The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-26
CAUGHT
SUPPOSED MURDERER OF OPER.
ATOR COATES IN THE TOLLS.
Captured Near SprinsdaIe by Detec,
tive Montgemery--A Good, Case.

Detective Montgomery. OF the Santa Fe
| and Sheriff Shaver of wellington, Satur-
| day arrested man giving his name as
| Harper Zerfoose, who is supposed to be
one of the two fellows who murdered c.
Coats, the Santa Fe operator at Win
field, last April
The mans name is Harper Zerfoose
and ne was arrested about mile and a
quarter northwest Of Spring Valley. The
man, until two weeks ago, has been
working on a farm near Arson, a small
station on the Missouri Pacific, in Sum
ner county. Friday Montgomery went 10
Arson, but his man had gone. He fol-
lowed as fast as possible and had little
trouble in tracing him. Zerfoose is very
particular about his mail and it was by
this means that he was traced so easily.
| He was, at the time of the arrest, work
ing on farm and had just left the din
ner table when he was arrested. He was
told the charge and the only thing he
said was: 81 don't understand it." He
was taken to Newton and from there to
Winfield Saturday evening. There was
an enormous crowd at the depot to see
him when he arrived but Montgomery
unloaded him at Ninth avenue and put
him into carriage. He was taken to
the jail and another large crowd gather
ed at once to see the man. No trouble
was had, although many expected an out
break. None occurred and there will
probably be no trouble at all. Zerfoose is
kept in a cell apart from the other pris-
oners and SO far has kept his self-pos>
session remarkably. Aside from a ner-
vousness when arrested and during the
questioning yesterday afternoon, he has
exhibited no concern.
The first clue that led up to this ar
rest was a part of a letter which was
dropped into the postoffice at Guelph.
This letter fell into the hands of Sheriff
Shaver of Sumner county, who turned
1t over to Montgomery. There was but
one page of this letter found The letter
related to eounterfeiting and the writer
told the party addressed TO be careful,
and also gave him some other instruc-
tons This letter was signed by "Har-
per-" This appeared to be the first name
OF the writer. 1t was found that the full
name of the writer was Harper Zerfoose.
On April II, man giving that name
went TO Neal Pickett's house on his farm
near Guelph and said that he was hunt
ing work. Pickett needed man at that
time and on the 18th the man went 10
work. He told Pickett that he had a
partner and that they were in the stain
ed glass business, staining glass where it
was wanted. During his stay the man
talked Of nothing but the Coates murder
whenever chance to bring that subject
up was offered. He seemed anxious to
learn the opinion OF everyone on the sub
ject and never lost a single opportunity
to discuss it. He worked for Pickett for
four days, leaving on the night of April
10 fie said he was going to Winfield,
where he said hiS partner was to meet
him.
On April 80 Harper returned to Pickett's
and about the first words he said were
that his partner had been killed. He
then told that he had been killed in
Wichita by a Santa Fe switch engine at
the Douglas avenue crossing. Harper said
he thought maybe 1t was a case OF sui
eide. He then told that he had paid
the funeral expenses, being assisted in
so doing by DR.. Terry OF Wichita. He
said he had written to the dead mans
wife and her folks. but they had re-
fused to have anything to co with him.
Montgomery has found out that no man
was killed in Wichita on that date or IN
fact in that month by an engine. and he
also learned that the coroner did not hold
an inquest during the month OF April,
which would undoubtedly have been done
had there been man killed as Harper
told
It will be remembered, also, that on the
afternoon of April Is. the city marshal
of Caldwell and his posse killed rob
Der at that place. The man had robbed
the Missouri Pacific night operator at
Anthony on the night Of the 2th, and
after stealing a horse rode to Atetcalf,
where ne left the animal in an exhausted
condition. The man lived some time
after being wounded but refused 10 tell
his name or the names of his relatives
There was nothing found on mis- person
TO identify him. Several burglar tools
were found and a couple OF revolvers. !
which he had used in resisting the Of
fcers when killed. There was also a nuu-
Der Of barber shop tickets found but the !
name OF the town where they we're issued /
was not upon them. The cards bore the |
name OF c. a. Parker, who is now IN .
town IN the Cherokee nation. It was /
thought at the time by some that the |
dead man had a hand In the Winfield |
murder, but no clues were found which l
showed any connection with the two |
Incidents.