The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-22
SENSATIONAL ARREST
Geo. Hanley a Prominent Topeka
Man Arrested for Burglary.
Nebel & johnson Claim He Stole
From Them.
SAY THEY CAUGHT HIM
Assert They Saw Him Taking
Money from Their Store.
Mr.. Hanley Denies 1t and Says
ills Blackmail.
Is Put in Jail but Released
On Bond.
Nobel g. johnson Claim He Stole
From Them.
SAY THEY CAUGHT HIM

George Hanley, for years one of the
most prominent, prosperous and respect
ed merchants of Topeka, was arrested
this morning, charged with burglary, and
locked behind the prison bars at the city
Jail.
The arrest was made on the complaint
of the members of the Johnson-Nebel
Candy company, at TO Kansas avenue,
where the burglary is alleged to have
been committed.
Officer Cunningham was called into
the store about half past eight o'clock
and found Mr.. Hanley in the custody of
the two members of the firm. He took
him to the station and he was locked be-
hind the bars for the space of half an
hour when he was turned over to the
state and gave bond in Justice Furry's
court in the sum of $500 and in the name
of his wife, Carrie Z. Hanley, and was
released
The preliminary examination has been
set for Thursday, the 28th, at nine o'clock
and E. A. Wagener is the attorney for the
defense.
The story as told to JOURNAL reporter
by John v Nebel of the firm. is as fol-
lows:
'We have been missing things for
nearly two months, cakes, etc, and could
never detect any one about the store in
taking them, so we concluded someb body
must be getting in during the night
FINALLY the screen to a back window
was torn out and the window pried up,
and on that night we missed more
things.
I'VE resolved to watch, and on last Sat
nfday night MIR. johnson and l sat up all
night, but we're disappointed. Sunday
night and Tuesday night the store was
entered again.
"Last night we watched again, sitting
up by the fire listening.
About six o'clock this morning we
heard someone enter the back part of
the building and we slipped behind the
curtains that hang over the ends of a
wall case that stands out two or three
feet. Mr.. johnson went to one end and
to the other.
"Mr. Hanley entered from the rear,
and going to the show cases helped him
self to cake, and then went to the
money drawer. He had it open and was
on his knees before it when Johns on
and | came from our hiding places and
advanced on him He was frightened,
but an attempt at escape was useless, and
he knew it.
johnson told him he had gone fal
enough, and asked him what he meant
He made no explanation whatever, but
admitted to me afterward that he had
stolen things from the store several times.
HE and his wife live above the store,
and he wanted to go up and dress him
self before he went to the jail, and |
went with him. He had no collar nor
necktie when we found him.
"l cannot ina Uina Uh at raaa0n ho oouId
have for stealing from any one. He
seemed to be we'll fixed, and though we
had bought the place of him, and the
building belongs to him, our business re-
lations have always been Of the most
pleasant kind
while l was talking to him he tried
in roundabout way to induce me to
make him an offer for his freedom. so
he could set up a claim of blackmai]
against US, but we did not do it"
Mr. Hanley was at the office of his at
torney, E. A Wagener, when a JOURNAL
reporter found him.
He seemed rather paler than usual
but was perfectly self possessed anc
hardly angry.
1T is simply case of blackmail," he
said sand this is the entire story"
both of these men used to work for
me. Last July 1 sold the bust
ness to them for $4,000 They paid me
$lOO IN cash and were to pay me $50 E
month for the first year and Si0O 5
month thereafter until it was all paid r.
aodltlon to that they were to rent the
store room at 90 per month. Thew hav.
paid all of the eight installments of S5C
due since then but are $11S behind with
their rent.
Il guess ther have not been doing ,
very good business and could NOT sat
their way to pay the other S3.5OO anC
they hit upon this scheme to get posses
sion for less money.
This morning, at my usual time O
rising, came down the back stairs +,
empty pail johnson and Newell wer,
inside and asked me to stem in. q
course, suspected no danger and wen
Johnson was the Spokesman and afte
got IN made me proposition to releas
the chatte1 mortgage on the goods -
they would have me arrestad for orIS b,, = :.
giary. stoutly refused and thav d;J a.. =
they said they would. 4'~- 9
am satisfied that If had aoreed +
tnelr proposition and turned the NO.,
gage over'to them would never hav
been arrested. H0F
1ney have nothing to fear bacanS
Fhey know have no redress The 1us p.1,
nothing | own the stock as it is. y --'-'
i have lived in Topeka good mo-,
years and this is the first time 80 49,,
ever been in any trouble like this. / be