The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-03
MAY HAVE THE MEN.
Sheriff Burdge Secures the Arrest
of Several Colored Men
SUPPOSED TO BE IMPLICATED
In the Murder of MRS. "A. u. Matson-
Two Watches That nny Figure in
the Conviction

In the Murder of MRS. "A. u. Matson-
Two Watches That May Figure in
the Conviction.
Three men who are believed to be i'm
plicated with Frank Novels in the MUIR
der of Mrs. A D. Matson. have been ar
rested by the sheriff and his deputies.
The men are ''Abe" Curtis, a colored
waiter at the Copeland hotel; Nathan
Wood. the colored cook of the Union
hotel, who is now in ST. Joe, and James
Buzzard a white young man who works
in the Rock Island eating house at Nc
Farland. The facts in connection with
the arrests were in possession of the
STATE JOURNAL yesterday but were with
held at the request of the sheriff, who
knows more about his business than he
does about the newspaper business.
The evidence against the arrested
men is strong except in the case of
Wood. who may not be held The de-
lection of Curtis is largely due to A Lyt-
ton, a second hand dealer at 112 east
Second street
Curtis entered his place on the Thurs
day before Christmas and wanted to buy
a suit of clothes. He said he had no
money, but he had valuable gold watch
he would be willing to leave as security
for the payment Lytton said he didn't
want the watch. The following Satur-
day Curtis returned to the store and
wanted the suit. "Look at the watch"
he said, you will find it is good one"
What followed Lytton described to
JOURNAL reporter, today:
81 looked at the watch and found it
was solid gold. Look here said, Cur
tbs, you stole this watch He said
he didn't, but that lis mother
gave it to him. He promised to redeem
it on the next pay day, January s. l
finally let him have the clothes and kept
the watch. In two or three days Curtis
returned with another colored man
whom he introduced as Nathan Wood.
He asked if still had the watch, and
replied that I had He begged me not
to tell anybody about the watch, and he
and Wood both promised to see that the
watch was redeemed.
"The idea struck me then that maybe
it was Mrs Matsons watch. I watched
Curtis and his actions were very suspi-
! cious. Several times he told me If any
! one inquiries about the watch of you, tell
! them you don't know anything about it,
l finally decided to lay the matter
before the police, and I called
on Chief Lindsey abont week
ago and told him l thought I had the
| key to the murder. l showed him the
Mrs. Matson's was a new one, while this
one was old-fashioned.
! Il went away and laid the case before
! Sheriff Burdge He thought was mis-
taken until we found several people who
| identified the watch. The Identification
is made by Mrs. Whitmore of Oakland,
! Miss Lowell and several other friends of
Mrs. Matson." Mr.. Lytton is anxious to
get share of the reward when the case
| has progressed further.
Curtis was arrested at the Copeland
yesterday morning. He did as the of
ficers hoped he would-talked much
He said the watch was given to him by
Jim Buzzard of Mcfarland. Deputy
| Sheriff Tom Wilkerson and doc" Ward
| went to Mcfarland at midnight last night
and arrested Buzzard. The other man
| Wood was arrested by the st. Joe author
tiles on the strength of telegram from
| Topeka, and John n. WiIkerson went
after him this afternoon. It was in order
that these arrests might not be defeated
that the STATE JOURNAL was dissuaded
from speaking of Curtis arrest last
night.
This morning Curtis and Buzzard
| we're taken into the same room at the
county jail and questioned by the sheriff
Curtis accused Buzzard to his face OF
| giving him the watch and Buzzard told
Curtis that he was a liar.
Buzzsrd is believed to be the "Jim'
whom Novels referred to in the let
ter found by the sheriff, In which be
said, "Whsn Jim comes we have scheme
to raise some money" The officers are
prepared to prove that Buzzard came tc
Topeka the day the murder was commit
ted
Another fact which goes to prove
Novels guilt is that he pawned a small
old fashioned silver watch for fifty cents
with B. Adams on the Saturday after the
murder.