The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-14
DON'T SOUND RIGHT
CALDWELL GIRL CLAIMS A WICHITA
HAOKMAN ROBBED BER.

Miss Dawson, Who Works in a Millinery
Store In Caldwell. Came to Wichita to
Buy Goods-she Says She Gave He
Purse to the Hackman So He Could Buy
Her a Ticket, and He Did Not Return
She Got Ont of the Train nnd Walked
to Wellington Foot-sore and Hum
cry.
The Wellington Journal prints the fol-
lowing story, which may be true, but it
certainly smacks Of romance if not en-
tireiy false:
Last night a 16-year-old girl named
Dawson, an apprentice in Biddy O'Con-
nor's millinery store in Caldwell, appear
ed at the Earl house on North Washing
ton avenue, greatly fatigued and hungry.
having walked all the way from Wich-
ita. She was Oh her way nome. The
girl told a strange story of being robbed
in Wichita and how she reached Well
ington.
'The girl was sent TO Wichita We'd
nesday to buy millinery goods. She made
the needed purchases and had the goods
shipped TO Caldwell Yesterday morning
sne engaged a hack TO take her to the
train in Wichita. She gave the jehu %
cents for her fare and asked him 10 take
her purse and buy her a ticket at the de-
pot. The hack driver assisted her on
tne train and went into the depot, osten-
sibly TO purchase ticket for the girl,
but instead he disappeared. When the
train started 10 pull out the girl, having
no money or ticket, and knowing that
She would not be allowed to ride, got off
the train.
She was unable to find the hack driv-
er, and being alone in a strange place
became frightened and decided TO walk
home She reached Wellingtonlast night
about dark. Her feet were sore and bad
ly swollen. She had walked part of the
way in her stocking feet because her
shoes wer uncomfortable. She applied a
the kitchen door of the Earl house for
assistance and was invited in and given
something to eat. The girl wanted her
acquaintances at Caldwell notified by
telephone Of ner plight, but as she had
plenty of time in which to catch the S:31
Rock Island, she was induced to board
the train for home. She pawned a gold
ring TO down town jewelry store for 81
with which she purchased a ticket for
home.'
The above was shown to Detective
Harry Sutton He said that he had not
heard about it. He thought it was not
true. He said: I'm the first place,
young girl Of 16 would hardly be sent to
Wichita 10 buy goods. If she was smart
enough to be sent from home to make
she would not be such Ounce
as to give any one her purse. Again, if
the story was true, she would have re-
ported the case to the police
Mr.. Sutton said that if hackman had
stolen the money from her and the mat
ter had been given to the detective force
they would have had the driver and
the money within two or three
hours after the case had been given to
them, as they were acquainted with
every driver in the city. Should the
story be true, he said that the driver
would be prosecuted and barred from
driving in Wichita. He thought there
was something else behind the tale or
else it was a fake story concocted by the
girl. If the robbery really took place all
the girl or her friends have to do is to
notify the police department here and
the perpetrator will be speedily brought
to justice.