The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-30

Christmas eve the little town Of Clear
water was startled just before the open
ing of the regular Christmas dance by
being informed of the robbery of the
house of j. A. Sadler, who stated that he
saw some one in mis- house when he en-
tered the front yard, and when ne went
into the front the thieves went out Of the
back. He stated that ne looked all over
the house Immediately to see if anything
had been taken. The fact that ne made
no effort to catch the thieves threw a
peculiar light upon the affair at once He
further stated that about 5000 had been
taken from the house.
Al Bircheli, a barber who was board
ing with Sadler, had lost 5000 in silver
which he had saved up dollar by dollar,
and had slowed It carefully away in
-four sack in his trunk, and Mrs. Sadler
had left 81 in her slippers, 81 in the toe
of each, and this also was taken.
Sadler started for Wichita at 3 O'Clock
the next morning, and arrived at s
O'Clock at the residence of Bedford Wood
and told him of the affair. Mr.. Wood
came down town and told Chief Burt
that he thought Sadler had robbed his
own house himself
Under Mr.. Birchell'S hat upon the bu-
reau was over $500 more, but this was
untouched, and it was evident that
some one took the money who was per-
| fectly acquainted with the premises
| Officer Wood promised to go down and
| look into the matter.
On Saturday afternoon Mayor J. ".
| Chandler of the town of Clearwater
came into town and desired the matter
| looked into. Officer Wood was in Kan
sas City and as soon as he returned he
anc Officer Sutton went down there and
were amply satisfied that Sadler was the
| fellow they were after and were not re-
ticent about telling him so.
| Mr.. Birchell told Sadler later that he
would not prosecute him if he returned
the money. Sadler's sister gave him a
check for 5000. This did not stop the af-
| fair in the least and Mayor Chandler
swore out a warrant for Sadler's arrest,
but in the meantime he skipped. but the
marshal of Ninnescah township. Mat
Flynn went upon his trail Immediately
and stayed with the job until he ran his
man down but the marshal of Mulvane
captured him just before Flynn got there.
| But Flynn was upon not trail and
would have captured his man in a very
| short time.
Sadler was brought up to this city last
night. and taken to the county Jail and
locked up. He was fully prepared TO
keep on going as he had his clothing
with him and $50 in money. When
caught he stated that several of MS
| friends in Clearwater had advised him
| to skip out for a while under the cir
cumstances. but he was little too slow
and if the marshal of Mulvane had not
caught him Mat Flynn would.
The town Of Clearwater has been in
| dulging in the pleasure of having real
| interesting time win robbers for some
time past. Within the last two weeks
every safe in the city has been cracked
save one, and every store has suffered to
| a greater or less extent. Whether Sad
| Ter has had anything 10 do with any of
| these robberies, or whether he simply
saw a chance to steal little. and lay the
| Flame upon the unknown robbers can
not he stated. He has plenty of time
| for reflection now. however, as to why
| he wasn't little smoother al his job
! than he was Mr. Birchell is not little
! pleased at recovering his money which
| he took such pains TO save, but steered
| clear OF the banks an6 came near los
| ing * as result.
The police, and in fact every one else,
! think that Sadler quietly slipped into
| The house when every one else nearly
were Mt the hall where the dance was
about to begin, that he quietly and cody
! took an AK, knocked the iStll off Biz
cheirs trunk and took out the money,
ard then opened the bottom drawer o,
! the bureau. took out his wife $ slippers.
removed the 81 from them. nti the en-
| tire amount of money, and then raised
| the alarm II was a carefully planned
piece IF robbery but the officers Were
| nor altogether asleep and scol caught
| tho re,pafratOr