The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-01-15
RELEASE OF RoWDY JOE.
A Noted Character Allowed to
Evade a Kansas Sheriff, A Rather
Strange Proceeding

A Noted Character Allowed to
Evade a Kansas Sheriff, A Rather
Strange Proceeding.
For some time past the chief OF pc.
lice aud the detectives have not been
on the most friendly terms. There
were various causes for this. but the
matter was kept very quiet. and few
knew Of il, save those whose daily duty
brings them in contact with the police
department. Yesterday this trouble
rose To the surface, aud there is pros.
pect that in few days il will result in
something serious. The cause OF YES.
terday's rupture is a. follows;
On Saturday last II noted character
from Nevada named Joseph Low. ia.
military known by the elegant cog
nomen Of "Rowdy joe" was arrested
at the L.aclede hotel by Detective
Duckw orth, one OF the shrewdsst men
on the force. Low had been in the city
some time and was under the surveil-
lance Of the detectives, who knew his
reputation and suspected that his visit
was not for any good. They were not
aware that he was needed anywhere
else until the receipt of the following
telegram:
LEAvENwogTH. January md
Arrest and hold a. a. Becker for
breaking jail: about five feet ten inch
es; thirty years old; square shoulders
| heavy built very full face: black
moustache. eyes and hair: fresh scar
across the back of his neck. He is to
meet Kate Low tomorrow morning on
arrival of one of the trains from Kan
sas City. Kate left here at 3 D. m
Kate is slender built; light brown hair:
waterproof suit lined with red has
with her one large bulldog in express
car; also one small yellow lap dog !:
she will probably arrivs by Missouri
Pacific. A. A. Becker is an assumed
name: is stopping at the LacIede hotel
G. ii. HALLETT,
Deputy United States Marshal.
Two days afterward another dis
patch was received from VIM. Smith,
sheriff of Sedgwick comfy, Kansas,
asking if Low had been arrested, and
on January 5th, still another came, as
follows:
LEAvENwORTH, January 5th.
Is Low still in your custody! An
sNcT HulCh. Ill SD. VIII DE uOWn OH
the next train. WIN. SMITH, Sheriff.
And Yesterday morning, in answer
to the telegram announcing the arrest
Of Lowe, dispatch was received from
Smith, stating that he would be down
on the next train, and asking the Chief
to hold the prisoner until his arrilal.
When Low WAS arrested, the snug
sum of IS, 295 was found on him. He
passed under the assumed name of A.
A. Becker, and was having n gay time
with the boys.
Yesterday morning Mr.. r. S. Mac
Donald and Kate low. the prisoners
wife, called on Chief McDonough and
had conference, which resulted in the
chief sending note to Mr.. A. w.
Mead, the attorney of the board, ask
ing whether the money found III Lows
possession could be turned over to his
wife. Mr.. Mead answered that if he
was not arrested on charge which in
volved the money, such as larceny, ii
could be turned over on an order from
Low. The money was accordingly
given to Mrs. Low. The next step was
to secure Lows release before the ar
rival of tho sheriff, and Macdonald
inal correction and took advantage of
the ''grcat writ Of habeas corpus
In the petition 1t was claimed that
Low sis now unlawfullv and illegally
restrainc d of his liberty by one Capt.
James McDonough, chief OF police;
that no warrant or criminal process has
been issued against him; that he is
guilty of the violation ofany law of the
state; that he was arrested by order
of said McDonough, illegally, and is in
the custody and control of said Nc
Donough, and is held by said Melon
oagh in confinement againgt his will
and consent: that there are no papers
or process against him, and that his
imprisonment was unlawful and I'M
Just.
Judge Colvin ordered the writ issu-
ed, and it was immediately delivered
to the Chief, who made the following
return thereon:
Executed the within writ, by de-
livcring the within mentioned Joseph
Low to the St. Louis court ofcrimiisal
correction, this 9Th day of January,
1874. JAMES MCDoNoUGH.
Chief of Police"
Low was then taken before Judge
Colvin by Detective Duckworth and
Tracy. The Judge asked Duckworth
if that was all the return there was 10
be made and was answered that there
were some kilograms. The chief how
ever, was willing to have the man re-
leased, but the detectives wanted him
held until the sheriff arrived. Judge
Colvin said he could recognize only the
Chief, and told Duckworih 10 go and
ascertain if that was all the returns to
be made. Duck" soon returned with
a note TO the judge, saving that the
only authority he had for holding the
man was the above kilograms, which
he forwarded for the judges inspec-
ton aud ightenmcnt. Judge Col
vim was in a quandery after reading
them, and in very hasty manner told
the detective that he might have kept
the writ back twcnty-four hours if he
wanted to, and knew the sheriff was
coming for his prisoner ''Dnck" re-
piled that he did not answer the writ. !
Mr.. Mcdonald moved that the pris-
oner be discharged, which was accord
ingly done, and Low, with several
friends, rapidly disappeared from the
court, entered carriage and drove
swiftly away.
There were many comments on the /
ease made, and several parties were so
rash as to hint that some one in au-
thority received a portion of the small
change that Mrs. Low rcccived-a !
most prcpostcrous idea.
Low is said 10 have escaped from !
Jail. where he was confined on charge !
of murder.-.St. Louis Democrat.