The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-16
AROUSED.
Citizens Buying RevOlvers
While Department Lies
Supine.

Tuesday morning at o'clock an at
tempt was made to rob ]. F. Kirkpat-
rick, a printer as he went to his home
at 7O9 Monroe street. He left the Cap
ital office where he is employed and
started east on Eighth street. When at
the corner of Monroe street and Eighth
he noticed man standing near the al
ley, and that he Immediately disap-
peared. AS he neared the alley he
walked near the street. When within a
few feet of the alley crossing as Mr..
kirkpatrick passed along the man
Sprang at him and raised a club over
his head. He ran from his assailant
and escaped. The supposed robber ran
after him a few steps, but turned about
and disappeared in the darkness. Mr.
kirkpatrick says it was a colored man
of medium height.
Tuesday night criminals with which
the town is beset, seemed to be work
ing with buggies. Three horses and
buggies were stolen.
County Surveyor John P. Rodgers
horse and buggy were stolen from in
front of DR.. Peers residence on Topeka
avenue. Another horse and buggy were
stolen from Sixth and Kansas avenue
winch belonged to a man named Tor
rens in Oakland.
Shortly after o'clock Tuesday even
ing a colored man stole C. F. Paine's
horse and buggy from in front of his
pawn shop near the Throop hotel. He
OTOVe nOfCn on Kansas avenue and
turned east on Third. He was overtak-
en- by a boy and he jumped from the
buggy and escaped. The TorrenS and
Rodgers horses have not yet been re-
covered.
Concerning the condition of affairs in
Topeka, H. G. Larimer said today:
This condition is due to the lax en-
forcement of the laws. If one law is
not enforced it affects the others. And
it will continue until the people stir
themselves in the matter
When the present police force came
into power a sweeping removal was
made of all Republicans in any wav
connected with the force, regardless of
ability or service. In their places were
appointed men who had no other rec
concentration than that they had work.
ed for the Populist party at the polls.
There are a few men, such as Patrol
men Pavey, Summers, Hendricks, Hicks,
Campbell and Yonkin, who have had
some experience. There are those who
might make good policemen, but who
will not under the present arrangement
of affairs.
Under the Morrill, administration four
Democrats were kept on the force be-
cause of their ability. They were Ser
geant Tim Donovan, and PatrOlmen
Owen, Burgess and Pavey. These were
men who were experienced and had
ability in this line of work. When the
new administration came in Donovan
and Owen were placed as sergeants and
PaVey was retained. But every Repub-
ican policeman was fired summarily
The old Republican force had many de-
fects. The police force always will
have as long as politics figure so prom
inently. Coal thieves and low women
are about all that green policemen can
catch.
The sale of firearms in Topeka has in
creased immensely within the past
week. Every hardware merchant on
Kansas avenue said today that the
sales had been surprising. One dealer
ordered a large shipment by express
from Kansas City in order to supply
the demand. Secondhand dealers and
paWnbroxers say they have also done
a rushing business. If the demand con-
tinues in the next two or three days as
it has the past week the present supply
will have been exhausted. Every place
where firearms are kept reports that
the demand for firearms has been very
great The citizens are going to protect
themselves, but there is danger in the
excitement that some innocent person
will be shot.
Ex- Chief of Police John Gardiner, who
has a wide knowledge of the criminal
business, says that he never saw so
many tough characters in Topeka in
many years. He says that he has rec
ognized many crooks who have from
time to time visited Topeka but have
been driven away. Speaking of the re-
cent holdups he said:
''Tt has really come to the pass that
person is not safe on the streets after
dark The manner in which many of
the robberies have occurred shows that
desperate men have committed the
crimes. The use of the iron pipe is evil
dence that the town is infested with
yerv bad men. The only wonder is that
many people have not been killed The
way to deal with this question is not
to patrol the streets with enough police
men to cover the town, but to watch
every suspicious character and know of
his wherea bouts It would be good
thing to put some experienced men at
the depots to watch every suspicious
character who arrives here and lock
him ND. That is the only way to deal
with this question. The people are be-
coming aroused over this thing and it
is time"