Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-24

had n crea; deal to do with her boldnsss
when sae was threatened with arrest AS
an impostor.
How Detectives Were Outwitted.
"oh. but she is :. plucky little woman.
How she did enjoy her bouts with Hugh
Wards city detectives. She would. before
leaving the hotel. inform the clerk. in \
loud tone where she was going; and as
would jump 10 The telephone. call up his
male. and in Il voice easily heard notify
MN OF her movements. Chen he would
SIT down and look wise until she returned.
Laugh Why she had Il spasm of laughter
every time she saw me. While Dryers
mate was .ho;-footing' it all over town. she
would he attending - her business ana
ne would not see her until she boarded
her car at Ninth ami Walnut. Mrs: Jor-
wealthy; move in the hes: circles of Bos-
ton. and are intensely proud. Kate Stokes
none OF the family ever recognized. and if
Mrs. Shirley does succeed in proving her.
self 10 be the abe Kate Stokes. it is
claimed. left at Mrs. Johnson,s aunt's home
In an obscure Texas town. nearly twenty
Two years ago. it will be u great blow to
their pride
l.. X. Hitchcock HiatOry.
Dc L know Hitchcock's history?". re-
piled a we'll known Kansas Cityan yes,er-
day. in answer to an inquiry. Yes. I do.
- AhNh MN "iS Ac was d utpuly
city clerk under Mr.. Langworthy. during
Mayor Davenport's term. Hitchcock fought
davenport when he was out for a second
term and in consequence became non per-
soma grata. He had to quit the city clerks
ONCE and he obtained a billet under Tom
Edwards. the city assessor. That was from
1919 to 1891. Hitchcock was then married
TO Mrs. Snoddy and from all accounts led
an existence opposite from merry.
Laura s'noddy worked in the Office and
she paid ciose attention TO her duties. She
was then about 1G years old, not bad look
ing. and was what l would call IA demi-
brunette. Her hair was not dark nor WIS
cock went with her to Chicago. but that
he had married her l never knew until I
read it in The Journal this morning.
Killed His Wife's Paramour.
Hitchcock had n history before coming
TO Kansas City. His father owned u large
farm in Northern New York close to the
st. Lawrence river, and I believe was n
Canadian by birth. Hitchcock. 1 know.
lived In Toronto. before the tragedy which
married his life took place. He is an edu-
Gated man and back in the States was the
principal Of a school. For n wife he had a
woman he had married in Toronto, not
he S sDected her. So he told her he was
going away on Il two weeks journey. lie
departed. but returned the second night.
latch key and made his way To his wife's
bedroom. Entering ii. his suspicious Were
verified.
His Victim Never Spoke Again.
''He drew his revolver and shot the de-.
spoiler OF his home. His victim never spoke
again. or course. he had to leave Dayton.
He came West, settled in Chicago and got
into more trouble. He married Mrs. Snod-
dy. This is the story he told when a depu-
ty under Tom Edwards. And 1t was com
mon property about the hall"
Did you know Laura Snoddy::" the old
Kansas Cityan was asked.
Eyes. l knew her very well. She had a
brother. They looked very much alike. She
was Il most capable girl and l remember
Tom Edwards Increased her salary shortly
after she began to work for him.
Hitchcock was very careful of her. He
brought her 10 tn. office and took her
when he left with her it was a great sur
prise to all.
HE was a very capable man. He was.
as I have said. highly educated. and an ex-
more competent man in it.. He had his
faults. of course. He lived beyond his In
come. and contracted financial obligations
that caused him trouble. He was a cam
didats for the Office of assessor. but was
defeated. He made the race in the fail
OF 1870. to succeed Edwards.
care to speak. ] knew Mrs. snoddy and
Laura Snoddy personally. ] know Mrs.
George ohnson ard I know Mrs. Shirley.
As TO their identity l do not care to ex-
IIf!S MI oIliilo1. L VIII sal iHlS uIutIl.
The Journals story this morning was a
pretty fair story-a pretty fair story"
H~itchcock's Interest In the Case.
Stetson millions is conferred in the boy,
Lawrence, Mrs. Shirley's child, who he
claims IS his son. 20. ID. Morse" a Stet-
son. searched for him for weeks before
finding him in Chicago. His story learned,
he was prevailed upon to come to this city.
a,,I nc Unnn nc hn S1w Mrs 1nhrnnr IA
identified her. the Stetsons claim. as his
wife. Mrs. Snoddy. whom he left in order
to run away with the girl. Laura Snoddy.
whom he also identified. according to the
S~tetsons. in the person of the claimant,
Mrs. Shirley.
That Kidnapping Incident.
Mrs. Johnson's story. as related by Co.
lumbinn hotel gossips. about meeting him
Sunday when she AYERS he attempted TO
kidnap the hoy. is partly corroborated by
a friend of the Stetsons. This friend says
young John Sietson and Hitchcock were
Al Alexander Johnson's livery stable at
Independence avenue and Harrison street
waiting for a team they had ordered to be
hi,ched up. While thus engaged Mr.. and
Mrs. johnson and the boy. Lawrence. drove
up and as their vehicle entered the stable
Hitchcock saw and recognized them and
attempted to hide as he did not wish them
TO recognize him. That was all of the
incident of note. this. friend says. but The
claimants enemies did not know until later
that The l~tveryman they We're doing buSi>
ness with was George JOhnson'S father.
Hitchcock has not left Missouri. He came
to this city for his boy. and will remain
In the vicinity until he achieves his OBJ
lect or recognizes n defeat. Like all "vii.
lains'' In comedy drama. Hitchcock IS like
ly TO bob UP serenely and when least ex-
pected In the vicinity of the orphan asylum
where the boy has been placed for security.
Stetson's Claims vchemently enicd
The claim that will he set up by the
Stetsons that Mrs. George Johnson and
Mrs. Katherine Shirley are mother and
daughter and are both eX-wives of l.. C..
Hitchcock. is vchenently denied by both.
Ever since she came 10 Kansas City from
Chicago Mrs. Shirley has lived with Mr..
and Mrs. Johnson. A few months ago. they
moved TO the hotel from S6
Park avenue, and Mrs. shirley went with
them. A reporter for The Journal saw
them there last night. Mr.. Johnson came
with them 10 the drawing room of the hotel
and sat there while his wife and Mrs. Shir-
ley talked to the reporter. Occasionally
MIR. johnson frowned or coushed warning.
ly when he thought his wife WAS talking
too freely, and Mrs. Johnson turned 10
him and said:
do you think I'm talking too much?"
Well. YOU know how il is" he said.
MIR. Ward won't like it. and it isn't dis
Greet. YOU know"
Has . VIII Of Her Own.