The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-09
KEEPING It UP.
Col0red Purse Snatchers Con-
tinue to Plunder Women.
Mrs. Aliens PocketbOOk is
Snatched
ON FOURTH STREET.
Mrs. Austin's POcketbook Taken
From Under Her Cloak.
One Arrested Man Says There
Are Lots OF Thieves.

are escaping. Two colOred men stole
purses from two ladies' on the street in
the light of day yesterday, and that's the
last that has been heard of them. These
robberies were not made known to the
police until late in the day.
1t was "the same thing over again"
when colored thief grabbed Mrs. E. L
Aliens purse from her hand at the Santa
Fe tracks on East Fourth street, and ran
north towards the river, dodging in
among the cars and was soon out of
sight.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen came here from La
Junta, Colo, Sunday and located at 312
Locust street. Allen has been employed
in the Santa Fe shops.
Il saw this man before" said Mrs
Allen last evening. 81 think it was on
last Wednesday. l had been up town
making purchases, and l noticed him
about Monroe street as l was walking
down Fourth street. He walked ahead
of me nearly to the depot, and kept look
ing back. He had package in his hand,
which looked like meat, which shows that
he lives here. When he came to the
barber shop near Adams street he step
ped inside, and after l had passed. came
out again. l went North on Adams
street. and didn't look back, SO l don't
know whether he followed me or not.
carried my pocketbook in my hand in
plain sight that day. and that's where all
women make a great mistake. l had
about $50 with me that day, though to-
day he got but So.
Il had my purse in my hand under
my cape today when I was going up
town. at the tracks this colored fellow
met me. He had letter in his hand,
and asked me very politely for stamp,
saying he was away from home. He
did this to get me to take my hand from
under my cape. l opened the purse to
give him a stamp, when he snatehed the
purse and ran. There WAS no one around
but crippled Hebrew, and we thought
he got in a box car, but he was not
there when we searched. l told them
at the depot. but the money was gone,
and didn't think there Was any use to
try to catch the thief.
THE man was about 5 feet s inches
TAIL weighed about 1870 pounds, had a
moustache, was dressed neatly in dark
gray sack suit, black Fedora hat and
white linen. He was between black
and yellow in complexion. I should
know him again, no matter how he is
dressed.
The barber shop referred to is that of
J. N. Montgomery, 420 East Fourth
street. lie did not remember seeing
man of the description given when re-
porter called. He is colored.
No report was made to the police of
the stealing of Mrs. E. A. Austin's purse
by a colored robber on Quincy street
yesterday. While she was practicing on
a bicycle she laid her pocketbook under
her cloak near the sidewalk and d col
ored man took it and ran.
The robbery of Mrs. Allen occurred at
11:40 yesterday morning, Officer Well
man heard rumor of it at 2:30, at he
had seen Mrs Allen and telephoned the
description, together with the full
quarters, at o'clock the policemen on
their beats still knew nothing of the
robbery.
This is the way the notorious Bill
Wheeler, colored and 1S years of age,
who is in the county Jail for burglariz-
lug Lewis tailor shop and George Craw-
ford'S house, sizes up the situation in
Topeka. 90 course it's all right, they've
got me an amt a goin' to kick, but
there's just gangs O. men in this here
burg THAT'S stealin' all de time more dan
| ever did"
who are they?"
"Who are dey? don't need to tell
you who dey IS. If dey goes mp on de
avenue and rests any of dem toughs dat's
goin' aroun' the streets, dey'se Sc to
get some one guilty OF something. /
done pesched on my own gang. but dey
don't need the names ofde others. Dey's
swarm of dem fellers on the streets all
de time"
What Wheeler says is indeed alarm
ing. He has told the truth about the
burglaries to which he confessed, and
there is reason to believe he knows
what he is talking about
Every day brings startling evidences
OF host of crooks in the city. 1t is not
only one organized band of burglars, but
several gangs committing burglaries,
while bold hold ups and foot pads are
working individually and successfully.
II am convinced that the attempted
intimidation of Mrs. Barnes, the snatch
ing of Mrs. Ghaffee's purse and the two
robberies yesterday were not done by
the same person at all,'' says Chief Viii
kerson. each one has heard how the
other got away and thought he would do
the same thing"
Something will have to be done and
that quickly. According to the chiefs
own statement these robberies are being
committed and growing more frequent
and bold because escape has been SO
easy.
Let the police force get together and
keep each other informed of what is
going on. Let every man on his beat,
and off of it too. be told as soon after a
robbery as possible thats he may be
watching and searching for the robber
A word to the people. If you are rob-
bed, co not conceal the fact from the pc
lice because the amount was small, or
you don't want any notoriety. You may
be saving some person good sum of
money. or even his life, by reporting the