The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-18
MANIA FOR CHURCH PROPERTY
Man Named Simpson Robbed the
First Baptist Church.


4 man who has mania for robbfng
churches is rarity, but there was one
here two or three weeks ago. He was
given hours" and went 70 Newton. where
ha robbed the Presbyterian church Of some
tools. Before he got there. however, he
ma naged 70 enter the Bethel church. near
Burton, and stole a nunoe- os song books.
When here he gave the name Of Simpson.
and was arrested for 70 .,iaz the First
baptist church Of eighteen Weusbach gas
burners. Just before the dedication, the
house committee purchased the lamps.
The carpenters had been working in the
church and left a window partially open.
Simpson crawled in and took them. He
started out CT the street 70 try and sell
the burners. He stopped at Mr.. Ree9ers.
a. the Pennsylvania restaurant, and want
ed him 10 purchase them Mr.. Rsejer
sJspicioned that al was not right and tele-
phened 70 the police station The officers
had not been notified Of any such theft
I'd 50 told Mr.. Reeder. He also lee
paoned TO Mr.. Woodward. OF the gas COM
pany. He remembered having sold the
Baptist church people a large number Of
TIE lights. The following day he met Mr..
4
him Il they had any of the burners stolen
,dr. Sherman said they had He tele-
Thoned 20 the police station The detec-
lives were sent TO Mr. Reeder. who gave
an accurate description OF 5 impSou. They
kept 4 sharp lookout for him but failed 70
ind the thief. They were standing in front
OF the restaurant two days afterward when
Simpson went by. Mr.. Reeder told them
that he was the fellow aud they imme-
cistely arrested Simpson.
Mr.. Sherman was notified and ne went
over 70 see the crook. He denied that he
had stolen the burners, claiming that he
had purchased them from a tramp.
When Simpson first came here he wsEf
T. the Methodist Sunday school and i,,ned
NJ. Rohrbaugh's class. He Old tale OF
hard luck How he was trying 70 get a
Place 70 work II tie only had new suit
Of clothes he knew he could get along AL
right. Mr.. Rohrbaugh had his suit clean d
Cor him. and got hin "a days work I
vas Grating cabbage boxes. They are
wrapped with wire and il Is done with a
PAR OF big pinchsrs When he quit work
5hat night and go- his money he forgo- te
leave the pinchers-
After he was arrest ed the church people
concluded that they did not want TO prose
cute him. He sent for M Rohrbsush %
defend him. Mr.. She2rnisD and Mr.. Roar
baugh compared notes and soon came u
the conclusion that he was an lmpos-er As
Vel as thief
Ire following week Mr.. Sherman went
% Newton % attend the Sttse Ba7fi7.
association. which convened thers. The
n-s. evening services were he'd t. rhe First
JSaoe!st church. H. vas staining near
Ire 6oo-. when who should as spy agt M
Simpson, better dressed thau When Ia saw
him IN 5al IN Wichita. Ar. Shearma9
addressed him. He tod Mr. Slsarru1n
t-at he had Just come I'D from Wichita.
The delegates were fed IN the rtak. there
beng four icng tables, capable ~ Eat
ING SO people Mr.. Siearmdn came 10 d
I.rtie late the next day - noon Gaming
about tle hail. re saw simpson enjoying
dinner 70 Tire utmost Ara5d that he would
get into somebody's home as a delegate,
ard steal everything in sight M Shear
nan tod D. = that i he saW aim hang rs
arol-r6 any more Tha- ne would notify The
poiics. That's ne last he saw - h.rn Now
wo-5 comes mat the Fist Presbyterian
church was robbed % some tools wa.-a
we're Iett ,tere oy workmen. L : tho0sEt
here that Simpson 5 ne thief.