Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-06-06
GOOD LORD, THIS FROM TOPEKA,
In That ODDLY City Policeman is Found
Drunk in a CiutterI

In That ODDLY City Policeman Is Found
| Drunk in a GutterI
| Topeka, Kan, June 4.-The Capital
| says today: The mysterious disappear
ance of Patrolman John Lowe from his
beat on Kansas avenue, between Sixth
and Ninth streets, Saturday night az.
! ter IL o'clock, was briefly noted in Sun
| day mornings Capital. At the time OF
| going to press the officers whereabouts
was still unknown, but fears of foul
| paly were allayed by we'll authenti.
Gated report that he had last been seen
in state of beastly intoxicatlon, and
as this was not the first instance on
record in which he had toyed with the
.buzz-saw 1t was expected that he would
show up sooner or later but little worse
for wear.
This confidence was not misplaced
Patrolman Lowe was found along
about or 1880 a. M, In the alley be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets in a con
ditlon certainly not becoming an officer
and at a. M, his star, his billy" his
gun and pair Of nippers, that formed
his equipment were in the hands of a
jolly crowd of young men who were on
their way home after spending the
night at party in South Topeka and
were by the possessors brought to the
Capital Office and exhibited while the
story of the capture was related In de-
tail by the participants, who gave their
names without reserve and expressed
their intention of turning the plumber
over to the police authorities at the
earliest opportunity.
According to the information receiv-
ed by the Capital, and which Is believ-
ed to be correct, Patrolman Lowe was
during the evening invited to drink
beer with cornwall party in the alley
between Sixth and Seventh, and Kan
sas avenue and Jackson. One person
alleges that he drank not over dozen
glasses, which certainly ought not to
floor aman accustomed to beer. Lowe
is alleged to have made the remark:
I'm one of the boys, but for Gods
sake don't given me away or I'll lose
my job"
From this time on vague reports were
received of the officers progress up the
alley. He is said to have met with
some gay young sports on their was
home and to have said to them:
you're out rather late, amt your"
They replied: mo, it's not very late.
We've been out having time"
To this the officer Is reported as hav-
ing responded: well, by Cd, you'd
better be getting in, or I'll put you
where you won't have no time"
About a. M, the young men came
up the avenue from South Topeka and
stopped at a we'll on Tenth street for
drink. One of them started from there
west on Tenth street and at the alley
discovered Lowe lying on the ground
close to telephone pole. He tried to
rouse the officer, when, he says, the
latter made a movement as II to draw
his gun. The young man says he then
returned to his companions and told
them Of his discovery and together
they went to see what was the matter.
The following is their relation Of the
matter:
Two of them aroused the patrolman
and tried to straighten him up in sit
ting position, but he again made a
movement toward his gun but fell back
again in reclining position. Fearing
he would do some harm he was over
and his arms held while his
star, gun, club and nippers were taken
away. A crowd had gathered by this
time and some outsiders, not belong
ing to the South Topeka party, began
to heap indignities on the fallen officer,
striking, slapping and kicking him.
This was promptly stopped and about
that time Sergeant Ellison and PATROL
man Wellman arrived and took charge,
when the boys left and came down the
avenue, stopping at the Capital office.
Mr.. George Burghart, who was arrest
ed yesterday in connection with the
affair." was not member Of the party
that had the policeman's paraphernalia
nor were other parties for whom war
rants have been issued.
1t appears to be the design Of the
police force to give out the impression
that Mr.. Lowe was ''doped" and that
his misfortune was the result of a well
aid scheme of parties who had 1t in
For him. The facts as obtained while |
they were yet warm and before the po-
ice were onto them do not bear out |
This theory. Nor is there anything to
Indicate that Mr.. Lowe was assaulted |
by anyone. His injuries probably re-
suited from a fall on the stone pave
nent of the alley. In the three hours
in a journey of three blocks
ne might have had several falls or col
lsions with telegraph poles.
Mr.. Lowe Is fortunate in having repu-
able hackers and he will receive the
benefit of every doubt. Other patrol |
men, in every way his equal, have been |
ired for less than one-tenth the cause |
presented in his case. The long and |
short of 1t Is that 1t was a case of plain |
trunk and it is not an isolated one on |
he record of the Metropolitan police |
'Orce
The commissioners yesterday suspen- |
led Lowe for thirty days, and his re-
nstatement at the end Of that time 10 |
by no means certain.