The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-17
THEY TOOK FOWLS
WHOLESALE ROBBERY OF ZEN
BOOSTS MADE BY EXPERTS.

Strange to Say, the Police Actually
| Acted, But Give as Excuse That the
Thieves had Entered the Poultry Yard
of the President of the Board of Police
Commission-Kansas City Jim Helps
Them Out-wiII Hays Arrested.
Chicken thieves have been getting in
their work in Wichita, and as a con-
sequence over 200 fowls were reported
missing at the police station.
The thieves were no respectors Of per
son. and even the roost of the president
of the board Of police commissioners
was visited, and thirteen, an unlucky
number, taken therefrom.
While they were no respector Of per-
sons, the same can not be said of fowls
and among the number were several
valuable fowls, among which were birds
that had lately been upon exhibition
at the poultry show, and still contained
the brass bands upon their legs show
ing the score given by the judge Of the
lair association.
Something must be done. This fact
was even admitted by the present po-
lice force, which shows that the request
was an urgent one. Had not the thief
entered upon sacred grounds when they
entered the poultry house Of President
McCanleSS? This was a fact that re-
CURED action even although the eleven
house burglarized Christmas night had
failed TO stir the protectors of the city
This was worse than an opium joint
This was destroying the Sunday dinner
and the supply of eggs of President Nc
Canless, and the officers realized that
their official heads would soon be found
in the basket unless some action was ia
ken.
A council of war was held and they
began to cast about for plan to bring
the persons who had made the raid up
on the chicken roOsts, and a plan was
finally hit upon while one of the Off
GERS was reading a copy of the Eagle
There he read the account given by
Kansas City Jim, VINO declared that
he had reformed from the business af-
ter having been made the target for
stopping some of Ed DarnelPs bird shot
The officer grabbed the paper franti-
cally and called the chief 10 an inner
room where he laid before him the plan
of deputizing Kansas City Jim and put
ting him on the trail.
'fHe knows all the ropes and tricks
about the business said the officer to
the chief. land l will bet a cOonskin he
will trail the fowls and give into our
hands the person who has the chickens
in his possession. 1t has been done
by a professional and We should en-
ploy an ex-professional to ferit out the
buiness.''
The idea was accepted by the chief
who at once started out in search of
4
was unfolded to him.
do you mean to make a special po-
liceman of me?" said Jim, while the
whites of his eyes were made plainly
visible.
THAT is the intention" said the
chief. ''Will L be allowed TO carry a
club, and make lot of the yaller mig
gars of this town stand around like
Mr.. Stewart does up in the Second
ward?" inquired Jim.
The chief explained to him that his
mission was only of the detective order
and that while he would draw the full
pay of regular policeman for the time,
he was only vested with power to find
200 stolen chickens, and If possible to
locate the thieves.
'Ill do it. Show me the roost. Let
me see the kind of work done, and [
/
the tricks of the 'fession and you just
watch for Jim and be ready with the
hoOdlum carriage when / say come"
Jim was sworn in and shown the fol-
lowing list of persons who had reported
their chicken houses visited from which
to gather pointers.
]. T. Dale 1923 Getto avenue. thirty
five head Of thoroughbred chickens.
d. s. Hersey, 1745 North Market street
nineteen head of choice varieties.
President McCanless of the board Of
police commissioners, thirteen nice fat
hens.
]. P. Fur1ong, an even five dozen Of
the choicest varieties.
Mrs. Tunkle, 1857 North Fifth avenue,
exactly three dozen of the incest, slick
est biddies that ever welcomed their
mistress in the morning. ali Of which
had records for layers, as they were Leg
horns and had nothing else TO do but TO
lay eggs.
DR.. n. a. Longnecker. eighteen of the
finest hens that ever cackled and made
glad the heart of a veterinary sur
geon.
There were other lists, but this was
sufficient and Jim struck his brother
officer, John Fisher for a chew of to-
bacco and sailed forth on has first work
as a policeman of the city of Wichita.
He visited the hen houses which had
been raided and then sat down to think
Soon he had his plans laid and started
forth.
At 1906 North Fifth avenue he found
six dozen Of the chickens which had
been stolen in the possession of a white
man named VIII Hays. mot the late
under sheriff, but another VIII Hays
and he proceeded to take the man un-
der his custody 8 we'll as the birds
The hoodlum wagon was called, cOops
were borrowed and soon the police sta
ton resembied a chicken fair more than
place for distributing justice
They were taken into the court room
but Judge Tucker declared that he had
had enough trouble and that the next
thing IL would be reported that he had
turned Methodist pres and TO save
him from this worry the chickens were
taken 70 the bull pen. where the geolog-
ical class Is want 70 meet for purpose Of
converting big stones into little ones.
and there they were turned loose
4 finer lot Of chickens il would he
hard 10 find, and during the day they
We're visited by scores Of people who had
loSt chickens.
OF course Jim was assisted by other
officers, but he led the trail and his work
puts him down as a first class detec-
tive in this line and VIII in the future
call Harry Sutton and Bedford Wood
brother
VIII Hays. the man claims that he
bought the chickens found in his pos
session and gave horse for them. He
was arrested and is now confined in the
city prison and viii have a trial today
All the chickens brought 10 the head
quarters have been identified as ones
stolen. and In : sill On The tran far