The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-11-17
The Father of one of the Con-
yicted PickpOckets Caught
Trying to Bride Il
Witness.
A VERY SWEET CROWD
The Suspicion Which En-
velOpes the Crowd Proves
Positive Evidence in
One Case.

The latest development in the
pick pocket cases is the attempt on
the part of the father of Isaac Fine
burn to bride the witnesses against
his son. The attempt was made last
Friday and resultedIin the old mans
getting entangled in the meshes of
the law. Mr.. Fineburn, senior, now
occupies cell alongside his son in
the Hotel de Hobart
Friends oft captured pickpockets
have been here all the time trying to
assist them in getting out of trouble,
but their work has been done very
quietly and in most cases nothing was
needed as positive evidence could
not be procured. The father of Isaac
Fineburn, the Jew whom Purcell
caught at the Santa Fee depot with
his hands in his pockets, came in
yesterday. His home is at Peoria,
Ill where he runs second hand
store, and suspicion points to the
gang being tue source from which he
draws his stock In trade. The case
against young Fineburn was com
plete from the time Purcell caught
him to the moment he was lodged in
Jail and all the damning links of cyl
dence was put together at the hear
ing in police court yesterday alter
noon So certain Of conviction il he
that his father msde a desperate at
tempt to get him Off with a lighter
sentence, ny brihiug the main wit
nesses to have II lapse OF memory.
Yesterday afternoon he approached
Mr.. Bliss, one of the witnesses, and
merely limiting at his intentions,
made an engagement to meet him
this morning and talk the matter
over. Bliss was "nextn at once and
agreed to the scheme i'm order to get
the whole story out. Policeman
Brewer was also approached with
cigars and request for long talk.
Last night the Old gentleman had an
engagement to meet l.. l. Purcell, the
chief witness, at his Office and it was
there that ne gave himself into the
hands Of the law, by making "a special
offer of money and jewelry to Purcell
if the latter would have convenient
lapse of memory and forget whether
or not the boy really had his hands in
his pockets The conference took
-. Ia, D,trnaIIIa ntH oil
maa waxed eloquent in his anxiety to
win over the witness, calling upon
all the saints to witness the sincerity
of his promises. Twenty-Five dollars
in money, his gold watch, "a gold
ring and after the trial, fifty dollars
more, were offered. Then the trap
was sprung.
Separating the front office from the
rear room is a thin board partition
and in this room was Policeman
Brewer and Police Judge Robbins.
They had removed their shoes and
entered by the back door. AS soon as
the old man had gone on record with
his promises, with the policeman and
Purcell as witnesses, the hearing was
over and the police entering, took the
old man by surprise. He collapsed
pitifully. During his ardent plea he
cited Biblical instances of fathers
pleading for their cons and he had
prayed and beseached, sitting with a
roll of bills in his hand, until he
thought he was ON the point of sue
cess. When Brewer and Robbins
entered the illusion vanished. He was
taken to the county attorneys office
where Justice Potter was waiting
with Roll Gard, by appointment. and
q warrant made out. Before locking
up he was searched and $6650 in
money, two gold watches, dozen
finger rings were found on his person.
He was given his supper at a restau-
rant and then locked up.
Mr.. Fineburn Ia a man of SO years.
His business Is In Peoria but his
family resides in Chicago and he
said his son left there two weeks ago
in the hopes of making more money
than be was drawing as a clerk. The
sheriff telegraphed the news to one Of
his sons In Chicago and members of