentation of an opium den that had been raided. Labels: emergency hospital, North end, police headquarters, race, Third street, violence September 6, 1907 THE WATCHES LOOKED GOOD.
But a Bill of Sale Showed They Cost $1.65 Each.
Sol Roeber, a young man about 18 years of age, who says he just reached Kansas City from Chicago yesterday, was arrested by a North end policeman at Third and Main streets last evening because he had too much jewelry about his person. He was showing a number of fine gold watches, in green plush cases, to bystanders when taken into custody upon suspicion.
When the man was searched at police headquarters eight watches were found in his pockets. In appearance the watches were the kind used by railroad men, which retail at from $50 to $100 each. A further search revealed a bill of sale for the timepieces.
The bill was from a Philadelphia concern and showed that Roeber had paid $1.65 for each of the watches. Upon his assertion that he had just arrived in town and had not yet offered any of the watches for sale he was released. He promised to take out a peddler's license this morning.Labels: Main street, North end, police headquarters, Third street August 19, 1907 OFFERS HER A HOME.
Woman Reads of Pauline Nelson's Plight and Comes to Her Aid.
Pauline Nelson, 18 years old, of Hutchison, Kas., wh, while on her way from Hutchinson to Detroit, where she said she had been offered a place in the chorus of a Detroit opera company, was robbed of her purse and suitcase Thursday night, is being cared for at the Helping Hand Institute. The girl after arriving in Kansas City Thursday night remained at the Union depot until Saturday night, when Harry Harvey, a city detective on duty at the depot, took her to police headquarters.
A telegrarm was sent to Hutchison yesterday, informing the family with whom she stayed of her wherabouts, but last night no reply had been received.
A woman, who read of the account of the young woman's plight in the newspapers yesterday morning, called at the Helping Hand Institute at noon, and said that she would give the girl a home if she so desired.Labels: charity, detectives, Helping Hand, newspapers, police headquarters, Union depot August 18, 1907 KANSAS WOMAN ROBBED.
Hutchison Girl Was on Her Way to Join a Theatrical Company.
Robbed of her purse containing all her money, and of her suitcase, the contents representing all of her other earthly possessions, aside from what she wore, Miss Pauline Nelson, 18 years old, of Hutchison, Kas., has been stranded at the Union depot since Thursday night. She was taekn to police headquarters last night by Harry Harvey, a city detective on duty at the depot, and placed in the care of the police matron. The young woman said that she had started from Hutchinson to Detroit, where she had been offered a place with a theatrical company, and while en route to Kansas City was robbed of her purse and suitcase. She said that she had no money when she came here, but she had some lunch with her, and with the aid proffered her at the depot has managed to get along. She has been sleeping at the depot.
The young woman will be held by the police until a reply to information regarding her condition can be received from Hutchinson.Labels: arts, police headquarters, police matron, Union depot, visitors August 17, 1907 SHE IS ON THE BLACKLIST.
Negress Who Peached on a Druggist Shunned by Her Race.
There was war among the cocaine users of the North end last night. Yesterday morning in police court Mamie Jones, a negress, admitted she uses the drug and took a policeman to a drug store conducted by G. G. Cowhick, at 547 Walnut street. Cowhick admitted selling the woman the drug on one occasion only. He was fined $500.
Last night Mamie Jones went to police headquarters crying. She told the desk sergeant that she has been blacklisted among the negroes. She can't get any more "coke," she said.
"They all blame me for getting that druggist in trouble," Mamie explained. "They have been abusing me all evening and what's worse than all I can't buy any 'coke.' Two big men just jumped on me for 'peachin' and said I can't never get any more 'coke' from nobody."
The sergeant advised Mamie to go to her room and remain there and she left the station.Labels: narcotics, North end, police court, police headquarters, race, Walnut Street July 12, 1907 CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT.
Policeman Larrabee Arrests a Marauding North Ender. "If there is a limitation to the duties of a shortstop at police headquarters, it is beyond masqureading as a sack of potatoes," said Patrolman Cassius Larrabee last night as he led into the station Michael O'Brien whom he had caught taking potatoes from a farm wagon. A man walking along Fourth street almost directly opposite police headquarters saw another man in the act of lifting a sack of potatoes from a farm wagon. when the pedestrian approached, that man sprang from the wagon and ran. The matter was reported at police headquarters, and Larrabee was assigned to make investigation. He found one of the sacks had been misplaced, and believing the would-be marauder would return, promptly climbed into the wagon and secreted himself beneath some empty sacks. In a few minutes the officer saw a man slip out from behind a wall and look about cautiously. The man gave a low whistle, and this officer, through a hole in the opposite side of the wagon bed, responded with a like whistle. Three times these signals were exchanged. The man approached the wagon, and evidently taking the signal of the officer for that of a confederate, walked toward the vehicle. Is everything all right? he whispered. "It's all to the good," replied the officer, through the hole in the side. The man then walked directly to the sack of potatoes, and again started to grasp it, when Larabee reached over the rear end of the wagon and seized his wrist. The man tried to break away, but the policeman retained his grasp and led him to the station. Labels: crime, Fourth street, North end, police, police headquarters 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: Holly Jarboe, jail, police headquarters June 20, 1907 BOY ASLEEP ON TRACKS.
Patrolman Finds Runaway Youngster in Dangerous Position.
Policeman McVey probably saved the life of a 4-year-old child last midnight by picking the little one up from the street car tracks at Sixth and Walnut streets. The boy, who evidently ran away from home, had dropped to sleep on the tracks, but was discovered by the policeman before any passing street car struck him.
At police headquarters the little one was identified as Otis Whataker, son of J. C. Whitaker, a street car conductor living at 4710 East Twenty-seventh street.Labels: police, police headquarters, Sixth street, streetcar, Twenty-seventh street, Walnut Street |
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