The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-25
NOT A SWEET REVENGE.
Tho Reporter Wanted to Get Even
with the Chief

"What! Another suburban bur
glaryn' exclaimed the city editor, as l
handed in a half-column scoop" ono
night at midnight.
Eyes, and the police have no clew."
"How many does this malze?'
ssThis is the seventh in three weeks,
and no arrests"
"Have you given the police fits?"
Eyes | have stated tAat the det.ec-
tives have utterly failed to get on-chsef
of police seems to be perfectly helpless
citizens talk of a vigilance committee
gang of criminals running the city,
and the mayor had better bounce the
police force and then step down and out
himself"
Good! The old man will back US on
the editorial page, and the Star will
send to New York for a couple Of first
class detectives and have the honor Of
breaking up this gang. Keep mum,
but hustle. It's our golden opporru-
nifty"
Seven residences in the eastern addi-
ton had been burglarized, one after
another, and all doubtless by the same
gang. and yet the detectives had utterly
failed to get d lead. Jewelry, money
and silverware had been taken in each
case, but nothing could be traced or
recovered In two instances an intruder
had been seen and his description fur
nished, but the police had arrested
score of suspects" only to turn them
loose again. After the first three cases
had been instructed to turn loose" On
the police, and / had followed instruc-
tions so vigorously as to endanger every
official head.
After my article about the seventh
burglary appeared, backed as it was by
an editorial headed "Our Incompetent
Police" | was virtually outlawed at
Headquarters. I was leaving the build
ing after receiving a volley of abuse
from the chief when messenger boy
handed me a note. This was at eight
o'clock in the evening of a September
night. The note was addressed to Die
bv name and stated that | could secure
some very interesting particulars re-
garding the recent burglaries by calling
at a certain house on Harrison avenue.
That was one of the streets in the
eastern addition, and all the burglaries
had taken place within radius of half
a mile of the house named. l did not
stop to wonder who lived there nor to
ponder over the contents of the note.
which was signed Zone Who Is Posted"
There was "a scoop in it and chance
to get the better of the chief again, and
! called a cab and drove directly to the
number given.
found the house to be a rather an
cient two-story frame situated between
two brown-stone fronts. You will find
, the same thing on a dozen streets in
New York, Boston. Philadelphia or Chi
cago. The property belongs to an es-
tate or to some one who is obstinate or
Indifferent to the march of improve
ment. The door was opened by col
ored woman, who seated me in a very
plainly furnished parlor and then dis
appeared. In about five minutes she
returned and asked me to walk up
/ stairs, and on reaching the second floor
she opened the door OF back room and
ushered me in. There were two occu-
pants, both men. One was lying on
! bed, coat and shoes of and a fan in his
, hand, and the other sat reading a news
| paper at q center table. There was a
. sort OF free-and-easy look to things
which struck me queerly- l had ex-
pected TO meet gentleman in his own
parlor-one of the victims OF the series
of robberies, no doubt-while these men
: l.. l.,
I of whisky and 4 pack of cards Were in
sight on the cheap-looking table.
won't admit that | felt like withdraw
ing before word had been spoken, for
duty calls reporter into queer places
and experience brings Indifference. but
/ reafirm that had a half-defned sus-
. picion that things were not exactly
straight.
"Ah. you are Mr.. Blank. Of the Star"
said the one at the table as he rose UP
and extended his hand. Permit me 20
introduce myself rs Mr.. Green. This
gentleman is my friend, Mr.. Scott.
Glad to see you, Mr.. Blank. Take this
chair. Rather warm this evening. Have
smoke or a drink"
took cigar which re offered me
from box lying on the foot Of the bed,
and after it was well a-light referred
to the note and added that | would be
glad of any information they could
give.
Lets see replied the one al the ia
bic. There has beer series OF bur
glaries in this subrrb?n
Yes"
Seven in alp
Yes
Ard up TO this tine the police have
failed 70 make an arrest?~
jus. So"
You are the reporter who has writ
ten up each account, I believer
Il am"
"v-- Va. f4ar. e~i.iais~H .h /, Ill.