The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-16

were taken, together with groceries and
dry goods. But the breaking of locks
and stealing government property made
the United States authorities anxious
to get the burglar On the night fol-
lowing the store and pOstOffice at Wat
son, also in Shawnee county, was rob
bed and a quantity of goods laid aside
TO be loaded into a wagon which was
an waiting. But the burglar was dis
covered. He ran out of the store and
escaped, leaving his wagon and team
to the Watsonites.
When the burglary was discovered at
IecumSeh, Sheriff Kepley was notified.
BE and Bert Lucas and Deputy Consta-
BILE Jackson went in pursuit They
overlook Thad Robbins and nearly cap
tured him. He, however. eluded ar
rest, although he was made &, target for
many bullets from the revolvers of the
sherif's force.
State officers and United States Off
GERS then began systematic search for
Robbins. He was tracked about the
country A burglary would be report
ed from locality, and usually de-
scriptiOn of Robbins would also be
given The officers seemed unable to
catch up with the man.
The Robbins brothers live in North
IOpeka- Their place is at the north
end OF Taylor street, about mile from
Gordon and Kansas avenue. The men
nave the reputation of being all around
crooks, having been arrested many
times on various charges.
1t was a brOther-in-law of the Rob-
i
z. Gaines, the policeman, shot three
years ago while attempting to arrest
him for the theft of a wagon tongue
which had been taken from a farmer
near Alma.
Gaines and the farmer went to Rob-
bins house and saw Crueger and one of
the Robbins brothers working at a
wagon in the yard. The farmer identi-
fed the tongue they had as his proper
ty, and Gaines attempted to arrest
Crueger. The resistance followed, and
Gaines shot and killed Crueger The
Robbins brothers then left the country
and staid away for a, long time.
The search for Thad Robbins on ac-
count of the Tecunseh andWatsOn bur
glaries, was finally rewarded when he
was located a few weeks ago in Enid
0. T. He was at work there H E
Gaines arrested him there February 26.
In his possession were found five chilled
steel twist drills, seven small steel saws
ana small saw brace-a typical burg
lars outfit. With such an outfit almost
any jail bars could be cut or a safe
prepared for explosives. When arrest
ed Robbins stOutly maintained that he
was not Thad Robbins. but was Charley
Jones. But Gaines, who had known him
for II years, could not be deceived, so
he brought him to Topeka, arriving on
March /
Since that time Robbins has been con-
fined in the county jail. Today he was
handcuffed and brought to the court.
He is a man of about feet 9 inches.
He was dressed in rough hickory shirt,
coarse coat and vest, blue overaIs and
boots
When he was taken to a photograph
er he tried to spoil the picture which
the officers wanted to get of him. He
moved his head slowly from side to
side, and kept his eyes closed. Finally
the picture, as seen here, was obtained,
but he had kept both his eyes shut. The
wagon, which was captured at Watson,
IS now in possession of the sheriff It
has been identified by several people
who know it, as that which belonged to
Thad Robbins.
The case was called in Justice Nc
Clintocl's court J. S. Ensminger, at
torney for the prisoner, asked for a
continuance, which was granted. The
case VIII be opened in ten days. This is
the second continuance asked for by the
defendant.
None of Robbins relatives appeared
IN court, which sustains the theory OF
the officers that Robbins will try tc
prove that he is Charlie Jones' But
there is said to be overwhelming evil
dence that he is Thad Robbins and the
officers say that a strong case has beer
prepared against him. After that the
United States officers will be given ar
opportunity of trying him.