The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-09
Had One Been in Jail Yard, as Re-
quired, Prisoner Be There Now.
1ALK0F SUIT AGAINST The CITY.
Said That New York Fidelity and
Casualty Company May Ask Dam
ages i'll the Sum Of $4,000
Reported That the Noted
Bank Burglar Has Not
Left RichmonG,

The situation growing out Of the marvel
lous escape of Topeka Joe' has become
intensely interesting. City Sergeant ]. c.
Smith has dismissed the officers on duty
at the Jail the night joe got out. There
is a report to the effect that the city is to
be sued for $50,GC0 damages because the
noted bank burglar was not held, and there
is q Well-detined rumor to the effect tnat
"Joe" has never left Richmond, and is at
this moment in hiding somewhere here,
evidently intending not TO go away empty
handed, but to crack safe or two and
get on "easy street before he shakes the
dust of the city by the James from his
brogans.
Late yesterday afternoon City Sergeant
Smith forwarded the following communi-
cation 10 the Judge of the Hastings Court:
Richmond, Va, Sept. Sth, 1900.
Judge S. B. Witt:
Defr Sr,-I was called north Saturday
last to arrange a settlement of my sisters
estate, and left here Sunday morning; and
on Monday Deputy Sergeant Johnston sent
me telegram Of Joseph Rapley's escape.
arrived here Thursday and raised the re-
ward to $50, and am certain l Will be aple
to replace him in Jail.
7 have discharged every man who was
on duty al the time Of the escape, and shall
make every effort to lay before you every
fact relating to the escape
I have made a careful examination, ana
find the facts to be such as Deputy Johston
has reported to you. 1t has been demon
sfrated to me that the manner OF escape
could not have taken more tnal ten OF ~
teen minutes, and during the invesugatlon
7 shall endeavor to lay all the facts before
the, proper authorities.
The cell in which the prisoner was con-
fined is considered the most secure one in
+I,a which the QOCeQ
burglars. Shaw and George Sheckies, were
confined.
Yours with much respect.
]. C.. SMITH, Sergeant
SERGEANT SMITH TALKS.
Sergeant Smith said he did not suspect
that Deputy-Sergeant j. E Iaylore ana
Guards William Connell and NJ j. soaeii,
the discharged men, had been suilty oi
anytI,in~ wrong in connection with the
escape of Topeka Joe, out that ne Lei.
it his duty to let them go.
az shall make appointments to I'LL the
places- of these gentlemen Monday, oe
riared Mr. Smith, "and 1 want the people
sof Richmond to know that as their ivy
Sergeant they have man who does llot
hesitate to do the very best he can unoer
the circumstances. II these guards had
been at their posts one of them Woilu
have been in the front end OF thdl Jan
ward when Joe came Olit oi ii-S >e.t' >.
ascane would have been impossible Tor
him..
Mr.. Smith has conducted personally,
n,1iet inquiry into the affair, and not only
susfains the cause of Deputy-Sergeant Z.
NJ. Johnston, in asking for the suspension
of these officers, but proposes to make an
example of them. He has under consld-
Grafton the names of large number OF
applicants for the position filed by
Messrs. Taylor, Connell and Roach
CITY MAY BE SUED
IT is said that the city may be sued by
the Fidelity and Casualty Company, OF
New York for dmages on account OF the
escane of Topeka joe" a report from
williamsburg where Joe got in some OF
his fine handiwork, IS to the effect that
s,1:t will be filed against the city for
s5o.OHo, and that proceedings will soon be
instituted in the United States District
Court
George A.. Gibson the resident manager
of the New York Fidelity and Casualty
Company. said yesterday afternoon that
while he had not heard that such was the
intention of the company, he would not
he surprised if suit should be brought
against the city. ''Joe may hit one OF our
banks at any time, now. Mr. Gibson
added. His being at large lays us open
to heavy losses, For instance, just after
the robbery IN williamsburg he went
direct to Oregon, and he had not been
there two days before he was cracking
safe. and with the same methods that ne
used in williamsburg. Now that he Is
again free his work will probably De
heard from in other parts of the country.
He does not lose any time.