The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-31
We're Much Surprised When He
Left the City.
A WAX FLOWER MAKER
Charged So For Lessons aud
Agreed to Pay 81 a Day.
Police Watched the Man and He
Became Wary.
Concluded That Topeka Was
Not a Healthy Place.

''Oh, just think it was awfull~
IT think it's too meant"
81 don't care, he didn't get any money
from me!''
II wonder where he went!"
''Well, think we were luclzyi"
These and a hundred other exclama-
tions and remarks greeted the ears OF
people who went up the steps and into
room No L at $40 Kansas avenue
this morning. The room was filled with
girls, and they were all talking at once,
just as girls do even If they are not ex-
cited, and this particular bevy of girls
was excited and they had a right to be-
Several days ago an advertisement ap-
peared which read:
'FWanted-25 girls; pay per day, 81;
easy work. Room No. 1, $40 Kansas
avenue. c. Edwards"
There are lots of girls in Topeka who
would like to earn dollar a day, and
the next morning, Wednesday, there
were numerous applicants at room l.
Among the first were Mrs. Grace Hayes
and Mrs. Emily Hayes Mr. Edwards
explained to them that he was pro-
fessional worker in wax, and that he
wanted girls to learn to make wax
flowers. He told them that he had q
contract with the Auditorium commit
tee to furnish wax flowers for the OPEN
ing and also for the street parade. Both
the ladies had made wax flowers ana
knew something about the business, 50
aDnOinted them assistant teachers
at once. He explained to the girls as
fast as they came that they were to
make wax flowers. In order to join the
class they were to pay 50 and work the
first day for nothing. After that ne
was to pay them 81 each day at D
O'Clock. He told one of the teachers to
collect the SO from each student, ana
this was done. In the meantime ser
geant Donavan, who had noticed the
advertisement, a had called, and after a
talk with the teacher advised her to put
the money in the bank in her own name,
and his suggestion was fortunately 1ol-
Xii day wednesday and Thursday the
girls worked making roses. morning
glories and the like and Mr.. Edwards
was running in and out overlooklns the
work and making himself agreeable.
Thursday evening four more young Ia
dies ioined the class and Edwards COLI
lected SO from each. eli took all the hoW-
ers that had been made and this morn
ing he was gone. He evidently thought
the police were watching little TOO
closely.
This morning when the girls came to
work they were told by Officer Lucas
that some of them were wanted to swear
out a warrant for one c. Edwards. IN
an instant the girls were Swarmlng
around him asking dozen questions at
once A number of them had suspicioned
that the business was not straight and
when they learned that, Edwards had
flown they expressed all sorts OF opin-
ions. EaCn OIL the SITlS ICCCANG0 4ACA -
that she had given to the teacher and
was out only her time OF course the
four who paid Edwards the money are
out and they swore to the warrant They
were Bertha Chase Sallie Stewart, Eth
el Wick and wye Mccullough.
II don't care" said one of the girls,
"he acted just as nice as he could and
maybe he isn't so bad after all. Maybe
he has just gone out to sell the flowers
You know he told that he was going
to sell them"
I'm sorry.'' said another, but We all
get our heads bumped some time and
suppose this is our time"
st did want that dollar day for co
days and like to make flowers. wish
it had been all right and I don't see why
it shouldn't be-" chimed in another
There are 16 girls besides the two teach
ers and they seemed inclined to take
pleasant view of the matter and get all
the fun out there was in it.
Edwards is a. small blond man with a
light mustache. He dressed well and II
the police had not interfered he would
have made a nice thing out of his
scheme. He had rented the rooms and
furnished them. The furniture he Sc
cured from E. c. Warren. He had boxes
piled in the room which he said were
filed with wax, but it turned out that
only the top boxes contained anything
and he emptied them before leaving