July 22, 1908
DETECTIVES FIGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES.
LIVELY ENCOUNTER IN NO. 2 POLICE STATION.
In the Midst of the Melee Two Pris- oners Bolt for Liberty, but the Watchful Jailer Nabbed Them.
There was the liveliest kind of mixup between detectives in No. 2 police station last night and for a moment it looked as though blood might be shed.
At 10 o'clock last night, William Bradley, a Union depot detective, Carl Demmett, a Rock Island detective, and Charles Lewis and Frank Lyngar, city detectives, brought two prisoners, George Stryker and Fred Reed, into No. 2 police station and charged them with attempting to pass a bad check on J. A. Merritt of Savannah, Mo.
Gum opium was found in a sack of tobacco carried by Stryker and Desk Sergeant Harry Moulder told Jailer Long to look in the men's shoes to see if they had any "dope" concealed there. The prisoners were taken to the back of the room.
Then the sergeant asked Bradley who the arresting officers were. Bradley, who was standing in front of the desk replied:
"Bradley, Demmett, Lewis and Lyngar.
Lyngar was standing at Sergeant Moulder's elbow.
"Bradley had nothing whatever to do with the arrest" said Lyngar.
"You're a liar!" shouted Bradley, and started to go around the desk toward Lyngar.
Detective Lewis was standing in Bradley's way and he pushed the depot detective back. Bradley struck Lewis and the two clashed. Lewis drew his revolver and tried to hit Bradley with the butt end, but Bradley knocked the weapon out of his hand.
Sergeant Moulder tried to hold Bradley and there was a mixup of officers in the thick of which Policeman Joe Kelley was discovered with his left hand clutching Bradley by the throat and his right hand shaking a club in Bradley's face.
In the meantime the prisoners, who had been interested spectators of the fight, suddenly concluded that a police station filled with fighting officers was no place for them, and they bolted for freedom. Jailer William Love saw them going and he made a grab for them. Immediately there was a lively triangular struggle that did not end until J. P. Johnson, a Gamewell operator, hastened to Long's assistance. By this time everybody in the station house, including the prisoners, was red faced and perspiring freely. And nobody was in a good humor. The prisoners offered the excuse that they feared they might get shot if they remained int he station.
Lyngar and Bradley have always been rivals. Both work at the depot, but Bradley is employed by the depot and Lyngar is paid by the city.
The prisoner, who gave his name as George Stryker, is said to be "Whitie," a well known confidence man. It is said that he and Reed tried to borrow $20 from Merritt on a bad check for $1,350.
Merritt was on the Frisco Meteor, due to leave here at 9:30 p. m., when these men came in the car and made themselves acquainted. Reed told Merritt that he had the dead body of his brother at the depot and couldn't get the body out because he owed $20 express charges. Reed wanted to ship the beloved relative on the Meteor. Stryker was introduced as the hard hearted express agent. He said that if Reed would get $20 he would let the body go, and not before.
Reed had a check for $1,350 and finally he offered to leave this with Merritt as security for a $20 loan. Just then the detectives arrived and a Savannah, Mo., citizen was saved.
Dr. D. M. Monie of West Pittston, Pa., who was with the detectives when the arrest was made, was attempting to identify a man who had agreed to sell his ticket to Chicago. He wanted to go to St. Louis, so accepted the kind offer of a new found friend who "knew a man who would pay well for a ticket to Chicago." Dr. Monie did not find his man or the ticket.
Labels: con artist, detectives, jail, No 2 police station, railroad, Union depot, violence, visitors 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, Judge Remley, No 4 police station, police court, police head, police matron, violence, Walnut street police station July 16, 1908 CUNNING SHOWN BY GALLAGHER
SLUGGER WILL TRY TO HAVE HIMSELF DECLARED INSANE.
THUS ESCAPE HIS MIS-DEEDS
CREATES A SCENE IN THE ROOM OF ALBERT KING.
Arrested and Released on Ridiculous Bond of $11 -- Fined $1,000 in Police Court on Two Charges.
An attempt is to be made by the friends of Jack Gallagher to have him declared insane.
The object is to prevent justice from taking its course.
The first suggestion for a lunacy commission was made by Jack Gallagher himself.
His saloon license gone, under a double fine of $500, and with a penitentiary sentence staring him in the face, Gallagher's only hope is in an "easy" lunacy commission that will free him of all responsibility for his brutal, wanton and wicked acts.
A depravity seldom equalled, unbridled license and bad whiskey is what's the matter with Jack Gallagher. His mentality, even though of a low order, is capable of recognizing right from wrong. Gallagher, according to the statements of eye witness, was too drunk when taken to Central police station yesterday morning that the officers in charge hesitated about arraigning him in court.
The lunacy commission judge is the last desperate stand of this desperado and his friends.
Gallagher was locked in a cell in the police matron's room last night.
INSANE? NO, BAD WHISKY.
When the city attorney, Cliff Langsdale, called the case of the city against Jack Gallagher, arrested yesterday morning on two charges of disturbing the peace, it was said Gallagher was too drunk to appear. Newspaper men attending police court insisted that he be brought out before the court and arraigned on the charges. Sergeant Frank Snow informed the court that Gallagher was "pretty drunk," but Judge Remley finally ordered him brought out of the holdover so he could judge for himself.
Gallagher's demeanor before the court was that of the bully. While he showed signs of heavy drinking he was sufficiently sober to know what he was talking about and the police judge decided he was sober enough to stand trial.
After Gallagher had been fined $500 on two charges he asked his brother, Thomas Gallagher, to apply for a lunacy commission to inquire into his sanity. Thomas Gallagher immediately sought the chief of police, Daniel Ahern, and asked that the $1,000 fine be stayed until he could have his brother tried for insanity. Chief Ahern readily granted the request, giving Gallagher a stay for twenty-four hours. Judge Remley consented to the stay granted by the chief of police. Jack Gallagher was then turned oer to Colonel J. C. Greenman who has charge of all insanity cases for the police department. Gallagher was taken from the common holdover and placed in a cell in the matron's room. The police stated that he had been put in the matron's room because it was rumored that Gallagher's friends had passed cigars and whisky into the jail to him when he was held for investigation when he assaulted Albert King on Wednesday, a week ago.
Gallagher's friends called on the chief of police during the morning and afternoon, but the chief refused to say what their mission was. Jack Spillane, a street inspector, was in evidence at police headquarters and in the chief's office all of yesterday afternoon. He refused to say what he wanted, except that he was a friend of Gallagher's.
SLUGGER'S FRIENDS BUSY.
Thomas Gallagher insisted on an early meeting of the lunacy commission and desired to name the members who were to be called in to act. He was informed by Colonel Greenman that the law required a certificate of two reputable physicians to determine whether a man was insane or sane. He also told Tom Gallagher that he intended to go further than the law required, that he intended to appoint four physicians so the public would be satisfied with any verdict that the board should return.
A physician, who said he had been Jack Gallagher's family doctor for the last five years, appeared at police headquarters and said he wanted to be called as a witness to testify that Jack Gallagher had been insane for nearly five years. He was one of the physicians that Thomas Gallagher asked Colonel Greenman to appoint as a member oft he lunacy board.
Willis King, a brother of the reporter assaulted by Jack Gallagher, called on Colonel Greenman yesterday afternoon and asked that he be notified so he could have witnesses summoned to appear before the commission. Colonel Greenman set the time for the commission to meet at 10 o'clock today.
"BAD MAN," SAYS AHERN.
Chief of Police Daniel Ahern said yesterday afternoon that he considers Jack Gallagher a "bad" man and that he does not want him at large. He said he will hold him pending a report of the self-solicited lunacy commission, a member of which Gallagher requested to be allowed to name.
"When Gallagher was brought in here the second time today I made up my mind that he is dangerous and should not be allowed his liberty again, said the chief. "Why, he might attack you, or me. I wouldn't allow a bully like that to strike me, but I know I am just as liable to a cowardly assault from a man of that kind as a newspaper reporter or any other person.
"Gallagher was fined in police court. His fines were heavy, but if he were went to the workhouse I thought Jack's friends might pay his fine, and I decided to prevent it.
"It was my plain duty to send him to the workhouse, though. What could I do under the circumstance of a fine and no cash forthcoming. When Jack's friends suggested he is crazy I was a way to keep him under restraint.
"It does not matter to me whether he is crazy from the effects of bad whisky or from other causes. I simply had to keep him under restraint, and I thought the lunacy commission plan was the best way out. I straightway turned the prisoner over to Colonel Greenman, the humane officer."
MUST KEEP THE PEACE.
At the request of Albert King, Jack Gallagher will be placed under a heavy police bond by the prosecuting attorney. After being placed under a bond, if Gallagher cannot raise funds to meet it, he will remain in jail for thirty days, after which time he is at liberty and will forfeit the bond if he disturbs the peace of the complainant.
Besides this, a warrant charging Gallagher with burglary is in the hands of the authorities. The charge of burglary is brought under a statute which defines burglary as the forcible entry into the dwelling house of another in the night time with intent to commit a felony therein.
Gallagher's actions in the home of Mr. King yesterday morning bring him under the rule of the statute and the warrant for his arrest on the charge of burglary is the result.Labels: alcohol, Col. J. C. Greenman, Judge Remley, mental health, Police Chief Ahern, police court, police matron, violence July 13, 1908 FRIGHTENED TO DEATH BY DOPE FIEND'S CRIES.
Mrs. Jennie Elmer Was Ill From Heart Disease in Rooming House With the Crazed Woman.
When Rosie O'Grady went on a wild rampage last night at 8:45 o'clock she only intended to throw a man named Thomas Miller out of the house but her actions were so violent and terrorising that she literally frightened Mrs. Jennie Elmer to death.
The O'Grady woman was drunk and insane from the use of morphine. She quarreled with Thomas Miler, on the third floor of the rooming house at 501 Walnut street, which is conducted by Mrs. Belle Wilson. Miller ran out of the room and started down the stairs to the second floor. He was urged to greater haste by flower pots and cooking utensils hurled at his head by the hysterical O'Grady woman. She was using profane language and yelling murder at the top of her voice. Mrs. Jennie Elmer was lying in a bed in the rear room on the third floor suffering from heart trouble. She became greatly excited and asked George Conine, a roomer in the house, to call a policeman.
The landlady entered her room to quiet her and said she would call an officer. She went down to the street and summoned Patrolman A. L. Boyd, who went into the house and arrested the O'Grady woman. He was told Mrs. Elmer very low from the shock and excitement. As the policeman was leaving the building with the woman, Mrs. Elmer sank back on the pillows and gasped for breath. Dr. W. L. Gist of the emergency hospital was called by Conine, but the woman was dead when he reached the house. He said Mrs. Elmer had died of heart disease, caused by the fright she had received during the quarrel in the hall just outside of her door.
The police placed Rosie O'Grady, who is about 40 years old, in a cell in the women's department of the holdover. She succeeded in collecting a crowd of curious people around the station by her maniacal cries. She was not told that she had caused the death of the Elmer woman. Mrs. Elmer has a brother living in Leavenworth, Will Darling, formerly proprietor of the Delmonico hotel. A married sister lives in Chicago. Only her first name, Josie, and her husband's name, Lee, are known to the occupants of the rooming house. Their address is 1270 Polk street. The coroner was notified of Mrs. Elmer's death and took charge of the body.Labels: alcohol, death, narcotics, police, rooming house, violence, Walnut Street July 13, 1908 KNOCKED DOCTOR DOWN IN STREET
AFTER FIRST CAREFULLY RE- MOVING THE VICTIM'S GLASSES.
POLICEMAN THE AGGRESSOR
DR. JOSEPH ROBINSON IS THE MAN ACCUSED
Of Improper Advances Twoard Pa- trolman's Wife -- Doctor's Wife Goes to His Assistance. Principals Arrested.
Telling him that he had insulted one woman too many, Duke Lee, a policeman of 4314 East Fifteenth street, calmly removed the glasses from the nose of Dr. Joseph H. Robinson, 4412 East Fifteenth street, at Fifteenth street and Kensington avenue, shortly before 7 o'clock last night, and felled him to the ground by a blow in the face. As the physician was regaining his feet he again was sent reeling by a terrific smash on the nose delivered by the sturdy patrolman.
Mrs. Robinson, who had witnessed the affair from an automobile belonging to her husband, ran to the doctor's assistance and grappled with Lee. Mrs. Robinson continued the attack until Lee had entered the hallway leading to his apartments, when she desisted only to render aid to her husband, who by that time had regained his feet.
The men were arrested by Policeman Henry Good on charges of disturbing the peace and taken to No. 6 police station in Dr. Robinson's automobile, from where they later were released after the men had posted bonds of $100 each for their appearance. No charge was preferred against Mrs. Robinson.
The trouble had its origin yesterday afternoon, when Mrs. Lee, who resides in apartments adjacent to the office of Dr. Robinson, confided to her husband that she had been grossly insulted by the physician. Removing his uniform, Lee went into the street in quest of the doctor, but not until some time later did he find him in front of his office tinkering with his automobile, in which was seated his wife, preparatory to starting the machine.
DOCTOR SAYS NOTHING.
"You have insulted one woman too many," said Lee, immediately after which the first blow was delivered. During the ephfusion which followed, Dr. Robinson said nothing other than to invite Lee to accompany him to the station in his automobile, and even later he refused to make a statement.
The affair caused not a little excitement in the neighborhood because of Dr. Robinson figuring in a similar, but probably more serious occurrence on the night of July 6, when he was shot at several times by John Kellenborn, who held some grievance, fancied or otherwise, in which his wife figured against the doctor.
Policeman Lee has been employed by the police department for several years and always has been highly respected in the neighborhood in which he resides. He has been married but a short time, and during the day hours his young wife is alone in their home. Mrs. Lee declares that the proposal made to her was deliberate, and when Dr. Robinson realized that she had been sorely offended he made an effort to apologize and requested that nothing be said of it.
Lee is on the day shift and at the time of his seeking and fining Dr. Robinson was in citizen's apparel. He has expressed himself as being determined to prefer a charge against Dr. Robinson today.
"WHAT HE DESERVED."
When seen at his home last night Lee said he probably should not have been so rash. "But when I thought of that little girl, a girl who probably never heard an indecent word before in her life, I was unable to control myself," said he. "I looked for him, found him and gave him what I thought he deserved. I am willing to answer for it."
Dr. Robinson was not seen last night. Mrs. Robinson, however, said that she is not acquainted with the facts of the case as she and her husband had had no conversation regarding it. Mrs. Robinson said that when sifted down the allegations of Mrs. Lee probably will have little or no foundation. It is said to be the intention of Dr. Robinson to prefer charges against Lee today, and to bring the matter before the police board.Labels: doctors, Fifteenth street, Kensington, No 6 police station, police, violence July 12, 1908 ALBERT KING NOT IMPROVING.
Reporter Victim of Saloonkeeper Thug in Grave Condition.
The condition of Albert H. King, the Journal reporter, who suffered severe injuries by the beating and kicking Jack Gallagher gave him last Wednesday afternoon, is very little improved. There is a slight improvement in the injuries to the face and eye. Hot applications are constantly applied to the right cheek, which was badly bruised. Mr. King's back is still very weak and he is unable to use his legs. He has lost control of his legs, besides being too weak to stand upon them. He has not been able to partake of any solid food since Gallagher's attack on him. His teeth were loosened by being kicked several times in the mouth.Labels: saloon, The Journal, violence July 9, 1908
REPORTER VICTIM OF BRUTAL ATTACK.
ALBERT H. KING ASSAULTED BY JACK GALLAGHER.
IN FRONT OF CENTRAL STATION.
THE ATTACK IS COWARDLY AND ENTIRELY UNPROVOKED.
King's Injuries Are Serious and Sa- loonkeeper's Case Will Be Pre- sented to Grand Jury -- Was Struck From Behind.
Jack Gallagher, Democratic politician, former policeman and saloonist, assaulted Albert H. King, a reporter for The Journal, while the two were in friendly conversation in the street in front of police headquarters late yesterday afternoon. Frank Frost a reporter for the Kansas City Star, who Gallagher says was scheduled for a like assault, escaped the brute strength of the big saloonkeeper by rushing into the police station to call out officers to ave King.
Gallagher was arrested, but immediately began a legal battle to gain his freedom. Milton J. Oldham, a lawyer hurried to the holdover from the police board rooms but his efforts to get the prisoner released were fruitless. Mr. King was taken to the emergency hospital, where the surgeons in attendance declined to examine him until the shock he had sustained had worn off. His injuries were later discovered to be serious, and John W. Hogan, an assistant prosecuting attorney, was called to take the injured man's statement. The assistant prosecutor at once placed a bar against the release of Gallagher by stating that he would prepare a serious charge against him, to be served immediately if political friends of the saloonist politician should succeed in getting the police department to accept a bond.
Mr. King, who is a reporter for The Journal assigned to police duty, is still at the emergency hospital. He is not an able-bodied man because of injuries received in the Spanish-American war, and the attending physicians fear his injuries may prove permanent.
BOARD EASY WITH HIM.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. King attended a meeting of the board of police commissioners The board had before it charges against Gallagher for selling liquor on Sunday at 8 East Fourth street, directly across the street from the entrance to Central police station, and operating a crap game at his other saloon, 310 Independence avenue. The charges regarding the last named place were postponed until the next meeting, but the board closed the Fourth street place. Milton J. Oldham, attorney for Gallagher, stated last night that the board promised him they would give Gallagher a chance and let his Independence avenue saloon run, but that the Sunday selling at 8 East Fourth street has been so flagrant a violation of the board's orders that the license would have to be forfeited.
Gallagher and Mr. King have been acquaintances for some time, and, immediately after the court meeting Gallagher invited Mr. King to go across the street and take a drink before the police closed his place. Mr. King declined, stating that he was too busy at that time. On the stairs a few minutes later Gallagher again extended the invitation and again Mr. King, who was busy about his day's work, declined.
In the press room on the main floor of the city hall Mr. King and Frank Frost, a reporter for the Kansas City Star, were discussing various orders made by the police board a few minutes later when Gallagher opened the door and with a smile, asked the two across to his place.
"I guess we had better go," said Frost.
"Cheer up," said Gallagher to Mr. King, and the latter reached for his cane and the three went into the street.
Gallagher's place, the one soon to be closed by the board's order, made earlier in the afternoon, is immediately across Fourth street from the main entrance to the Central police station. It was there that Gallagher, growing reckless in his prosperity as a saloonkeeper, had openly sold liquor on Sundays until the place was raided by the police from the Walnut street station a week ago last Sunday. It was the evidence secured in this raid which the police board considered sufficient for revoking the license.
A COWARDLY ASSAULT.
As Mr. King, who, on account of former injuries, must carry a cane to steady himself, stepped from the curb into the street, Gallagher fell back a step between Mr. King and Mr. Frost. Just as they reached the center of the narrow street Gallagher took a hurried step forward and struck Mr. King in the forehead. The reporter fell to the pavement.
Mr. Frost immediately hurried back into the police station door and called to the assembled officers and men:
"Jack Gallagher is killing King."
Knowing Gallagher as a "bad" man, every police officer in the station was alert in an instant. Patrolman John J. Crane hurriedly took a pistol from the desk and Captain Walter Whitsett and Detective Inspector Charles Ryan, both shut off from the main lobby of the station, hurried to the door. Patrolman Joseph Welsh followed.
In the meantime in the street Mr. King was at the mercy of the brutal saloonkeeper. Gallagher struck him again as he tried to get up , and then kicked him in the back. Mr. King rolled over, and the big saloonkeeper brought his heel down on the right side of the reporter's face, cutting a jagged wound across the face. As he kicked Mr. King in the ribs Patrolman Patrick Boyle grappled with him. He had reached the street ahead of Captian Whitsett, Inspector Ryan and Patrolman Crane, the latter being the only armed man in the crowd.
CARRIED TO HOSPITAL.
Gallagher did not resist arrest, as the police had expected, and was led into the station door, but a few feet away, by Boyle, while Captain Whitsett, Inspector Ryan and newspaper reporters who had hurried from the press room at the head of the stairs, picked up the inured man Gallagher, was locked up, charged with investigation, and Mr.King was carried around the corner of the building to the emergency hospital.
Upstairs in the police board rooms Commissioners A. E. Gallagher and Elliot H. Jones were just leaving their chairs. They heard the commotion in the central station below and went down to investigate. When they learned the circumstances of the assault, both commissioners became agitated. Commissioner Galagher went to the commanding officer's desk and admonished those in charge to hold Jack Gallagher, the saloonkeeper, unless a heavy bond was furnished.
"I don't think he ought to be released uner any circumstances," said Commissioner Jones.
The assault was considered unusually brutal by police officers and other witnesses, and the story soon reached the office of R. L. Gregory, acting mayor, Gus Pearson, city comptroller, and John Murray, formerly a newspaper reporter, saw the assault from the corner of Fourth and Main sterets as they were boarding a street car. They went at once to the emergency hospital and soon were joined by Mr. Gregory.
HELD HIM WITHOUT BOND.
The acting mayor asked Mr. King about the assault and then went at once to police headquarters, where he gave orders that Gallagher be held without bond. Mr. Gregory was closeted with Captain Walter Whitsett for several minutes and, when he emerged from the captain's office, assured those outside that the prisoner would be held for the customary twenty-four hours, when a charge must be placed against him. Assistant Prosecutor Hogan had taken Mr. Kin's statement by that time, and stated that if Gallagher's attorney saw fit to sue out a writ of habeas corpus he would have the prisoner held for the prosecutor. Mr. Hogan said he would call the assault to the attention of the grand jury this morning.
Immediately after Attorney Oldham appeared, Jack Spillane and Patrick Larkin, the latter a Sixth ward politician, were called tot he station to furnish bond.
When told that no bond would be accepted Oldham demanded that a charge be placed against Gallagher. He boasted that he would clear the saloonkeeper of any charge which would be brought Spillane, a sidewalk inspector for the city, was very angry when he found he not furnish a bond big enough to get his slugger friend out of the holdover. Thoroughly baffled, the trio later telephoned for a dinner to be served the prisoner and left the station.
Mr. Oldham and Gallagher told him that he had intended to assault Frank Frost, the Kansas City STar reporter, who went into the street with him and Mr. King, but failed because the police got action too quickly for him.
"He told me," said Mr. Oldham, "that King had double-crossed him and was responsible for his Fourth street pace being raided."
Mr. King, who knew of the flagrant violation of the Sunday law by Gallagher, did not have anything to do with the raid. He had not written a line about the place for the paper which employs him and had told Tom Gallagher as much when the latter, a week ago, asked him why he was "sore at his brother Jack.
"Jack is my friend," was the reply Mr. King made to Tom Gallagher.
INJURED IN PHILIPPINES.
Previous to his career as a newspaper reporter Albert King had been an invalid for many months. He had received injuries in the Philippine islands while in the army and had wlaked on crutches a long time after being mustered out of the service. Mr. King was enlisted in the army here as a private in the Thirty-second United States infantry in July, 1899. He sailed for the Philippines in September the same year. In the islands he became regimental sergeant major.
On the night of August 5, 1900, while the building where he was quartered was under fire, he fell down a flight of stone steps while attempting, in pajamas and cartridge belt, to get to the first floor to consult with his superior officer. He was an invalid in a Manila hospital and later at the Presidio, San Francisco. December 28, 1900, he was mustered out of service and sent to his home, 3031 Wabash avenue, Kansas City.
Mr. Kings injuries from the assault include an injured spine and a severe shock to his legs, which were so long paralyzed. The right side of his face is cut and bruised and the attending physician, Dr. J. Park Neal, feared last night that blood poisoning might result from the jagged wound in his face. His ribs on both sides are injured, but the physician had not discovered if any were fractured because the injured man was in too great pain to permit a thorough examination.
JONES "LACKS INFORMATION."
In regard to the standing of Jack Gallagher as a saloonkeeper, Commissiner Elliott H. Jones last night said:
"It was reported to the police commissioners taht Gallagher's place on East Fourth street was open on Sunday and after closing h ours. For this reason the board refused to grant him a renewal of his license to operate that saloon."
Mr. Jones was asked if he thought Gallagher a fit man to run a saloon or if he deemed him worthy of the privelge after having made such a brutal attack upon a man as he had done upon Albert King. Mr. Jones said he could not answer that question without going into the case to greater extent than he had already done.
Commissioner Jones was then asked: "If any manmakes an attack on another while walking on the street while the victim is under the impression that there is no feeling of hostility between them; if the attack be sudden and unexpected and very brutal in its nature, should such a man be granted the privelege of owning and operating a saloon?"
The commissioner refused to answer the question.Labels: alcohol, Captain Whitsett, Commissioner Gallagher, Commissioner Jones, Fourth street, police board, politics, Robert Lee Gregory, saloon, The Journal, veterans, violence, Wabash avenue July 8, 1908 CHARGES ASSAULT TO KILL.
Dr. Robinson Says John Kollenborn Shot at Him in Street.
A warrant charging assault with intent to kill was issued yesterday by Justice J. B. Shoemaker for John Kollenborn, 1614 Lister street, who is charged by Dr. J. H. Robinson, 4816 East Fifteenth street, with firing three shots at him from a pistol Monday night about 10 o'clock near the corner of Sixteenth and Lister streets. Kollenborn was not arrested. An attorney said he will be produced when needed. His preliminary hearing will probably be called before Justice Shoemaker this week.
According to the physician, he received a call about 10 o'clock Monday night to go to 1608 Lister and see a family named Simpson, but on arrival at the number found the house vacant. He was told that a family named Simpson lived several doors below and went there, but found he had not been summoned. He states that he was returning to his drug store when he passed Kollenborn on the street and after the man had gone about four feet beyond him, he turned and fired. The physician ran after the first shot and was not harmed.
Before Assistant Prosecuting Attorney William Buchholtz yesterday, Dr. Robinson stated that he knew of no reason why the alleged assault should have been made other than that several months ago he had been informed that Kollenborn accused him of being too friendly with Mrs. Kollenborn. This charge, he states, is groundless.
Kollenborn works as a switchman in the Rock Island yards at Armourdale, is 32 years old and has a wife and four children. Dr. Robinson is also married and has one child. Kollenborn did not return to his home Monday night after the shooting. He employed an attorney yesterday.Labels: Armourdale, doctors, Fifteenth street, Judge Shoemaker, Lister avenue, Sixteenth street, violence 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 5, 1908 YOUNG MARRIED MAN IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
WARD HEADLEY HELD BY PO- LICE ON GRAVE CHARGE.
Accused of Attacking Little Daugh- ters of Friends Whom He Was Visiting -- One Child Un- der Doctor's Care.
Ward Headley, 30 years old, a clerk employed in the Browning King clothing store, was locked in a cell at No. 6 police station last night. A charge of criminal assault probably will be made against him tomorrow. Headley lives at 2921 East Sixteenth street and was married two weeks ago to Mrs. Alice Caton. His wife was not informed last night of the serious nature of the charge against him.
The alleged attack occurred in the home of O. J. Swift, a motorman on the Jackson avenue street car line, 1815 Kansas avenue. In the same house lives Robert Kelso and his family. Headley and the Swifts and Kelsos have been friends for ten years. Headley spent the afternoon with the families yesterday and remained for 5 o'clock dinner.
After dinner, according to Mrs. Kelso, she and her husband went upstairs with Headley. Mr. Kelso fell asleep in the room, and after a few minutes conversation with Headley Mrs. Kelso excused herself and went into the kitchen on the first floor.
About five minutes later she heard her 7-year-old daughter, Ethel, calling to her, but thinking that nothing serious was the matter, waited some time before replying. Within ten minutes, Eunice Swift, 5 years old, came running downstairs to her mother, who was also in the kitchen. She was crying. She said Headley had attacked her.
WOMAN DRAGGED HIM OUT.
The two women ran to the room where Headley was sitting and ordered him from the house. He refused to go, saying he had done nothing to warrant their displeasure. The two women caught him by the arms an d head and dragged him out of the room to the head of the steps and pushed him down the stairs.
Mrs. Kelso followed him down the stairs, catching him at the foot of the steps. Mrs. Swift remained in the house to give attention to her child.
When Headley reached the sidewalk Mrs. Kelso caught up with him and began to beat and scratch him. Headley started to run, but he could not get away from the woman. Seeing that he could no shake from her grasp, Headley turned and grappled with her.
Meanwhile several men started on the run to the rescue of the mother. ieutenant William Carroll and Patrolman William Hanlon were passing and seeing the crowd and the commotion, the officers ran to the man and woman. They arrested Headley and hurried him to the corner. By this time the men, fifty or more, were muttering threats of vengeance against Headley. It was some time before the patrol wagon from No. 6 police station, Twenty-first and Flora avenue arrived, and the officers had their hands full. Mrs. Kelso accompanied the officers and their prisoner to the station in the patrol wagon, saying that she "would not leave that man until he was dead or behind bars."
"I WANTED TO KILL HIM."
In discussing the affair at their home last night, Mrs. Kelso said: "I prayed God to give me the strength of a man. If ever I had the desire to kill a man it was when I was following Headley down the street, beating and scratching him. It was not a desire for vengeance on my part just at that time. It was just a great mental longing to be able to do something that would pain him, something that a man could have done. I am glad now that I did not have the strength to kill him, for it will be best to let the law take its course.
"I have known Headley for several year, and never before knew him to do an immoral or brutal act. What led him to do it is more than I can explain, unless it was the influence of liquor. But he did not appear to be drunk, and at dinner he talked in a very rational manner."
Mrs. Swift did not have much to say other than a desire to see Headley severely punished. She constantly kept her eye on the child, which was lying asleep on the bed by her side.
Headley refused to discuss the affair with the officers at the police station to any extent. He told Lieutenant Carrol that he held both children on his lap and was merely teasing them.Labels: abuse, children, crime, Kansas avenue, No 6 police station, police, Sisteenth street, violence June 14, 1908 ROBBER SHOOTS FLOOD VICTIM.
Fred Liggett Meets Double Disaster. Condition is Serious.
Compelled to leave home on account of the flood, Fred Liggett, 3412 Guinotte avenue, and his brother-in-law, P. Donohue, have been sleeping in the Kemper elevator in the East bottoms. Last night at 11 o'clock the two men were on their way to the elevator when two strangers confronted them with drawn revolvers. Donahue ran when ordered to hold up his hands.
Fred Liggett fought the robbers and was shot in the groin. After the shooting the robbers went through Liggett's pockets, but did not get anything. The holdup occurred on the Chicago & Alton tracks one-half mile east of Heim's brewery. Liggett was taken to St. Joseph's hospital for medical aid. His condition is considered serious.Labels: crime, flood, Guinotte avenue, railroad, violence June 13, 1908 CARRIED HIM HALF A MILE.
Wounded Lad Taken to Place of Safety by Herculean Comrade.
Sheriff J. S. Steed of Johnson county, Kas., brought to this city last night for treatment O. C. Oberman, 18 years old, who had been shot at Corliss, Kas., yesterday morning. With him is Mike Stanislauski, 23 years old.
The youths left Topeka yesterday, and when they reached Corliss, Kas., it was raining. They were on foot and, as the depot there was unoccupied, they raised a window and entered.
"We had been in there but a few minutes," said Oberman, "when a young man whom I later learned was the son of a local merchant, came to the depot and ordered us out. He drew a revolver and struck me over the forehead. With the blood streaming down my face we made haste to get out. We had not gone ten feet, when he began to shoot at us, and the bullet went through my right knee."
Oberman said that Stanislauski carried him over a half mile through water up to his knees to where the ground was dry. Stanislauski was afraid to leave Oberman in the town. While Stanislauski was seeking aid a work train came along and the crew picked up the wounded boy and took him to Wilder, Kas., a station beyond where he had left Oberman.
While sitting on the station platform there debating what he would do Stanislauski said a constable came in a buggy two hours later and drove him to De Soto.
Sheriff Steed says he received word from the Santa Fe Company at Topeka to take the two men into custody. When he heard the story, however, he arrested the man who did the shooting and lodged him in jail in Olathe, Kas., the county seat. The sheriff said the man gave the name of Paul.
Oberman was taken to emergency hospital last night, where he was treated by Dr. J. Park Neal. Dr. Neal said that the wound was a serious one, as it involved the knee joint. This morning he will be removed to St. Joseph's hospital. He has an uncle in Detroit, Mich., who will be notified.Labels: doctors, emergency hospital, Olathe, railroad, Topeka, violence, visitors May 30, 1908 PEACENESS DIDN'T SAVE HIM.
And in Spite of Truthness Charles Sovern is Convicted.
It was but a few minutes after the attorney for Charles Sovern, who has been on trial in Judge E. E. Porterfield's court for the shooting of Frank W. Lander, had asked a witness: "Were Mr. and Mrs. Sovern in their store, or were they not?" then he asked this of another:
"What is Sovern's reputation for truthness, peaceness and quietness, good or bad, eh?"
That convulsed the courtroom and the jury, but when Assistant Prosecutor Bert S. Kimbrell came back with, "Have you any personal knowledge of his reputation for truthness, etc.," Judge Porterfield had to rap to bring the stenographer and clerk to order.
The jury gave Sovern three years in the penitentiary. The evidence was that he shot Lander over a business quarrel. Sovern owns a store at 4315 East Fifteenth street and Lander has one at 4317 the same street. Lander had the bullets picked out and recovered.Labels: courtroom, Fifteenth street, Judge Porterfield, violence 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 15, 1908 HE SAYS POLICE BEAT HIM WITHOUT CAUSE.
Another Charge of Brutality Against Central Station Officers -- Case May Be Investigated.
Geoge Horter, a laborer living at 408 Main street, was fined $500 in police court yesterday after Charles Winters, another laborer, had identified him as being one of two men who "strong armed" him at Third and Grand avenue about midnight and took $14 away from him.
Horter said he knew F. H. Ream of the Helping Hand who would testify to his good character. He also said that he could prove an alibi. Mr. Ream, who was in court, got the case continued until today when he expects to produce evidence that will clear Horter. Horter says he was knocked down by the police when arrested and was again slugged at the sergent's desk. Sensational testimony is expected to develop in the case. Horter had but $1.37 when arrested.
"I will prove that Horter was with W. F. Chappell, George Schaeffer and John Ward from 6 p. m. until seven minutes of 1 o'clock," said Mr. Ream. "Walter Corner, the day clerk at 408 Main, was with all of them from 11 p. m. until the latter time. The man who was robbed, while he positively identified Horter in court, I will prove was drunk when he had Horter arrested and and was unable to identify anybody. I will also prove that he said he was robbed by two negroes, not white men. He told the police that he lost $11, and in court said it was $14.
"I have known Horter since February 22. He is a quiet, inoffensive boy and has worked for several responsible families here, all of whom made good reports about him. Horter tells me that he was slugged twice by the police -- for what I don't know. He said he was knocked down by a patrolman when arrested. He knows that policeman's name. He also says he was knocked nearly unconscious at the sergeant's desk. He does not know the officer's name, but will point him out if he is in court. If the officer is not I intend to find out who slugged this boy and for what. That will not be an end to the matter, either."Labels: Central station, Helping Hand, laborer, police, violence May 13, 1908 BROKE HER HAND ON HIS FACE.
Mrs. Ridings Resented an Insult to Her 9-Year-Old Child.
Robert Eades, a laborer for the Holmes Construction Company, was fined $50 in police court yesterday for insulting 9-year-old Ethel Ridings in front of a rooming house at 9 West Fifth street Monday night. Mrs. Clara Ridings, the little girl's mother, appeared in court with her right hand in a sling.
"When Ethel told me what he had done," she said, "I slugged him one, so hard that I broke my hand. I didn't mind that, for I certainly socked him a good one."
Eades's face showed the result of Mrs. Riding's blow. His cheek was dislocated where she landed. He was arrested soon after. Eades denied that he had said anything to the child.Labels: children, laborer, police court, violence May 10, 1908 WAS SLASHED BY A RUFFIAN.
Rufus Ramey Was Defending His Wife From Insult.
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Ramey of 345 Minnesota avenue, Kansas City, Kas., accompanied by another man and his wife, were returning from a call at Missouri avenue and Holmes street last night at 12:15 o'clock when two men stopped the two women, who were walking behind their husbands. One of the two men insulted Mrs. Ramey and Mr. Ramey started to resent the insult. The assailant drew a knife and slashed Ramey across the left cheek from the cheek bone down through the upper lip. Ramey walked to the emergency hospital, where Dr. Ford B. Rogers dressed the wound. The assailant escaped.Labels: emergency hospital, Holmes street, Kansas City Kas, Minnesota avenue, Missouri avenue, violence May 2, 1908
RICHARDS CASE LAWYERS SCRAP.
INSINUATIONS OF BLACKMAIL LEAD TO LUSTY BLOWS.
HARDING AND M'CARDLE MIX.
ALDERMAN IN THE CASE ISSUES A PUBLIC STATEMENT.
He Says There Was Kissing of an Innocent Kind -- "Cheeks" and Others Are Going to Testify. Growing out of the use of the word "blackmail" yesterday in the taking of depositions in the Richards-Humes $100,000 alienation of affections case, Attorney Battle McCardle resented the method of examination adopted by Attorney John T. Harding, and a personal encounter ensued. Mr. Harding struick Mr. McCardle and was himself about to be struck when others interfered. McCardle was pulled into another room and Harding forced back to his desk.
Notary Crum summarily adjourned the hearing until 10 o'clock this morning, when E. J. Richards is to go on the stand in the law offices of Brown, Harding & Brown, to be cross-examined by Attorney Harding, for Humes, and later to be cross-examined by his own lawyer, McCardle. The "blackmail" question, which caused hostilities yesterday, will be put again, but this time it will not be resented. McCardle, discussing the affair yesterday afternoon, said, "It is a privileged question and, if it is put exceptions will not again be taken to it. Tempers which were lost can remain lost so far as I am concerned."
The evidence given yesterday was prosaic, for the reason that it was cut short by the fisticuffs. The cross-examination today will be, so it is predicted, most sensational . Even at that the attorney for the plaintiff has promised to omit all mention of the wives of some of the men who, with their husbands, belonged to the kissing ring, and at least one husband is to be left out of the controversy. ALDERMAN WILL TESTIFY.
The alderman in the coterie will be named, however, and his deposition is to be taken. This will be done under the new regime which was ushered in yesterday morning when Circuit Judge H. L. McCune appointed Senator A. D. Cooper, special commissioner, to hear evidence. Commissioner Cooper will begin his hearings about next Monday.
At the opening of the hearing yesterday, Richards was compelled to tell who it was tipped off to him that while the Beardsley administration had him making a speech at the Sexton hotel on the matter of clean streets, Humes was visiting the Richards flat. H e said it was a detective, but could not remember from what agency nor what the detective's name was.
"Beside the Indian game, you did a Napoleon stunt out at Mr. Humes's house, did you not?" Attorney Harding inquired.
"I did," was the answer, "but that was all of it." The attorney did not ask for particulars, and Richards did not volunteer them, more than to say after the hearing: "They said I looked like Napoleon, and I used to pull my hair down like that.
PERHAPS IT WAS INNOCENT.
"Your fun was all innocent when you and these others met?" was asked.
"Perhaps."
"Do you not know that it was all innocent?"
"I do not know that it was. Probably part of it was."
"You were perfectly innocent in your kissing part of it?"
"I certainly was," Richards answered.
Taking a new tack, Attorney Harding asked Richards if he knew that two weeks ago yesterday his own attorney, Mr. McCardle, had been out to the interrogator's house and had suggested a settlement before going to court, and that Humes had refused to offer a cent to forestall the suit. Attorney McCardle instructed Richards to refuse to answer, and in that way half a dozen questions were not replied to.
"I would like you to keep out of this, Mr. McCardle," said Mr. Harding. "When I want you to testify I will take your deposition."
NOT TO BE BLUFFED.
"And you will get it all right. You cannot bluff me. I told you in your house what sort of man I am. No one in the world can bluff me, John."
Notary McCrum had left the room and a messenger was sent for him. In his absence Attorney Harding asked Witness Richards:
"Did not you or your representative come to my house and threaten to expose Humes and Mrs. Humes and their friends and their friends' wives unless there was a settlement reached?"
"Refuse to answer," again was the prompting.
"Did not Mr. Humes and myself say it was blackmail and --"
The row interrupted the delivery of this question. Attorney McCardle recalled the private mission to Attorney Harding's house, spoke of Mr. Harding having charged him with being privy to sharp practice but afterwards calling him up by telephone and apologizing for saying anything so offensive in his own house. The lie passed, the two attorneys rose to their feet simultaneously and struck at each other across the table. Someone seized Harding by the arms, and meantime others got between the two lawyers and prevented a continuance.
THE ALDERMAN'S SIDE.
Alderman E. E. Morris issued the following statement yesterday:
"Believing that my standing with the people of Kansas City is such that a statement from me, regarding this unfortunate matter, will be received with full credit and that it will help to do justice to innocent persons, I am pleased to say that I have known Mr. Humes for many years and am glad indeed to claim him as my friend; I have always found him to be an honorable, upright gentleman wholly incapable of any of the things with which he is charged. I have known Mr. and Mrs. Richards for about a year and, since becoming acquainted with them, have met them at the Humes home perhaps five or six times. On most of these occasions six or seven couples were present and participated in the entertainment and hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Humes. Should the case ever come to trial it will be shown that these participants were clean, decent, moral representative citizens against whose characters not one truthful word can be said.
"It is true that the parties were jolly ones but they were not in any sense rounds of Bacchanalian revelry. It is true that as a rule the refreshments did usually include a mild homemade cocktail or similar drink and, incidentally, what home entertainment in Kansas City does not frequently contain the same features? I believe that all the men, and possibly a part of the ladies, partook of these refreshments. There was never the slightest evidence on the part of any one that they were intoxicated.
"True, there were a few kisses exchanged but they were in games and amid the laughter and good natured raillery of all those present. There was not at any time, or any place, any clandestine exercises of this kind except those attempted once or twice by Richards and for which he was most beautifully 'called.' There was not any kissing at all at the party given at my house except that I believe I "dared" my wife to kiss "Dot" Richards as he came into our flat. The conduct of everyone at all times was above reproach with the single exception of Richards himself. He attempted liberties and stories which do not belong in the curriculum of a gentleman and, indeed, on one occasion had to be forcibly restrained by a gentleman present. His boorishness and complete ignorance of the ethics of the gentleman finally became unbearable and resulted in breaking up a jolly crowd of thoroughly good people. Against this crowd can truthfully be said but one thing and that is that they admitted a cad among them."
Richards replies to the charge that he is seeking to involve many in order to coerce Humes by protesting that he is screening some. During the cross-examination today he will be asked to go more fully into some replies he made on direct examination.
Next week, however, his attorney will put on the stand Humes, Alderman Morris and possibly others.Labels: alcohol, attorney, courtroom, violence May 1, 1908 NO CASE AGAINST HARPOLE.
Negro Did Not Shoot Three White Men -- Is Discharged.
Judge U. S. Guyer of the North city court, Kansas City, Kas., yesterday discharged Reuben Harpole, being tried for the shooting of Joshua Wells, Charles Johns and M. U. Martinson at Fifth street and Oakland avenue on the night of April 10. He said there was not enough evidence against the negro to convict him. The state's attorney expressed himself as satisfied with teh decision.
The three men named had been drinking according to their own statements made to the chief of police, and had quarreled with a party of negroes about a couple of small girls. A negro bystander then drew a revolver and commenced firing. Martinson, who was shot first, drew his revolver, but it would not work and he tossed it over an adjacent signboard into a vacant lot. Harpole was arrested a few days later and identified by the two girls as the man wanted for the shooting.
Joshua Wells is now in Bethany hospital, where he underwent an operation for the removal of a bullet, which is said to have lodged in the vicinity of the right lung. He will die.Labels: alcohol, hospitals, Judges, Kansas City Kas, race, violence April 26, 1908 TRIED TO TEAR HER FROM HUSBAND'S SIDE.
WHEN NACHMAN OBJECTED MILES BROKE HIS NOSE.
Wife Swears Out Warrant for For- mer Husband or Ex-Sweetheart, But Says Her Louis Fell Out of an Auto.
"I do wish that someone would send me a four-leaf clover or that Louis could find a horseshoe about town somewhere," pleaded Mrs. Louis M. Nachman last evening. "But he won't be able to go out and look for horseshoes for some time now, his nose being broken, and I can't leave his bedside."
Some of the Nachmans' bad luc is known and some of it remains a mystery. It is admitted that they were wed by Justice of the Peace J. J. Shepard at 8:40 on the evening of Decemer 14, 1907, after a week's courtship, and three days later the groom was rudely jerked away to the county jail and locked up until he could explain a charge of forging his father's name to a check to pay the honeymoon hotel bill. He explained it to the satisfaction of Herman Nachman, his father, and the prosecuting attorney, and was released. Al went smooth with the couple until 10:35 yesterday morning when, at Thirteenth and Central streets, the bridegroom met with either an accident or a coincidence.
It was a coincidence in the form of Edward C. Miles, former husband or jilted sweetheart of the bride, who used to be Mrs. Grace Miles, according to the story she told Assistant County Prosecutor Bert S. Kimbrell yesterday afternoon. Miles, she said, tried to take her away from her husband and when her husband protested, Miles swung at him with his right and upper cut with his left. Nachman fell upon the sidewalk and she clung to the body to avoid being kidnapped.
When Mrs. Nachman was questioned about the trouble at the house, 320 West Thirteenth street, half an hour later, she said, "It was a most unfortunate accident and so clumsy of Louis to trip w hen stepping out of our automobile. But he is not seriously hurt. He'll be out and around in a week or so."
She was reminded of the complaint against Miles she had sworn to, and replied with a soft accent of her eyebrows:
"Oh, did I do that? Well, anyhow, please write it up as an automobile accident."Labels: automobiles, Judges, marriage, Thirteenth street, violence, women April 23, 1908 WANT PASTOR IN THEIR JAIL.
Fitt's Congregation Ask That He Be Incarcerated at Home.
Now that Judge W. H. Wallace has commuted the sentence of the Rev. Joseph Fitts from two years in the penitentiary to one year in jail, members of his church, the Macedonian Baptist of Independence, are asking that he be incarcerated in the Independence jail, rather than the county jail at Kansas City. They want to have him near so that they can call with dainty food and sympathy.
Fits, despite his conviction on the charge of attempting to assault a 14-year-old girl who belonged to his congregation, is still a favorite with his negro flock, and probably will resume his duties as pastor when he leaves the jail.Labels: children, churches, jail, Judge Wallace, ministers, violence April 22, 1908 HORSEWHIPPINGS COME HIGH.
One Cost Farmer Klapmeyer $7,000 in Independence Yesterday.
Benjamin D. Kerr was awarded $4,000 actual and $3,000 punitive damages against James M. Klapmeyer, a wealthy farmer living near Little Santa Fe, in the circuit court at Independence yesterday, on account of a horsewhipping.
The testimony showed that the defendant met Kerr near the residence of William Short, another farmer. Klapmeyer stopped Kerr and they engaged in a conversation about trouble with another man. Klapmeyer admitted striking Kerr with a whip but stated that the matter was settled between them before any real injury was inflicted. Kerr alleged that the cracker of the whip struck him in the eye, injuring it.Labels: circuit court, farmers, Independence, Lawsuit, violence April 22, 1908 NEGRO POLICEMAN NOT GUILTY.
County Attorney Taggart Dismisses Case of Press Younger.
County Attorney Joseph Taggart in the north city court yesterday noon dismissed the case of Press Younger, a negro policeman, who was accused of shooting three ex-street car men at Fifth street and Oakland avenue in Kansas City, Kas. M. E. Martinson, one of the men shot, said on the witness stand that he knew Younger well and that it was not he who did the shooting. Following this the accused officer proved an alibi.
The day before the arrest of Younger by the county authorities, the police arrested Reuben Harpole, another negro, on the same charge. Later, two little negro girls who saw the affair and are said to have been the cause of the shooting, positively identified Harpole as the one guilty of the shooting. His preliminary trial has been set for April 29.
It is held by the police that Joshua Wells, Charles Johns and M. E. Martinson had been drinking on the night of April 10 and met the two negro girls, to whom they made some insulting advances. Negro bystanders joined in the row and blows followed. Both parties drew revolvers. Martinson received a slight wound on the right leg, but Wells and Johns were shot through the breast and are still in critical condition at Bethany hospital.Labels: County Attorney Taggart, courtroom, hospitals, Kansas City Kas, police, violence April 20, 1908 ARRESTED FOR "GUN PLAY."
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