The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-07
TOPEKA JOE A. BANK BURGLAR
One Of the Gang That Fought its way
Out OF W:liiamlsbur., Va.

Topeka Joe is in town. His naile -
Joseph Rapey or Joseph B. Evahs' Nc
not particular which, and q PinkeTtoli -
took MIN to Police Headquarters ias. 80 20
SO that the headquarters men co"it c+
a loos: at him. State Agent charles :,,,ra
man in the party.
Rapley was arrested in Portland ore.
gon, on July 23d last by the supeIii1,.s.. -,
Of P:nkertonsS agency, aSslsteo ~ j.,
police of that city, for being coI'ce.. -
the burglary OF the Pentnsuiar oE'.'tS
Williamsburg on May 24th. RapieS !s -
to have been the principal OF 10y.
that committed This burglary, "ittn 80
one of the most daring that ever ocGu- ca
IN Virginia While the burglars were
operating on the vault and saie' 49, 80
one of the most modern, the oaAih Wa
surrounded by citizens, many Oh "i.ol'i
were armed with Winche5ters, ai!u ~" w,
were led by the sheriff OF the co"iits ~.
the president of the bank and otEei Guilty
officials, but, although the bu- SD
cogniZant of the fact that the lam va va,
surrounded, they continued ihel VIZ ~ 49, 49,
made three or four separate ATTACKS oil ',ie
steel chest, which they finally opened Oh
tanning about $500 in cash lhes SUI
ceeded In fighting their way out OF to"h'
and although pursued by the ciuzehS VIZ
had surrounded the bank, they mace 'heil
escape.
The Peninsular Bank was Insurer oF liie
Fidelity and Casualty Company Oh Ne"
York, which Immediately instructed the
Ptnke7tons to spare no expense in running
to earth this band of burglars. The detec-
tives determined through idenhlcatons
obtained at Williamsburg that RapleE was
the leader in this work, AMI took up the
search for him.
Learning that ne was the owner OF
saloon IN Baltimore to which place ne dld
not return after the burglary, by surve!!-
lance Of Rapley's wife taey finally sue
ceeded in bringing them together at Port
land. where Rapiey was arrested on July
sd
Rapley is young in age. but CID in exper-
fence. In the past ten years he has been
concerned in very many bank and post
office robberies having been associated
with such hobo or tramp burglars as John
ney. alias Hutch" Sylvester Collins,
alias "Dashing Billy John Hamilton
Mccarthy alias Brooklyn johnny John
Gilchrist. alias Providence Slim; Michi-
gan Red Shenandoah Rcd" .'Chi jack
and Denver Harry His saloon at Bal
tinore was the headquarters Of some Of
the most desperate ''yeggmen' and hold
up thieves in the country This was the
second bank burglary and hold-up in
Virginia in a year. the bank al strashurs
having been robbed by men of this class
who defed the citizens of the town, and
after securing what money they could
fought they way out of the town to safety.
The Pnkcrtons Investigated this burglary
for the Fidelity and Casually Company Of
New York, and succeeded in arresting in
New York Edward Carney, alias Hutch. .
The State of Virginia refused to defray
the expenses of eXtraditing Rapley from
Portland, but the Fidelity and Casualty
Company being determined 10 externinate
this band of burglars from the Southern
States. consented to go to the expense.
Rapley has been identified by q. number
of people who saw the burglars at work.
A Pinkerton man will star for Williams
burg with him to-day.-New York Sun.