The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-15
IN OLD MISSOURI.
A Highway Robbery Perpetra-
ted Near Topeka
As Bold as If it We're James
Boys State.
J. L. HOWARD HELD UP
BY Three HOrSemen Who Pre-
Sented ReVOlverS
And Took Fifty-six Dollars
Away From Him.

ern avenue, in Bennett flats, was held up
and robbed by three highwaymen near
the county poor farm three miles north
of the city shortly after 6 o'clock last
evening.
Mr. Howard was returning from a
business trip to Meriden and had just
turned south, west of the county poor
farm when he was halted in the middle
of the road between two high hedge
fences and relieved of his pocketbook,
containing $50, all the money he had
with him.
Mr. Howard drove Immediately to To-
peka and went to police headquarters
and notified Chief WIkerson of the rob
berry.
Chief Wilkerson got in the buggy with
him and they drove to the scene of the
hold-up but could discover no trace of
the highwaymen.
Chief Wilkerson says he inquired at
all the houses in the neighborhood, but
no ono had seen anything of any men on
horseback, although one farmer said he
had heard solno one whistling down 10
the road a little after &, about the time
bir Howard said he was robbed.
The police pretend to believe Mr.
| Howard's story a fabrication, and think
believe stories about men being robbed,
unless they catch the thieves. This par
ticular robbery is outside their jurisdic-
ton, however.
Mr.. Howard tells a straight story, and
the story he gave to a STATE JOURNAL
reporter today is exactly the same in all
particulars, AS the statement he made to
/ Chief Wilkersou last night.
Mr.. Howards story is entitled to Gre
! ba xx-otld hayo M OhioC4 il toll.
ing a story of this kind unless it actually
| occurred. It may be that this was the
work of some farmer boys.
Mr.. Howard is a very heshy man with
4 a small moustache, a bald head and a leg
which has been broken in three places.
He weighs about three hundred pounds
and is a veritable Falstaf. In telling the
story of his last nights experience
to a STATE JOURNAL reporter he said: 81
went to Meriden Yesterday to see about
buying or leasing the hotel at that place.
| used to be in the hotel business, and
some travelling men who are friends of
mine have been urging me to go to
Msriden and run hotel.
81 left Merideu to come home about
o'clock, and as / did not know the way
l followed the telephone poles 1t must
have been almost half-past six and was
getting quite dark, as l was driy-
road when l noticed three men on horse
back coming towards me. They were
riding abreast, but as l was in q buggy
1 kept the middle of the road. One of
the men turned to the left aud two
turned to the right l supposed they
were going TO pass until one of the two
who turned to the right grabbed my
horse by the lines and all three pointed
revolvers at me and ordered me to hold
up my hands.
~Of course under such circumstances
nv hands went up. The man who held
nv horse by the head Kept his revolver
pointed at me and the other two rode up
one on either side of my buggy and dis
mounted. The man on the right side
reached over and pulled my overcoat
open. II was only fastened with two
buttons. He then slapped his hands on
my breast feeling for my pocket book
and then ran his hand in my trousers
pocket and pulled out my
horses and one of them said:
Now you get some more or earn some
more don't know just which. and they
ordered me to drive ahead while they
passed behind me. l saw O house ahead
of me on the hill and l started for it, bnt
when l got there the folks were away
from home and l made up my mind the
town and notify the police which | did
just as soon as l could and then
went back with Chief Wilkerson tc
where | was held up.
1T was so near dark that am unable
to give much of description of the men
except that they rode horses about the
size of mine, which is a small horse and
weighs about 900 pounds. They all wore
slouch hats and the one who wen
through me, had on black hat with q
broad rim and the rim hung down behind
They had their coats buttoned up tighl
about them and while they did not wear
heavy boards, it may be that they wore
short boards and mustaches; l really
J can't tell, though.
II have no idea who the men were, OF
where they came from, and they could
hardly have been from Meriden or, q
least, have followed me from that place
as no one there knew l had anv money
with me. l did not have my pocket book
out of my pocket all day. When l go
in my buggy to start home handed the
man at the stable a quarter TO paw fol
feeding my horse and he gave me back
a nickle, and that was all the money
showed in Meriden. Tht
money in my pocket was in five and Ter
! dollar bills and silver. There were twt
ten dollar bills, four tives and the res
was in silver, about $50 in all. This il
the first time I ever had any none,
stolen from me that I know of. although
l once lost two five dollar bills, and al
ways thought q fellow stole them. Th,
money I lost last night was money
had collected on little accounts
, coming TO me from my business when
was handling horses and buggies at thi