The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-30
THEIR TRIAL IS SET
Matthe and His Wife to Be
Given Preliminary
ON SATURDAY, APRIL 8
Story of thetNew Case and Al
Billiards. Confession.

Mr.. and Mrs. B. W. Matthes and Herbert
and willis Simpson were taken before
Judge Glenn yesterday and formally
charged with horse stealing. Judge Glenn
set the preliminary hearing for a week
from next Saturday, and they were all re-
turned to jail, with the exception Of VIII
lis Simpson, who was the only one able
to give bond yesterday. His bond was
placed at 500, and was signed by Lee FL
rick, who says ne has the utmost faith IN
Willis Simpsons innocence.
Mr.. Matthes failed TO secure bond in
this city, after looking around town, in
charge of Dick Dodd, but he told a re-
porter for the Eagle that he could easily
secure one at Hutchinson. Asked if they
were wealthy enough to secure their bonds
men, Mr.. and Mrs. Matthes said they
owned about forty-flve head of cattle,
which they had left in charge Of a strange
hand on the farm, but these cattle were
mortgaged and they could not say just
now much they were worth to them.
There is a great deal of speculative opin-
ion regarding the guilt or innocence of the
different persons connected with the vari-
Gus crimes alleged against the gang. The
detectives, and other men well posted in
the procedure of criminals, say that every
one 80 far arrested are guilty beyond
doubt so far as circumStantial evidence
is concerned.
The four people arrested here, along
with Frank Allgood, are arrested for var
ious crimes, upon confession made by
Al Ballard, who stole Harry Hagny's team
last summer and was captured near OF
tawa. He was sent up for two years. He
confessed to Warden Lands of the peni-
tertiary that he belonged to a gang Of
horsethieves, counterfeiters, etc, and
gave eht names of the principal members
of the gang, among whom are Allgood,
Matthe and his wife and the Simpson
boys. He said that Allgood killed Joseph
New at Eureka, Kan, in October, 1897,
and alleged number of other crimes
Bedford Wood thinks Frank Allgood
murdered old man New, and he thinks he
should be tried on that charge first
In his confession, Alvin Ballard claims
TO have been an acquaintance and asso-
ciate of the notorious Jack Kennedy, the
quail hunter and train robber, with head
quarters at Kansas City, L. S. A, and this
confession of Billiards. seems very plau-
sible for reasons that fit into his criminal
record here, which the Eagle article of
yesterday failed TO state. 1t was learned
that Alvin Ballard once borrowed a wagon
from an old colored man named Thomp-
son, Saying that Mr.. Jones. real estats
Ballard took the wagon and drove TO Kan
IL ,s,,f,,
nearly three months, during which time
he loitered about the livery stables fire.
uuented by Jack Kennedy. This is where
he made the acquaintance of the train
robber. Ballard was located there and
brought back TO this city under arrest for
stealing the wagon. He was convicted
and put in Jail. At the same time Allgood
was in jail, and he and Allgood became
friends and through this arrangement
Mrs Ballard met with Allgood
There are some who doubt Ballard s
confession stating that Allgood killed New
at Eureka, but there are two things in his
confession to Warden Lands which so to
confirm the story.
When Warden Lands asked Ballard
about News murder, Ballard said that
he was in the yard and saw in at the
window.
What wers they doing?'''
They were preparing for bed. There
were two children disputing about where
they were going to Sleep"
Warden Lands then went to Mrs. News
cell and asked her what they were doing
in her house prior TO retiring. She told
about the same thing that Ballard said
had occurred. Another thing which tends
TO confirm Billiards. story, was his knowl-
edge of the Matthes ranch. He said when
a stranger approached he was always
watched with glass by the neighbor next
10 Matthes. When the officers visited the