Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-12-20
A Prominent Citizen Of Pratt,
Kan, Arrested For Bank
Robbery.

PRATT. Kan, Dec, 18.-May II the Pratt
County National Bank was robbed at high
noon, while the assistant cashier and other
officers were at dinner and during five
minutes absence of Cashier l. E. Page at
the post-office, the amount stolen being
$4,000. A pane of glass was broken and q
back window raised, through which the
thief was supposed to have entered. The
vault doors were shut and locked, but were
readily opened. The robbery remained a
mystery to all but the detectives until
yesterday, when F. w. Scott, local man
ager of the Kimball Lumber Company and
vice-president of the bank, was arrested
charged with the crime. The complaint
was sworn to by TIE. Simpson, president
of the bank, and Scott was taken before q
justice for preliminary hearing, but the
day, which was granted, the prisoner
giving bond for his appearance.
The arrest created the most intense ex-
citement, as Scott had been here ever
since the town was started and had been
the manager of the largest business firms
and interested financially in every public
enterprise and had owned considerable
real estate and enjoyed unbounded con-
fidence. The people generally believe that
he is innocent and openly declare it, but
William Whitelaw, of Hutchinson, attor-
ney for the bank, said, "We have q strong
case"
Last night George W. Reed and William
Mooto were arrested on warrants charging
them with having set fire to the building
in which the flames originated that caused
the destruction Of six business houses last
Thursday morning. Reed is out on bail
and Mooto is in Jail in default.
HIGH TIMES IN JAIL
ST.. JOSEPH, Mo-, Dec. 18.-Sunday
morning paper here published statement
drawn up by the county jail inmates that
the new sheriff had curtailed their rations
and was taking away their liberties in
breaking up the kangaroo courts GRIM
inal association. This court suspected
James Funk Of peaching and Sun
day night before being locked up for the
night concluded to punish him. Two
prisoners were appointed to administer
the castigation and so thoroughly did they
do the work that when Funk's cries Of
murder had drawn the turnkey to the Jail
door he was found hanging to the grating
almost lifeless, his head and face beaten
into a jelly. In the investigation which
followed IL was discovered tnet nOie nao
been made in the wall which separated the
male and female departments and that
the two sexes were in the habit of inter-
mingiing. When the cells were searched
the officers found beneath the heads Of
several beds two razors, three knives and
eight or ten iron bars weighing two or
three pounds each. Funk's wife was in
the jail at the time
CROOK IDEETIFIED.
DENVER, Col, Dec. 1a-. Metz, one Of
the men who made an unsuccessful at
tempt to rob the Peoples Savings and
Deposit Bank here last Thursday and was
arrested, has been identified by Robert
Pinksrton as Horace Haven, alias
Little Horace" one Of the most notori-
Gus bank thieves of America. Ravens
accomplish, who escaped, is known to
be Walter Sheridan, alias Ralston, alias
Keene, and known in Colorado as Walter
A. Stewart, another notorious bank rob-
Der. Stewart came to Denver about fifteen
years ago with nearly $400. 900 and became
director of one Of the Denver National
banks. He lost his money by fast living
and speculation and left the State In 1875,
after having swindled several houses out
It eonsiderable money.