June 20, 1908 "WAY OF THE TRANS- GRESSOR IS HARD."
Rev. Brown, Under Liquor, Is Ar- rested. Says He Has Passed Worthless Checks and Played in Some Stiff Games.
"The way of the transgressor is hard." This was the text of a sermon preached by the Rev. C. S. L. Brown at the West Side Christian church, Twentieth street and Pennsylvania avenue, on Sunday night, October 7, 1906. His subject was "Lights and Shadows of Life, or Positive and Negative Teachings."
Since that memorable night when the Rev. Mr. Brown, who six years before had worked as a porter at the Hotel Baltimore, preached before a large congregation, many of whom were his personal friends, glad of his success, he has found out the hard truth of his text -- "The way of the transgressor is hard."
Last night the Rev. Mr. Brown was arrested at Sixth and Walnut streets by Patrolman Harry Arthur. He was locked up for investigation and spent the night in a cell at Central station. When arrested he was in the street. He had thrown away his hat, his coat was off and he had all but stripped the upper portion of his body of clothing.
It was the same Rev. Mr. Brown who a few months ago stood boldly before his congregation at Lee's Summit, Mo., and acknowledged that he had been gambling and drinking. He was drinking last night. When he occupied the pulpit of Rev. W. O. Thomas here in October, 1906, Rev. Mr. Brown then was pastor of a Christian church at Washington, Kas. His mother, a woman of wealth and culture, lives there now. His wife and four small children are with his mother. He is 30 years old.
The minister admitted last night he had been drinking and gambling in Kansas City almost ever since his downfall at Lee's Summit. He said he had passed about $60 worth of worthless checks. He could recall one for $12.50 on C. J. Mees, a saloonkeeper, Sixth and Walnut; one for $15 on James Riddle, saloon, Independence avenue and McGee street, and two at Lee's Summit.
"I can trace my downfall to the love of a woman," he said, with tears in his eyes. "Then the gamblers got hold of me here and what they have left you see now -- a wreck, beaten, down and out. I am willing to take my medicine like a man and serve my five or ten years, but before God I will not divulge the name of the woman. Her name must be protected, as I alone am to blame.
"When I got in my trouble and had to leave my church and Lee's Summit," he continued, "a minister friend down there went to my mother at Washington, Kas., and got $400 to square things. She told him he could have ten times that amount. With part of that I even paid gambling debts to men here who since have refused to give me 10 cents to buy a dish of chile.
"Gambling! Gambling!" he almost shrieked. "Is there much gambling here? Yes. I could lead you to some of the stiffest games you ever saw and they seem to be running with ease. Of course most of them are in hotels and hard to catch. Yes, I have been before the grand jury with it."
The Rev. Mr. Brown refused to divulge the names of the men who had "trimmed" him here. He said "Their time will come later. He said that he went through the Boer war in the service of England. Then he was a soldier of fortune.
"It was there I contracted the drinking and gambling habits," he admitted with bowed head. "I felt the craving for the old habits returning and battled with them as long as I could. At a weak moment, other troubles begetting me, I fell 'as the angels fell from Heaven to the blackest depths of Hell.' Since then the course has been down, down, down with an awful rush."Labels: alcohol, Central station, churches, gambling, Independence avenue, Lee's Summit, McGee street, ministers, saloon, Sixth street, Walnut Street June 17, 1908 THOMAS MINOGUE IS DEAD.
Prominent in Local Sports for the Past Twenty Years.
Thomas Minogue, for the last twenty years one of the prominent figures in Kansas City's sportdom, died about 6 o'clock yesterday morning at his boarding house, 1325 Brooklyn avenue. Minogue was 45 years old and Wednesday night was apparently healthy and in prime condition. A hemorrhage of the lungs was the cause of his death. He was unmarried, but leaves a mother and sister in Leavenworth, Kas. At the time of his death, Minogue was assistant superintendent of the streets. He had formerly held the same job under Mayor James A. Reed, when T. J. Pendergast was head of the department. At one time he was a bartender in the Pendergast saloon. When the new administration came in Minogue was given back his job as assistant street commissioner.
Minogue's figure was as well known around the racing stables at New Orleans and in the East as in Kansas City. No wrestling contest or prize fight was complete without him. He sometimes officiated as referee and sometimes as announcer. At various times he became a promoter of prize fighters, but never with striking success.
Among sporting men Minogue was considered a "good Indian." He never "laid down" and never left a friend in the lurch. He was a friend of "Doc." Shively and Dave Porteous, and was looked upon as an authority on boxing. He was a member of the order of Eagles. The funeral arrangements have not been made.Labels: boarding house, Brooklyn avenue, death, James A. Reed, Leavenworth, lodges, Mayor Crittenden, saloon, sports, Thomas J. Pendergast June 9, 1908 TWENTY ESCAPE WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE.
NONE WAS INJURED IN GRAND AVENUE WRECK.
Roof and Second Floor of Two Old Structures at 1403-1405 Grand Ave- nue Fell to Basement -- Were Condemned Yesterday.
Twenty persons had a miraculous escape from being crushed to death at 11:45 o'clock yesterday morning when the front section of two buildings, located at 1403-1405 Grand avenue, collapsed and the walls fell inward carrying the roof and second floor to the basement. The buildings were condemned yesterday by the building inspector and ordered torn down. Adolph Dose conducts a saloon in the building at 1403 Grand avenue and there were ten men in his saloon when the collapse came. All escaped without injury. Henry Carter, a porter employed by Mr. Dose, was in the basement when he noticed a section of the sustaining wall on the south side of the building had fallen out. He went upstairs and reported the matter to Mr. Dose, who telephoned John E. Lach, a furniture dealer, the owner of the building. When Mr. Lach reached the saloon he and Mr. Dose went to the basement to examine the wall and had returned to the main floor when a rumbling noise was heard and the patrons in the saloon ran out.
The bartender, Charles Wedlick, was behind the bar at the time. He said he was walking towards the front end of the bar and noticed that as he got nearer the front end he was sinking below the bar. Wedlick ran from behind the bar and down into the basement, where he stood beneath a large girder in the center of the building. He was not struck by any of the flying bricks and timber, but the lime dust nearly suffocated him.
In the saloon at the time were Adolph Dose, Charles Wedlick, Peter Fielding, a contractor; Fred Hay, and insurance agent; John Baird, a constable; Henry Carter, the porter, and John E. Lach, the proprietor of the building, besides three strangers.
Above the saloon Kim Ying Woy conducts a chop suey restaurant. He was in the rear of his place with his cook. They were not hurt and walked down to the yard in the rear.
When the wall of the building at 1403 Grand avenue gave way the roof and second floor of the building at 1405 caved in. In the latter building Louis Lustig conducted a grocery store and the second floor was used as rooming house, occupied by Mrs. Edna Cooley. Persons in this place failed to get out when the first rumbling noise was heard. When the front wall fell to the sidewalk Mrs. Cooley and Flora Everest, a roomer, were in the front room and were dropped to the sidewalk with the falling walls. Mrs. Cooley was in bed at the time of the accident. Two men were also pitched out the front part of the building Charles Graham, a hack driver who was in the house, ran out the back way.
Only the clerk, J. B. Routh, was in the grocery store. He escaped through the rear door when he heard the crash. Mr. Lustig was standing in front of his store and his driver, Clinton Smith, was in the yard in the rear. The building at 1405 Grand Avenue is owned by A. P. Thurman.
Mr. Dose estimated his loss at about $3,000. He did not know whether his insurance covered accidents or not. He said his stock of goods was not damaged, but the bar fixtures are a total loss. He erected a small frame shed in the rear of his saloon and will continue in business there until he can secure a location. Mr. Lustig could not estimate what his loss would be.
Forty-five years ago two frame buildings collapsed in the same block in which the buildings fell yesterday. In one of the buildings was Josephine E. Vaughn, sister of the desperado Vaughn, who was caught among the falling timbers and killed. Those buildings were erected in 1857, and their collapse was occasioned in the same manner which ruined the buildings yesterday afternoon. At 1302 Grand avenue a frame building collapsed about eighteen years ago. No one was injured in the accident.Labels: Grand avenue, grocers, restaurants, saloon May 31, 1908 BUTLER WAS TUTOR TO MICKEY O'HEARN.
STUDIED HORSESHOEING AND POLITICS UNDER THE BOSS.
Came Here With Honors of Gradua-tion Fresh Upon Him and Began His Eventful Career.
Since it has been charged that, through the influence of Alderman Mickey O'Hearn, the police force in Kansas City has been governed "in a quiet way" ever since Governor Joseph W. Folk's "rigid investigation" nearly one year ago, it might be interesting who Mickey O'Hearn is.
When signed to a legal paper the alderman's name is Michael J. O'Hearn, but to "the boys" he has for years been known as plain "Mickey." Mickey was born in St. Louis, Mo., and lived there until about 25 years old. In St Louis he learned the horseshoeing trade three years ago the present alderman opened another place, at 1205 Walnut streets, where he is still. He then put trade under the private tutelage of that smooth politician, Edward Butler. From Butler it is said that Mickey probably got his first lessons in how to use a copper when you need him; also how to put the kibosh on a cop that you can't use.
It was about twenty years ago when O'Hearn first landed in Kansas City with the intention of making it his home. While he was a horseshoer by trade, and an expert at the business, it is said that he worked at his trade but a short time. Mickey soon found that in those days when the town was "wide open" there were too many soft things floating about for a man of his talents to waste his energies on labor.
When he left his trade Mickey worked at many places as bartender and that gave him an opportunity to "meet the boys." It was not long before he was identified with some of the biggest crap games in town. He is known to have dealt craps on Missouri avenue near Main, and later on Main street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. It beat hanging onto the hind leg of a Missouri mule all hollow.
STRUCK A NEAT BLOW.
Mickey O'Hearn was, and still is, a man to be feared when in his cups. The horseshoeing trade gave him solid bone and tough sinew, and he at one time had the reputation of striking the hardest blow with his fist of any man in Kansas City.
"Whenever he hit a guy it meant the hospital or the Morgue," said a close friend yesterday. "But Mickey always would take the part of the under dog. If he came along the street and saw a big guy cleanin' a little one, that fight had to stop or Mickey would take a hand and put the big one to sleep. I never knew him to start a fight on his own accord, except on election day, when lots of fellows are apt to get too fresh."
In the breast of Alderman Mickey O'Hearn is said to beat a kindly heart if touched in the right place. He is said to be charitable and ready with his money if he can relieve suffering. Being a man who has affiliated a great deal with the sporting fraternity, he, like the many others of that ilk, is superstitious. It is said of him that he will not pass an aged organ grinder, especially a woman, without giving a coin. Again it is said that when he "feels lucky" and intends to take a chance at cards, dice or the races, he will walk blocks to rub a hump-backed man or a bald-headed negro. "It gives me luck," they say.
Many years ago Mickey ran the Pike's Peak saloon at Twelfth street and Baltimore avenue. In the day s of the wine room agitation by the board of police commissioners the place was closed. After that he is said to have been interested in a road house at Thirtieth street and Southwest boulevard. That house was closed by many previous boards and by the present one as a disorderly place. O'Hearn then tended bar for Robert Murdock at 1128 Walnut street, and was there several years. When Murdock died, O'Hearn ran the place in his own name, but was said to have belonged to the estate. The board of police commissioners refused to give Mickey another license, giving as the reason that it as not going to allow another saloon at that place. When he was out, however, the place was opened by George Schuri, who is there now.
HIS SALOON HISTORY.
The saloon business suited Mickey's fancy, so his next venture was a saloon on the southwest corner of Twelfth and McGee streets, in partnership with Jack O'Flaherty, a brother-in-law, by the way, of the present chief of police, Daniel Ahern.
When Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., was inducted into office, Mickey succeeded in landing the job of superintendent of the workhouse for his brother, Paddy, and the job of matron for Mrs. Paddy O'Hearn. He is also said to have placed some of his most valuable lieutenants with Paddy as guards at the works.
While the reputation of Alderman Mickey O'Hearn would not have admitted him to membership at the recent Presbyterian general assembly, it an be said in his favor that he has never been arrested in Kansas City or charged with a serious offense. He has always been a "friend" to the police, especially those who handle the police.Labels: Alderman O'Hearn, Baltimore avenue, Governor Folk, Main street, politics, saloon, St Louis, Twelfth street, Walnut Street May 30, 1908 BLACK HAND IN POLICE FORCE.
MOVES MEN LIKE PIECES IN A GAME OF CHESS.
SHADOW OF MICKEY O'HEARN.
COMPELS TERROR AND SILENCE WHEREVER IT FALLS.
"I Get My Orders From the Boss Down Town," Boasts an Insub- ordinate Sergeant -- What Happened to James.
"You'll only be here a few days."
"To hell with the captain. I get my orders from the boss down town."
Could it be that his avowed friendship for Alderman Mickey O'Hearn, and the fact that Mickey was for him when he made sergeant, inspired these remarks from Sergeant Charles Beattie? They were made some time ago in No 3 police station on the Southwest boulevard to Sergeant R. L. James, who, at that time, was in command of the station nights. There was more truth than poetry in the remarks, for James was moved at the next monthly meeting. It is said five persons heard the remarks of Sergeant Beattie.
It is a well known fact to all who understand police duty that the sergeant in charge of a station has full charge of the men in the entire district. On the night that the remarks were made it is reported that Beattie, who was serving as outside sergeant, changed a patrolman whom Sergeant James had ordered to walk the Southwest boulevard until the saloons closed. It was Saturday night and things were doing on the boulevard.
When the patrolman was told to go another beat he went to the station after his lunch, so report says. There this dialogue is said to have taken place:
"It's only 11 o'clock, officer. I thought I told you to stay on the boulevard until the saloons were closed," said James.
"Sergeant Beattie has ordered me back on my beat," was the reply.
ORDERS FROM THE BOSS.
Just at that juncture Beattie entered and an explanation was asked for. He said that he had ordered the officer back and intended that he should go there, too. He was asked if he didn't know that the sergeant in charge of the station was his superior officer and t5hat he is said to have replied: "Oh you'll only be here a few days."
James, according to the witnesses, must have felt the influence of the unseen power which has for nearly a year been guiding the affairs of the police, still he fought for his authority.
"I don't want to quarrel with my men, and won't," he is reported as saying, "but, Beattie, if you will be here tomorrow at 9 o'clock we will put this whole matter up to the captain and see who is right."
"To hell with the captain. I get my orders from the boss down town," is the reported remark of Beattie. Then the officer was ordered by Beattie to go hence and he went.
A full report of this affair was made to Captain John Branham, who has charge at No. 3 police station. The captain made his report and the correspondence was sent to Chief of Police Daniel Ahern. There the matter has apparently rested, for Beattie has never called "on the carpet" to explain his remark, and James "got his" at the first of the month. It is also said that the matter of James's removal was taken up with the commissioners later and that they knew nothing of it. Yet the board unanimously adopted a resolution in July last year, saying that only the commissioners should have to do with the shifting of men.
WHAT UNSEEN FORCE?
Who moved Sergeant James? What for? He is rated as one of the best officers on the force and there is not a black mark against him. What force was brought to bear? How did Beattie know that James would be moved? Beattie is said to be a close friend of "Mickey."
A reporter attempted to interview Sergeant James last night in regard to the affair. Here is all he got: "Yes, I was once at No. 3. I was moved from there and made relief sergeant. If there was any trouble down there, a full report was made on it, and that is all I have got to say unless called on by my superior officers or the board."
Before Beattie was made a sergeant, he walked a beat on West Twelfth street, by the Century hotel and theater. There he came daily in contact with Joseph Donegan, manager, a close friend of O'Hearn. He also saw O'Hearn many times a week for the Century was a hang out of his when not at his saloon. Many reports came to headquarters of a poker game in that neighborhood, but it was reported "impossible to get at it."
THEY'RE AFRAID TO TALK.
Good men on the police force who got "in bad" by doing their full duty are now living in deadly fear that their names will be published.
"What do you care?" one was asked yesterday. "You did your duty and got the worst of it, didn't you?"
"Yes," he replied mournfully, "and I know just why I got it and who gave it to me. But I have a family to support and I need my job. If you run my name I'm afraid the man who had me moved will have me fired."
All through the whole department that unseen power is felt. All seem to know what and who it is, but they fear to say so, unless called on to do so by the board of police commissioners.
A new man said yesterday that O'Hearn moved to the Century hotel in the Second ward just to run for Alderman there. The January Home telephone book gives his residence as 3427 Euclid avenue.
The police board seems to be resting fairly content while the force is being manipulated to suit a saloonkeeper-politician and his friends. Or is the board "wise" to what is going on -- and willing to stand for it?Labels: Alderman O'Hearn, black hand, Euclid avenue, hotels, No 3 police station, police, politics, saloon, Southwest boulevard May 29, 1908
RECORDS PROVE MEN WERE MOVED.
AFTER BEING THREATENED BY MEN WITH A "PULL."
ONE ARRESTED WRONG WOMAN.
SHE HAD BEEN FINED 106 TIMES, BUT WAS EXEMPT.
"Ain't You Next?" Said O'Hearn's Friend; "You're to Let Her Alone." -- More of the Pow- er of Mickey O'Hearn.
After the order of the board of police commissioners Wednesday a reporter for The Journal had no trouble in seeing the books at No. 4 police station yesterday. And a view of these books proved the charges that every man since the first of the year, who has been active in arresting women "night hawks" has been taken out of plain clothes and removed from the district. One man was left in the district but he was taken from that special duty and put back into uniform.
The records showed that officers had been taken from that duty even before January 1 -- in fact, any man who has been too active since the reorganized police department took charge of affairs after Governor Joseph W. Folk's "rigid investigation" has been shifted. This is not only true of No. 4 district by even in No. 1 district, headquarters. This does not pertain alone to the arresting of dissolute women but to interference with certain saloons which were selling liquor on Sunday. That charge is made in regard to No. 1 district more than any other. Of course, some saloons have been caught; but they are not the influential ones; those run by "our political friends."
While the records at No. 4 station practically prove all the assertions made in regard to that district it is said that no blame can be laid at the door of Captain Thomas P. Flahive. It is not he who has had the men taken out of citizens clothes and transferred Those who know say he has been handicapped by having only a few men to do the work in his district and by an unseen power which has been able to have men removed when they did their full duty.
ARRESTED MANY WOMEN.
The records show that Daniel Doran, who worked there for years, arrested thirty-five women just before January 1. He was threatened by well dressed vagrants and told that he would be moved. And by the grace of the unseen power he was moved January 1, last, going in uniform to No. 9 -- the "sage brush" district.
The commanding officers and sergeants under whom Edward Prewett worked in No. 4 precinct speak well of him. He was there nearly eight years, and it was never said that Prewett did not do his full duty. In fat, it has been said that "Prewett would bring in his grandmother if ordered to do so."
In December, Prewett was detailed alone to bring in women of the streets. In eighteen days he brought in thirty-five of them. But from all sides, even from the women and especially the dude vagrants, he heard, "You won't last beyond January 1." One night Prewett arrested a woman named Kate Kingston. Last year this woman was fined $500 by Police Judge Harry G. Kyle, and at that time the records showed that she had been fined 106 times in police court.
"YOU AIN'T NEXT, ARE YOU?"
As he started away with the woman, "Ted" Noland appeared on the scene. "Turn that woman loose," he said; "you ain't next are you? She's to be let alone." Prewett was not "next," for he was also arrested Noland, and that was his undoing. Noland threatened the officer and told him he would personally see to it that he was moved. And Prewett was moved January 1, going in uniform to No. 6. Noland was fined $50 in police court the day following his arrest.
Noland is well known to the police, and in January, 1907, was fined $500 on a charge of vagrancy. That same Kate Kingston, over whom he threatened the officer, testified then that he and a man named Deerwester had beaten her at Thirteenth and Main streets. Deerwester got a similar fine. Their cases were appealed and the men were soon out out on bond.
Noland is a friend of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn, and, until recently, could be seen almost any day about his saloon at 1205 Walnut street; also about the saloon of Dan Leary at Fourteenth and Walnut streets. The records show that Leary has gone the bonds of scores of street women. At one time Judge Kyle objected to the n umber of personal bonds that Leary was signing and required that they be made in cash.
JUST SEE MICKEY.
The influence of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn may be better understood when it is known how he is reverenced by many members of the police department. When the Folk "investigation" was begun in May last year the commissions of probably half the department were held up. This conversation was overheard one day between two of the officers out of commissions.
"I'll tell you these are ticklish times," one said. "I have all my friends to work and am assured that I am all right."
"I'm up a tree," the other replied. "I don't know what to do. I have always tried to do my duty and can't imagine why I am held up."
"Why don't you see 'Mickey'?" his friend said with astonishment. "I thought you were wise. You know 'Mickey,' don't you You do; then go and see him and the whole things squared. That's what I did."
From that day to this the word has gone out through the whole department, "See 'Mickey' if you are in bad. He'll fix it."Labels: crime, Governor Folk, Judge Kyle, Main street, No 4 police station, No 6 police station, No 9 police station, police, police headquarters, politics, saloon, The Journal, Thirteenth street, vagrancy, Walnut Street May 28, 1908 ORDERS POLICE TO SHOW BOOKS.
BOARD DECIDES RECORDS ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC .
ALD. O'HEARN'S ACTIVITY.
ACCUSED OF CAUSING REMOVAL OF VIGILANT OFFICER.
Remarkable Case of Lisiecki Broth- er's Saloon, Where a Politician Is Said to Have Called Off Besieging Police.
After twenty-four hours deliberation the board of police commissioner came to the conclusion yesterday that records of arrests at the different stations in the city should be declared public, so long as the information desired was of past transactions. May Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr. declared that information of past transactions should be given to any citizen asking it, and the other members of the board concurred, after some discussion.
The board was told that a reporter for The Journal had asked on Tuesday to see the records and had been refused by the captain of No. 4 station and Chief of Police Daniel Ahern.
"What do you want to see the books for?" Mayor Crittenden asked.
"It has been charged that every man since the first of the year who has been active in arresting women who infest the streets in that district has been taken out of plain clothes, and all but the two who are now detailed for that duty, put into uniform and removed from the precinct," the mayor was told. "It is said that the records at the station will show this state of affairs. It is also charged that the removal of the men came after threats from well dressed vagrants and a certain saloonkeeper-politician in that district."
No comment was made upon this statement. Chief Daniel Ahern, who was present, was simply ordered to let the books be examined "in the presence of the officer in charge of the station," and that was all. No hint at an investigation by this board was made.
SIX HAVE BEEN MOVED.
The records show that since January 1 eight men have been detailed in plain clothes in No. 4 district. Their principal duty is to keep the streets clean of undesirable women at night. Six of those men have been removed already, and the two now there have been told that they are to go. One of the men who is said to have threatened policemen who did their duty is Alderman Michael J. O'Hearn, known in a political way as "Mickey" O'Hearn.
The records will show that Frank N. Hoover was removed from No. 4 precinct on March 1. It is well known that this district harbors criminals of all classes and a horde of women who support well dressed vagrants in idleness. The records show that during Hoover's short stay in plain clothes his "cases" included the capture of land fraud sharks, a murderer, one woman who attempted murder, shoplifters working Jones Bros.' department store, clothing thieves, typewriter thieves, "hop" fiends, opium jointists, vagrants -- and a long list of "lavender ladies" who called to men from their windows, and others who walked the streets by night. Scores of these lawbreakers were fined from $5 to $150 in police court on Patrolman Hoover's testimony.
It is alleged that one night when Hoover had arrested a well known vagrant, who for years has lived off the wages of sinful women, he was accosted by O'Hearn, who demanded to know why Hoover was aresting his "friends." One who heard the conversaion said that Hoover told the saloonkeeper that he knew nothing about his "friends"; in fact, that he was doing police duty. O'Hearn, according to report, then told Hoover with a snap of the finger: "We'll see about you later." And he was "seen to" March 1, when he was put into uniform and transferred to a beat in No. 6 district.Labels: Jones Dry Goods, Kansas City council, Mayor Crittenden, narcotics, No 4 police station, No 6 police station, police, Police Chief Ahern, saloon, The Journal 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 April 1, 1908 WILL TEST NEW SALOON LAW.
Parent May Collect Damages if Li- quor Is Sold to Minor.
Whether saloons must pay $50 for every offense of selling liquor to a minor with out a parent's written consent is to have its first decision in a justice's court April 3. Yesterday Mrs. Ida M. Carson filed suit in Judge Remley's court against the Kansas City Breweries Company, owners of a saloon at 324 West Sixth street, and James Meaney, a bartender, for $300 damages. Six offenses in the month of March were charged, the minor involved being Claud, the 16-year-old son of Mrs. Carson.
Under this statute, which has never been tested in Kansas City, if saloonists are found guilty the jury has no power to lessen the amount to be paid. Also under conviction there is a penalty that the criminal court may assess for each offense, to say nothing of the forfeiture of license which such conviction would bring with it.Labels: alcohol, breweries, Judge Remley, Lawsuit, saloon, Sixth street March 25, 1908 LOCKED IN SALOON -- HORRORS!
Terrible Fate, Which Confronted Tom Morgan When Rescued by Police.
One o'clock has so broken up the practice of spending the night in saloons that when Tom Morgan, 616 East Fifth street, had a chance last night to remain a lone guest among the intoxicants of Zimmerman's place, 719 Delaware street, he telephoned for help to get out. He didn't even take a drink before he resorted to the telephone.
At Home telephone headquarters the Western Union clock said 12:30 when a buzzer registered from the Delaware street saloon.
"Number?" purred Central.
"I want out," a husky voice came back.
"Out of where?"
"Out of here."
"Where is here?"
"Oh, I went to sleep in the back room of Zimmerman's saloon here on Delaware street and the bartender locked up without finding me."
Central held the line and called police headquarters. When she had got Patrolman A. O. Darbow on the phone and posted him she put on Morgan.
He was excited. Darbow didn't seem to be in a hurry, and after he had promised release and hung up the receiver Morgan called the station again.
"You didn't tell me how soon you'd come, officer," he said. "I'm lonely and nervous and cold"
"Well, see if you can't find something there to calm yourself with, and a liquid stove, perhaps, and something smooth and cheerful and friendly on the back bar."
"Good suggestion, old man. Hadn't thought of it. The time won't seem so long now, but don't tarry."
"Only waiting for a detective to blow in with a pocketful of skeleton keys and burglar tools and we'll be right up."
Twenty minutes later Darbow and Detectives Godley and Phelan liberated the prisoner.
There was the suggestion of a skate in Morgan's leg actions as he sought his bearings, but he soon was on a bee line for Fifth street.Labels: alcohol, Delaware street, Fifth street, police, saloon, telephone March 5, 1908 STRYCHNINE IN HIS LIQUOR.
Someone Poisoned Edward Whalen, Bricklayer, in a Saloon.
"Send for a priest I am dying," cried Edward Whalen as he fell to the floor in front of the bar in a saloon at Nineteenth street and Troost avenue last night. As Whalen fell, he was seized with violent convulsions and the bartender, with several men who were standing around the bar, hurried to his assistance. Someone telephoned for the police ambulance, and Police Surgeon Carl V. Bates was hastened to the saloon. At the hospital it was found that Whalen had been poisoned by strychnine His body was badly bruised, bearing out the statement which Whalen made later that he had been kicked in the side and stomach.
The man told the doctors at the hospital that he had been drinking with several men in a saloon -- not at Nineteenth and Troost -- and that they got into a fight during which he was severely pummeled. Whalen said that their difficulties were soon adjusted, however, and that they went back into the saloon to have another drink.
Soon he left there and went the saloon at Nineteenth street and Troost avenue, where he ordered a drink of whisky. It was at this juncture, and before the order had been filled, that Whalen was taken violently ill and the doctor summoned.
The doctors at the city hospital think that Whalen was poisoned by the men with whom he had been drinking, but are unable to find any cause for their desire to kill him, unless it was that they harbored the hared feeling caused by the fight. Whalen was unable to give the names of any of his companions at the saloons.
Whalen is a white man, about 40 years old, and said that his home was at Twenty-Third street and Wabash avenue. He is a bricklayer.Labels: Nineteenth street, poison, saloon, Troost avenue, Twenty-third street, violence, Wabash avenue March 5, 1908 AS THE BARKEEP TOLD IT.
Did Not Clearly Impress the Court With His Innocence.
C. H. Foley, bartender, and D. O. Elmers, porter at the saloon of John M. Lynch, 426 Main street, were fined $50 each in police court yesterday or disturbing the peace of George W. Ellingwood. Ellingwood testified that on last Saturday night he was roughly handled in the saloon and relieved of nearly $5, a ticket to Boston, Mass., and his trunk check.
"I ordered drinks for myself and a couple of friends," the complainant testified. "Foley insisted that I ordered drinks for the ho use, which came to $2.80. He took a $5 bill from me, took out the $2.80 and laid the change on the bar. Just then I was pounced upon by a dozen or more men, including the porter. I was thrown to the floor and my clothes torn in a search for more money, they having got all that was on the bar. My ticket to Boston and trunk check were also stolen."
"De moke orders drinks fer de house," said the barkeep. "When I says, '$2.80, please, he refuses to cough up. He has his leather in his mit. I cops dat, gloms de finif an' lays $2.20 on de bar. I don't allow no cheap screw to come in me place and make a lobster out en me -- see!"
It was after this exhibition that Judge Kyle assessed a fine of $50 each against the defendants. Elmers is a Mexican. The cases were appealed to the criminal court, bonds being furnished almost immediately.
F. H. Ream spiritual director at the Helping Hand, which is near Lynch's saloon, took a deep interest in the case and furnished two eye witnesses to the attack on Ellingwood. Mr. Ream said later that he intended taking the matter before the police board. Ellingwood was a janitor at the Franklin Institute. He longed to go home to Boston. He saved his money and his brother furnished the balance to buy a ticket home. The ticket has never been recovered.Labels: Helping Hand, immigrants, Judge Kyle, Main street, police court, saloon February 29, 1908 REPUDIATED HER IN DEATH.
Man Claiming to Be Husband of Sui- cide Shows Indifference.
Mrs. Maude Bearden was taken to the emergency hospital last night suffering from the effects of carbolic acid, which she took with suicidal intent She died within twenty minutes.
Soon after a man called at the hospital and said that he was the woman's husband.
"Where was her home?"
"Her parents live at Osceola, Mo.," said the man.
"Where did she live here?"
"I don't know and I don't care."
"Do you want to take charge of the body?"
"I do not."
And the man who said he was the husband left the station. It was learned that Mrs. Bearden had been living at 510 Central street. She was seen standing at Fifth and Central streets at 8 o'clock last night by G. E. Ritchey, a saloon man. He saw her raise a bottle to her lips. He ran toward her, but it was too late. She had swallowed about three ounces of carbolic acid. Mrs. Bearden was 28 years old.Labels: Central street, emergency hospital, Fifth street, saloon, Suicide 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, No 4 police station, police headquarters, saloon February 25, 1908 CONSTABLE SETS PRISONERS FREE
POLICE MELODRAMA IN WHICH CASEY IS COMEDIAN.
TWO CONFIDENCE MEN ESCAPE.
THROUGH CONSTABLE'S MED- DLING, AFTER ONE IS SHOT.
Two confidence men, who had fleeced J. W. Burrows, and Oklahoma ranchman, out of $1,000, were captured last night after an exciting chase, in which several shots were fired, and then, after being in the safe custody of two officers, made their escape at Eighth and Delaware streets through the alleged interference of Roy Casey, a constable of Justice Remley's court.
Both confidence men were arrested by Detective Lyngar, who captured the smaller of the swindlers as he was emerging from a Leavenworth car at the Junction. The larger of the confidence men jumped through the car window and fled down Delaware street. Lyngar, dragging the smaller prisoner with him, gave chase and finally fired at the escaping prisoner. The bullet entered the right arm and the man fell exhausted near the rear of the American Bank building.
Lyngar, determined to catch his man, turned the uninjured prisoner over to Patrolman Regan, and then grabbed the second man. The officers and prisoners then started for the call box at Eighth and Delaware streets and it is here, witnessees say, that Casey interfered.
STOPS THE POLICEMAN.
Casey, in company with David S. Russell and C. E. Reckert of the city engineer's office, pushed through the crowd that had gathered and stopped Lyngar. Casey's explanation is that he did not know Lyngar was an officer and thought that he was going to shoot Patrolman Regan, who was marching in front with the injured prisoner. O. P. Rush of 3015 Olive street and L. R. Ronwell of 1902 East Thirty-first street witnessed the affair and told the police that they heard Lyngar tell Casey that he was an officer.
At any rate an arguent ensued. Patrolman Regan, who was holding his prisoner by the collar of his overcoat, turned around to ascertain what the trouble was. In an instant the inured prisoner slipped out of his overcoat and dived into the crowd. Regan pursued him, firing three shots at the criminal as he ran west on Eighth street. None of the bullets seem to have taken effect.
These shots created fresh excitement and Lyngar, furious with Casey's interruption, loosened his hold on the other man. In an instant the prisoner had jerked away from the officer and was lost in the crowd.
RAPPED CASEY'S HEAD.
The only satisfaction Regan and Lyngar got was in arresting Casey. Regan rapped him twice over the head and Lynar took the constable to the Central station, where he was released on $26 bail. Casey had been attending the Republican convention.
The inured thief not alone lost his overcoat, but in plunging through the crowd lost his hat and undercoat as well. He was traced as far as Second and Wyandotte streets, where he purchased a new hat and coat. Then he ran toward the Kansas City Southern yards.
STOLE $1,000 FROM BURROWS.
Upon the complaint of J. W. Burrows, Oklahoma ranchman, that he had been swindled out of $1,000 by the two confidence men, Detectives Lyngar and Lewis were assigned to the case. Lewis was called away, so Lyngar accompanied by Burrows, made the investigation alone. At the Junction, Burrows espied the two men inside a Leavenworth car at about 9 o'clock. Lyngar went after them. The larger of the men, finding the front entrance of the car shut off, jumped through a window. The smaller attempted to brush by Lyngar, but the detective grabbed him It was following this that the chase began, which ended in Casey's intererence and the escape of the men.
The coat lost by the injured prisoner contained a book which indicates that he lives in the vicinity of the Union stock yards in Chicago.
About 1 o'clock this morning police officers found the coat of the smaller of the two confidence men, from which he also slipped when he escaped from the officer's grasp. It was in Brannon's saloon, on Delaware street, near Eighth.
When the smaller "con" man squirmed out of the garment it fell in the crowd, which parted to allow him to pass. It is not known who took it to the saloon. It is the theory of the police that the $1,000 stolen from the ranchman was in the pocket of the little man's coat when he was captured. It wasn't there when the coat was found.Labels: Central station, clothing, con artist, Delaware street, detectives, Eighth street, Leavenworth, Olive street, railroad, saloon, Second street, the Junction, Thirty-first street, Wyandotte street February 10, 1907 LEAGUE IS MAKING STATE DRY.
Bushnell Tells How It Carries On Its Prohibition Work.
In an address before the congregation at the Hyde Park Christian church, Westport avenue and Main street, yesterday morning, Rev. A. Bushnell, superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, told how Missouri was going dry. He said in part: "Members of the Anti-Saloon League have gone from place to place, making a thorough canvass of the state. That they have accomplished much is shown from the fact that sixty-eight counties of the eighty-one which held local option elections have gone dry. Of the cities fifteen out of twenty-seven have voted dry. This is very encouraging.
"It may be seen from this that our fight is a good one. Our weapon is the local option election. It is after all the strongest implement of warfare which we could use, for it shows what the people, not the people's representatives want. The local option victory is only a beginning of the real work. We want the people everywhere to organize for the enforcement of laws and to get the men into office who will stand true fo rthe work of the anti-saloon principles everywhere and always."Labels: alcohol, churches, Main street, ministers, politics, prohibition, saloon, Westport February 6, 1908 JOHN FAYHE STILL MISSING.
Water Works Employe Last Seen in Saloon Friday Night.
The disappearance of John Fayhe, for twenty-years an employe of the water works department, still remains a mystery. He is an expert hydrant man, and last Friday evening, after placing a new hydrant at Twelfth and Main streets, went into a nearby saloon with his men and drank some whisky. He had been known to take an occasional drink but was never seen intoxicated. It was near midnight when he left the saloon and that was the last seen of him.
Fayhe has a wife and four grown children at 1605 Olive street, none of whom can account for his disappearance. He is a brother-in-law of Sergeant Al Ryan of the police force. The missing man is described as 50 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, adn weighs 260 pounds. He is round shouldered, heavy set, has a gray mustache and gray hair clipped close. When he left he wore his working clothes, a black overcoat and cap, with blue overalls.Labels: Main street, missing, Olive street, saloon, Twelfth street January 30, 1908 BUILDINGS BURN AT SUGAR CREEK.
Saloon and Pool Hall Destroyed.
The explosion of an oil lamp in Rodman's saloon at Sugar Creek early last night set fire to the building. A call was sent to Independence for assistance but the fire department was not sent out as it was not considered that a water supply could be had sufficient to warrant the services of the department. The fire department from the Standard Oil refinery worked on the blaze but the building was destroyed. The flames spread to a pool hall next door and this building also was a total loss. The damage is estimated at about $7,000. Labels: billiards, Fire, saloon, Sugar Creek January 23, 1908 SWINDLER BEATS MANY LABORERS.
COLLECTS A DOLLAR FROM EACH AS A GUARANTEE.
Promising Work at Clay Center, Kas., at Good Wages -- Some of Them Gave Their Last Dollar.
After waiting in the Union station for more than three hours last night for the appearance of a new employer, more than forty laborers and masons discovered that they had been cleverly swindled out of about $40 in cash. The matter was reported to the police.
A party of Italian laborers also waited at the station last night for a new employer to take them out on a train and he, too, failed to put in an appearance.
Advertisments were placed in several saloons in the downtown districts a few days ago for fifty laborers to go to Clay Center, Kas., to work in excavating and wall building for a new telephone exchange, and also some city work. Applicants were told to apply to the Missouri saloon, 803 Delaware street yesterday. When the purported agent appeared there were at least 200 laborers in front of the saloon looking for work. Each man was required to deposit $1 to guarantee that the laborers would appear at the Union depot at 5 o'clock last night, ready to take a Rock Island train for Clay Center. They were told they would get the $1 back when they had worked a week, and also that the agent would pay their railroad fare.
About forty men went to the Union station last night as directed. The new employer did not appear and about 7 o'clock they returned to the Missouri saloon in search of him, but he could not be found. A. P. T. Wilson, Jr., proprietor of the Missouri saloon, telephoned to the sheriff at Clay Center last night and was informed that there was no work of any kind there that would require the shipment of any laborers from Kansas City, and the work described by the agent was not in process, or contemplated. The laborers had been promised 20 cents an hour and the stonemasons 45 cents an hour. All of the men who gave him the money were out of work and many of them gave their last dollar in hope of securing employment. Many of the men have families and are in poor circumstances.Labels: con artist, employment, laborer, saloon, Union depot January 10, 1908 BUFFETED BY TWO STATES.
Real Hard Luck Story That Made Police Judge Relent.
For a real hard luck story Tim Higgins, who said that was not his name, took the prize in police court yesterday. Here's the story:
"Yer honor, I'll admit that I was drinkin'. I was down on the 'wet' block next to State Line, where every door's a saloon but a couple. I live just around the corner on James street in Kansas, but come across the line for me drink. The Missouri officer got me first and, not wantin' to appear in court fro a drunk, he takes me to the line, gives me a wallop wit his club and sends me over. Once over th' line I loses me way and butts into a Kansas copper. I guess he didn't want to appear in court, either, for he hustles me to th' line again and, with a side swipe, sends me clean over into Missouri.
"By that time was complete turned around, and who should I meet but the big bull who thrown me into Kansas. 'What are ye doin' here?' says he, and he makes a center rush for me, and I'm in Kansas again. Thinkin' I'd be wise and still get home, I made a detour fer a side street. I was makin' good time in the dark street when someone says, 'Halt, ye there!" I did, an' by the saints it was a bluecoat. Witout as much as askin' me where I was goin' he puts me back into Missouri.
"I don't know how many times I was juggled from one state to another, but I know it made me head swim. Finally, early this mornin' the big Missouri copper finds me walkin' east, I guess -- I'd just been transferred to this state again, I know. He gets sore, sends for the wagon and here I am. I belong in Kansas and am anxious to get there."
"I think you've had yours, all right," said Judge Kyle, "back to Kansas."Labels: alcohol, Judge Kyle, police, police court, saloon, State line December 31, 1907 POLICE NAB NINE ALIASES.
And Two Men, Who Are Said to Be Pickpockets, Wear Them All.
When Detectives Robert Phelan and Andy O'Hare dropped into a saloon in West Ninth street yesterday afternoon they recognized two men whose pictures they had seen in "The Detective," a police publication. When arrested, they gave the names of John Gordon and John Moore.
After a short session of sweating and after they had been shown their published likenesses, the one giving the name of Moore admitted that his right name was Mike Murray. The record in the Detective shows that John Gordon often uses the alias, "John M. Childs." Murray has this record beneath his photograph:
"Mike Murray, alias John Hughes, alias Harry Moore, alias Tommy Murray, alias Thomas Bond." In all, he is said to have used six known aliases, and the one, "John Moore," given here, makes seven. They were arrested in Chicago November 3 and fined $100 each as vagrants. They got out of that and went to St. Louis, where they said they were promptly arrested and "mugged." The police say they are pickpockets.
The records s how that Murray has been arrested and "mugged" in most of the large cities of the country, and Gordon is a close second. The men said they had just arrived in the city when recognized by the detectives and arrested. It is the intention of the police to arraign them in police court as vagrants, when they possibly will be given hours to leave town. Their photographs were taken for the local rogues' gallery yesterday, as were their Bertillon measurements and finger prints for future record.Labels: crime, detectives, Ninth street, saloon, St Louis December 26, 1907 NOTEBOOK SAVES HIS LIFE.
Frank Riddle's Bullet Strikes It When He Shoots at J. C. Riddle.
A small leather notebook probably saved the life of James C. Riddle, a saloonkeeper at 212 Independence avenue, last night. Frank Hedrick, a former saloonkeeper, shot at close range at Riddle at the saloon at 7 o'clock, declaring that he intended to kill him. The bullett, 38-caliber, struck in the notebook, which was in his right vest pocket, and glanced, making only a slight flesh wound on Riddle's breast.
Jealousy is given as the cause of the shooting. Hedrick formerly owned a saloon at 204 Independence avenue, and when Riddle started a similar business near him and made a success, Hedrick's business was said to have fallen off to a certain extent. About a year ago Hedrick's licenses for that, and also a saloon operated by him at 501 East Sixth street, were revoked because Hedrick sold liquor on Sunday. It is claimed that Hedrick then became jealous of Riddle. Several times Hedrick tried to make trouble for riddle, and last night was the second time he attempted to kill him.
Two weeks ago Saturday night, Hedrick went into the hall next to Riddle's saloon after closing hours and asked Riddle to sell him a drink, which the latter refused to do. With the refusal, Hedrick drew a knife and attempted to stab Riddle, although he only managed to cut a long gash in Riddle's coat. The latter then warned him not to come in the saloon again. Last night Hedrick went into the saloon and asked Riddle if he would sell him a drink. Riddle answered, "no," and Hedrick drew a revolver and, saying, "I'm going to kill you," shot at his breast.
Patrolmen Harry Arthur and T. D. Shackelford heard of the shooting and hurried to the saloon, but Hedrick had escaped.
Officers are of the belief that Hedrick has brooded over his business troubles until his mind has become deranged. For some time past he has been a vinegar peddler.Labels: Independence avenue, mental health, police, saloon, Sixth street, violence December 26, 1907 WAS SHOT BY DETECTIVE.
But Frank Elliott, Probably Fatally Wounded, Made His Escape.
In an attempt to arrest Claud Moore and Frank Elliott, said to be two fo the worst crooks Kansas City officers have to contend with, Detective C. J. Lewis shot and possibly fatally injured Elliott in front of a saloon at 1735 Grand avenue about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Despite his injuries, Elliott made his escape. Moore was arrested.
These men were wanted on a charge of robbing the home of William Laird, who lives in the McClure flats, Nineteenth and Oak streets, of $1,500 in cash about a month ago.
Detectives Lewis, John Ferrell, Frank Lyngar and Scott Gogley were detailed to pick up these men and for three weeks have been watching for them. They learend they were in the saloon at 1735 Grand avenue last night. Ferrell went to the rear door of the saloon and Lewis to the front, expecting to make the arrest inside the saloon.
As Lweis approached the place Moore and Elliott came out together. Lewis grabbed Moore and Elliot started running down Grand avenue. Lewis shot several times and the last time Elliott fell to the sidewalk. Moore was also trying to get away, and before Ferrell could reach the scene of action Elliott managed to get into a ho use and make his escape.Labels: crime, detectives, Grand avenue, Nineteenth street, Oak street, saloon December 21, 1907 POLICE GET HIS COCAINE BOX.
Many Men Had Been Drugged and Robbed in North End Saloon.
The police have had many complaints of men being drugged and robbed in a Greek saloon near Sixth and Bluff streets recently. It was in and near this place that thirteen men have been arrested within the last two days and sent to the workhouse on fines of from $10 to $100.
A signwriter named Sellinger, who testified against some of the men in police court, told the police that he saw a man drugged, robbed and thrown into a hack and hauled away. At another time the clerk of the Metropolitan hotel was taken into a rear room, slugged and robbed.
Yesterday afternoon detectives arrested Chris Baptista, a Mexican bartender in the saloon complained of. They went behind the bar and confiscated two suspicious bottles and a box containing a chrystalline substance.
"The bottles do not smell like whiskey," said Inspector Ryan, "and the box looks like it contains cocaine."
The two bottles and the box were delivered to Dr. Walter M. Cross, city chemist, for analysis. Baptista is being held for investigation.Labels: Bluff street, City Chemist Cross, crime, immigrants, narcotics, North end, saloon, Sixth street, workhouse December 11, 1907 SHOT DOWN IN BARROOM ROW
W. H. BARNES KILLS JAMES E. WHITE, A MOTORMAN.
PISTOL AGAINST HIS HEART
"WHY DID I GET DRUNK? WAILS DYING MAN.
Murderer Surrenders and Is Now in Jail -- Holds Weapon Leveled at His Victim Some Minutes Before Firing.
In a barroom brawl yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, W. H. Barnes of Argentine shot and killed James E. White, a motorman in the employment of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, living at 816 Bank street. The fight, according to the story told by an eye witness, was begun by White. Barnes, or "Hank," as he was commonly known, was standing by the bar in Peter McDonnell's saloon, Twelfth and Charlotte streets, with a friend. White entered the room and, seeing some of his acquaintances, began to joke and jostle them in a familiar way. He had been drinking heavily.
Going down the line of men at the bar and speaking to each of them, he stepped up to the young man who seemed to be under the protection of Barnes, and spoke to him, lurching heavily against him as he did so.
The young man resented the drunken familiarity and demanded an explanation of White. But White did not choose to explain matters, and went on teasing the boy, who finally started to strike him. At this juncture Barnes interfered and began to make threatening gestures at White. They were standing within two feet of each other when White made a move towards his hip pocket with his right had as if attempting to draw a revolver. Barnes immediately drew a revolver himself and leveled it at White's heart.
Not believing that either man meant his move in any other manner than a joke, White threw off his coat and turned completely around, evidently to show that he was not the possessor of a revolver. Barnes did not lower the revolver, which was pointing at White. This made the drunken man angry, and he called Barnes many vile names.
FISTS AGAINST REVOLVER.
Mere words and threats did not lower the revolver which Barnes, with a steady hand, kept aimed at his heart for fully two minutes, so White started in bare-handed to disarm Barnes. He struck at him twice, neither blow reaching Barnes. Barnes said nothing, but stepped a little nearer White and pulled the trigger of the revolver. The cartridge did not explode, and Barnes waited another instant before pulling the trigger a second time.
This time the revolver did its work, the bullet striking White in the left breast slightly to the left of the heart. White did not stagger or fall, but kept to his feet and walked steadily to the rear of the saloon where several men had been playing cards. One man who had been standing in the inner doorway during the fight hastened forward to help the wounded man, who tried to throw him aside, saying: "I can whip him any time, but he got me like a coward just now."
He finally consented to sit down after considerable urging on the part of his friends. The minute that he sat down in the chair he became deathly sick and lost consciousness for a short time.
"I HAD TO DO IT."
After firing the last shot, Barnes walked out of the door leading into Charlotte street, remarking to a friend whom he passed, "Bob, I had to do it, didn't I?" He then jumped into his buggy, which was standing by the sidewalk, and drove rapidly south on Charlotte.
Hearing the shot, Officer Ed Doran ran into the saloon to investigate. By the time he arrived, Barnes had gone. The officer telephoned to the Walnut street police station for the ambulance. White was treated by Police Surgeon Dagg, who, seeing his critical condition, ordered him taken immediately to the general hospital.
On the way to the hospital White tried to talk and to answer questions, but the effect of the liquor and the mortal wound were too much for him, and he would only cry out hoarsely: "I know him. I know him. What is his name, I forget? He got me, yes, he got me. Oh, why did I get drunk!"
He died within two hours after he arrived at the hospital, from an internal hemorrhage caused by the bullet, it is thought that the bullet was one of the 38 caliber, as it pierced the body through.
THE MURDERER SURRENDERS.
Several hours after the shooting Barnes appeared at the county jail, where he surrendered. He is now in jail.
Barnes had owned the saloon in which the shooting occurred up to a little over a year ago, when he sold it to Rube Snyder, who sold it to its present owner, Peter McDonnell, a month ago.
White had been a motorman on the Metropolitan for about four years. He ran the Troost avenue owl car for some time, when he was transferred to a daylight run on the Broadway line.
White had been granted a divorce from his wife, Pearly White, by Judge Powell at Independence Monday afternoon. The divorce was granted on the grounds of desertion. His wife does not live in this city and her present address is unknown.
White was born in Caldwell county, near Breckenridge, Mo. He was about 35 years of age. He lived on his father's farm up until four years ago when he moved to Kansas City. His fellow workmen say that he was one of the best natured men in the service of the street car company.
SALT WATER IN HIS VEINS.
It was believed from the first that White would die from the effects of the wound, but the doctors and nurses at the hospital did all in their power to save his life. Word was received from Captain Thomas Flahive of the Walnut street police station that he would be out to the hospital in order to take a dying statement, but when he arrived he found White too near dead for the police to gather much information from him.
While lying upon the operating table he called time and again for Gertrude Stevens, moaning desperately, "I want my girl. I want my girl." He gave her name and said that she worked at the Fern laundry. When she arrived it seemed to have a good effect upon him, for he no longer groaned and was willing to lie quietly, a thing he had refused to do before.
She stooped over and kissed him upon the forehead, talking soothingly to him. He asked to be moved over on his right side, that he might better see her and talk with her. "He shot me," was all that he would say, and then closed his eyes as if everything was satisfactory.
Three nurses and Miss Stevens stayed with during the hour he survived. His sweetheart stood over his body for several minutes after his death, and then left the hospital without a word. It is said that his recent divorce was procured so that he and Miss Stevens might be married.
SELF-DEFENSE, SAYS BARNES.
When seen at the jail last night, Barnes made the following statement in regard to the shooting: "There is not much left for me to say. I shot him in self-defense. He was a man about twice my size, and was ready to fight with me. I am much older than he and knew that I would stand now show with him when it came to a test of strength. For that reason, and to protect myself, I drew a revolver."
"If I had to go through it again, I would let him wipe up the earth with me rather than to even threaten him with a revolver. I did not try to evade the offense, but I just wanted to be the first to tell the unfortunate affair to my wife and family. I live on a farm about a mile and half from Argentine. It took me some time to drive out there and back again. As soon as I opened my front door I told my wife of the affair and told her that I had to go back to the city and surrender. I then drove directly to the jail.Labels: Argentine, Charlotte street, jail, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, murder, saloon, Twelfth street, Walnut street police station November 30, 1907
THEY WILL WORK FOR SALOONS.
Mayor of Independence and Citizens Organize for the Fight.
An attempt to defeat local option in independence at the election to be held December 3, more than seventy-five business men and prominent citizens, including Mayor J. R. Prewitt of Independence, held a meeting in the court house there last night and organized for the purpose of fighting the local option movement.
Committees composed of twenty-five voters were appointed for each of the four wards. Mayor Prewitt was chairman of the meeting, and in a brief speech said he thought local option in Independence at the present time would be a blow to business and would be very impractical. He expressed the belief that the population of Independence in general is heartily in favor of the saloon.Labels: alcohol, Independence, politics, prohibition, saloon November 23, 1907 THEY STOLE MANY PENNIES.
Young Men Also Liked Whisky and Saloon Cigars.
Confessing that they had robbed five places since last Wednesday night, Benjamin Green, Earl Durbin and Emery Luzelle, all young white men, were arrested early yesterday morning at Sixth and Delaware streets.
Green wore two overcoats and Luzelle had in his pockets three quart bottles of whisky and two boxes of saloon cigars.
They admitted having robbed the following places of the things enumerated:
Saloon of Clem Mees, 612 Walnut street, 600 cigars, 2 overcoats and 500 pennies stolen.
Saloon of George Fawkes, 714 Walnut street, $20 in cash, 1 overcoat and 1 jack-knife stolen.
Saloon of Thomas Larson, 114 West Fifth street, 50 cents in postage stamps and 1 gold ring stolen.
Shooting gallery of George Dunn, who was robbed Wednesday night, applied to the police board that afternoon for permission to carry a revolver because he had no safe in his shooting gallery and did not think it safe to carry his day's receipts home with him without the protection of a pistol. His application was refused. He left his money in his place of business and was robbed.Labels: cigars, crime, Delaware street, Fifth street, saloon, Sixth street, Walnut Street November 15, 1907 TO STOP SALOON MURDERS.
The Police Board is to Investigate Con- ditions That Are Alarming.
Mayor Beardsley received from the police department yesterday a list of the shooting and stabbing affrays in saloons since August 1. This line of investigation was prompted by the frequency of saloon murders.
"I cannot say what action will be taken until the list is taken up and considered by the police board," the mayor said. "We must do something about it."
The killing of Danile O'Keefe by Charles Merlino in Merlino's saloon at Fifth street and Grand avenue, November 5, was the seventh saloon murder in ninety days.Labels: Fifth street, Grand avenue, Mayor Beardsley, murder, police board, saloon November 7, 1907 7 SALOON KILLINGS, 90 DAYS.
DENNIS O'KEEFE DREW A KNIFE AND WAS SHOT TO DEATH.
The seventh saloon murder in Kansas City in three months was recorded yesterday morning. In that time more than fifty men have been beaten more or less seriously in "tough saloon" fights.
A fight was started shortly after 8 o'clock in Charles Merlino's saloon, 200 East Fifth street. Charles Craig, a foreman for the Depot Carriage and Baggage company, and Sherman Davis, a stableman, had quarreled, when Dennis O'Keefe, a saloon keeper from the East bottoms, who had no interest in either man, struck Davis, knocking him down.
Craig tried to save Davis and was attacked by O'Keefe, who knocked him down with a chair. Merlino, owner of the saloon, then interfered and tried to separate the struggling fighters. O'Keefe, Merlino says, drew a knife and started toward him. Merlino then pulled a revolver from his hip pocket and fired five shots at O'Keefe, three striking him near the heart. He died almost instantly.
Practically everything in the saloon outside the bar was turned over and broken. Craig and Davis were severely cut and bruised but not dangerously hurt. They and Merlino were arrested. Chief Ahern ordered the saloon closed at once.
"It's another case of 'tough saloon,' the chief said. "That quarrel could have been stopped by Merlino before it became so strong. When O'Keefe entered the saloon Merlino waited until he was nearly tearing the place to pieces before he interfered. The result was a killing."Labels: East bottoms, murder, Police Chief Ahern, saloon 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 th |
