The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-13
GOT THE WRONG MAN
BOW a MISTAKE IN GIVING a BILL
OF SALE CAUSED TROUBLE.

Trails His Property to Wichita and Lo
Gates the Wagon He has a Warrant Is
sued and the Owner of the Wagon Ar
rested The Accused shows that He Go
the Hay by the Direction of an Eas
Douglas Avenue Merchant-Ihe Mer
chant Produces His Bill of Sale.
Ed Fowler, the good natured, whole
soul farmer. who resides near Derby
came into County Attorney Davis of
fee yesterday with blood in his eye
and breathei vicious epithets at per
sons who viii sing psalms and theI
steal hay. He was more than hot, ht
was boiling over with rage.
County Attorney Davis was engaged
In an interesting divorce suit, and as
Mr.. Fowler was in a hurry, Assistant
County Attorney Blake made out the
papers for the arrest Of the man, who
Mr.. Fowler declared he had trailed
from his hay field to town. The war
rant was made out and together the
two went TO the office of Justice Wal
ker where the papers were made out
IN the name of john Doe.
Constable Macy accompanied Mr..
Fowler TO the place where stood the
wagon which had been trailed by the
owner Of the hay from the field. The
constable declared that there must be
some mistake, as the wagon belonged
20 L. L. Cafield, who was not only con-
sidered an upright man, but a Chris
tan as well, and he laid the facts be-
fore the affiiant Of the affidivit upon
which the warrant was issued.
81 don't care who he is. or what he
Is, that was the wagon which was in
my field, and took away five tons of my
hay"
The constable told him that prob
ably some one had borrowed the wagon,
but it was positive that Mr. Cafleld had
never stolen the hay.
There is no use talking TO me. The
man who took the hay, I learned from
neighbors who met him on the road,
was continuously singing church songs.
and one man said he was singing
Down at the Cross while he was down
in my hay field. We have a clear
case"
''All right" said the constable, but
know there is something wrong. and
Mr.. Cafield never took your hay"
The two went to the house and find
ing the man at home, the officer told
him Of his errand. and caused con-
stern alton with the family. who were
astonished that their father should
even be suspected Of stealing hay or
anything.
"Of course, Mr.. Cafield," said the
constable, there is some mistake some
where, but Mr.. Fowler says that your
wagon was in his hay field, and that he
was able TO trail 1t by the tire of the
wheel. He has lost five tons of hay.
Ny warrant calls for John Doe, but
will have to arrest you"
That is all right. can prove that
I got the hay down near eDrby, where
] was sent by George Whitney, the
groceryman on East Douglas avenue
! have nothing to hide, but 1 want you
men 10 go with me to the grocery
store"
Together the three men went to the
store. where they were greeted by Mir.
Whitney. who turned to Mr. Cafield
and said:
Come up to the desk. Have you
the weight of that hay you hauled for
me? IF you have will settle 1t was
first-class hay. and much better than
hoped it would be"
THAT is just why 1 am a prisoner"
said Cafield
"A what?" exclaimed the grocery
man.
Il am a prisoner, arrested under the
adopted name of all the scapegoats of
creation, John Doe, and l want you to
go with me to Justice Walker and at
least go my bonds until l can have a
hearing"
"Of course I viii go with you and
stand by you until the end
Gentlemen" said MIR. Fowler. there
Is evidently some mistake have had
five tons of my hay stolen. and by
hard work / have trailed Il to Mr.. Ca
field. who acknowledges he got the hay.
Now you offer 10 pay him for hauling
my hay. / know You, Mr.. Whitney,
to be an honest man, and one who
would have nothing to gain by having
another mans hay hauled to market
/ learn that Mr.. Cafield is a man above
suspicion, yet you have both acknow-
lodged getting the hay. Can you not
explain yourselves"
We'll. here is the explanatio said
Mr.. Whitney. taking from his safe a bill
FOR rick Of hay. located near Derby,
Kansas. signed by Robert Wright"
We'll. that settles it," said the far
mer Wright gave you a bill of sale,
but accidentally gave the wrong de-
scription. 1t viii be settled all right,
and was only blunder of a neigh
Dor"
OF course the case was dismissed. but
Whitney says he has charged Wright
M with the cigars. The bill should
have said the west side Of the road in
stead Of the east. Il is probable that
Wright VIII have his story to tell But
the hay business has been settled for
the present