The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-01
THEIR OWN GUNPOWDER.
Parkhurst, Davis & Co. Purchase Some
That was Stolen From Them.

Sheriff Kepley and the police depart
ment are trying with all their might
to unravel the mystery surrounding a
little box bought in Kansas City a week
or two ago by John Rhodes, who has
a second hand store at Tenth and Kan
sas avenue.
Mr.. Rhodes attends all sales of un-
claimed freight and he buys packages.
sealed and unsealed. 1t may be said
that he deals in prize packages and his
place of business is Uttered with the
results of his speculations.
When Mr.. Rhodes saw an advertise
ment saying that the western Storage
company of Kansas City would sell un-
claimed goods on certain day he was
on hand. He made several purchases,
among them being a box about four
feet square labeled Household Goods. d"
Mr. Rhodes did not open his box until
he reached home. He was in no hurry
for he supposed that he would find a
few bedclOthes and similar articles.
When he did open the box he was
somewhat startled to find that it con-
tained gunpOWder. Mr. Rhodes does
not care to have much to do with ex-
plOSiVeS and he handled the contents
of the box with more care than he
would eggs. It was a veritable white
elephant on his hands and he made no
attempt to dispose of it for some time.
Then he called on the ParkhurSt-
Davis Grocery company and told of his
find. They told him that if the pow
der was in good condition they would
buy it.
Mr.. Rhodes completed the negotia-
tions for the sale and delivered the
powder There were 375 pounds of it
in five kegs. The firm paid Mr. Rhodes
for the powder and he made $40 on the
deal and was very well satisfied.
He heard no more of the powder for
several days, when he received a visit
from the sheriff, who informed him that
the powder was stolen. There We're
hints of Rhodes arrest, but he pro
duced the receipt from the storage com
pany showing that he purchased the
powder and had a clear title. The mat
ter was dropped so far as Mr.. Rhodes IS
concerned, but the officers are IN Kan
sas City today conducting an inYesu-
cation.
After Parkhurst-Davis had pur-
chased the powder someone called the
attention of the proprietors to the fact
that the kegs We're exact counterparts
of some stolen from the firm s powder
house in North Topeka in August OF
last year-they had bought back their
own powder.
The box which held the powder was
evidently purchased in Lawrence, for 1t
bears the name of a firm of that city
The bill of lading shows that the pow
der was sent to Kansas City from Eu-
dora. a small station near Lawrence.
While there may be many other kegs
of powder like those stolen from Park
hurst-Davis it is not probable that
anyone would make such a large snip
ment of powder from a small station
like Eudora unless it had been stolen
1t is the opinion of the officers that
the thieves took the powder to Law
renee by wagon and there bought the
hoy and packed it They then hauled
the box to Eudora, where it was put
on board the cars for Kansas City.
When it reached Kansas City the
thieves were afraid to try to dispose OF
if and placed it in the storage ware
house until the search was given up.
They were afraid to go back for the
box and at the annual sale the box fell
to Mr.. Rhodes.