The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-22
MOBBED.
Edgar Plato, of Topeka, a Vic
tim of White Caps.
Dragged From His Buggy and
Subjected to Outrages.
COAL TAR is USED.
Two Suits of UndercIOthes Saved
His Complete Humiliation.
Was With His Wife Returning
From Topeka.
MET BY MASKED MEN.
Taken to Barn Where His
Clothes We're Torn Of.
White Cappers Then Left Him
at NeighbOr's House.
Divorced Husband, and Brother
of Mrs. Plato Recognized.
Taken to Barn Where His
Clothes We're Torn OF.
White Cappers Then Left Him
at Neighbor's House.
Divorced Husband, and Brother
of Mrs. Plato Recognized.

Edgar Plato, a piano tuner and sales
man, was the victim of whitecappers
last night between ten and eleven
o'clock He was subjected to the most
outrageous treatment and given 4shours
to leave the country.
AS a result of the outrage warrants
were issued today for Peter Hamilton,
his son William, and John Wendell, a
brother of Mrs. Plato. Peter Hamilton
is the divorced husband of Mrs Plato
and William Hamilton is his son.
Mr. Plato was able to come to Topeka
and report the circumstances of the out
rage but he is suffering greatly from
the shock. His face is bruised and
swollen and he is greatly agitated.
According to the reports Mr.. and
Mrs. Plato were in Topeka last night to
do their Christmas shopping and did
not start home until quite late. They
live about three miles north Of Topeka
on the Central avenue road. When they
reached the top of the hill in front of
the residence of Frank BabcOck they
came upon an obstruction in the road.
"A wagon with one wheel off was in the
road andrthere was a lantern on it. Sew
eral men were moving about.
Mr. Plato shouted to the men and
asked them what was the trouble.
We have broken down." replied one
of them.
Mr.. Plato reined his horses and three
men with handkerchiefs tied over the
lower portions of their faces approached
the buggy. One of the men grabbed Mr..
Plato while another dealt him a terrific
blow in the face with a heavy instru-
ment. Two other men held Mrs. Plato.
Mr. Plato was then lifted from the
vehicle and walked about 100 yards to
the barn Of Frank Babcock. He was
then taken into the barn by three men
and one of them tore his clothes from
his body. In the meantime he was
struck several times by one of the mask
ed men. One of the men had a pot of
tar and he attempted to smear this upon
Mr.. Plato's body. He was only par
TALLY successful, for in the dark the
men did not notice that their victim
wore two suits of underclothes. They
tore off the outer suit, but when they
surface of the underclothing he still
WORE and consequently but little of it
reached the bare skin.
After perpetrating other outrages, the
whitecappers led their victim to the res
idence of Mr.. Babcock, only a short dis
tance away. They told him that unless
he was out of the state in 48 hours that
he might expect something much more
severe. They pounded upon Mr.. Bah
cocks door until he was aroused, and
as he opened the door they pushed the
helpless man into the house, at the
same time exclaiming, "Here is your
ueighbor, take care of him.
During all this time Mrs. Plato was
under guard of three men at the buggy
When the men who had misuSed her
husband returned she was asked where
wanted to go to her home, which was
half a mile distant. They asked her If
she wanted to ride, and she said, NO.
that she could walk, and she got out
and started home. and was not molested
further. The vigilants tied the horse to
Mr.. BabcockS fence, and when the
three men returned from the house they
disappeared. Mr. Plato is satisfied as
q n f0T-
whom warrants were issued today.
Mr.. Plato was seen by a reporter to-
day. He said: Il had no warning that
I was to be moleSted in any way. I
married Mr.. Peter Hamilton's divorced
wife on November 15. 1 had received
frequent warnings before the marriage,
but I paid no attention to them. My
horse was cut loose on several Occa-
sions while I was visiting Mrs. Hamil-
ton, and on one occasion she hitched up
her buggy and brought me to town after
my horse had been turned loose. When
we were about a half mile from the
houeS two shots were fired at US, but
neither of US were hit A letter was
showed under the door at the place
where was working, warning me un-
less / deSisted my attentions to Mrs.
Hamilton I would be killed. It was not
signed. I paid no attention to these
warnings, and on the date mentioned
we were married.
Since our marriage we have not been
molested, and / have lived happily with
my wife, supposfng that the persecu-
tons were over, and consequently I was
not prepared for the attack of last night.
When the men stopped our buggy was
struck in the face by a club or some
thing of the kind and then dragged
from the buggy While the men dragged
mekto the barn I was struck repeatedly,
but the blow in the face was the most
serious one received. L had no idea
whatever as to the intentions of my
captors until they began to tear the
clothes from my body. then noticed
that they had some tar, and supposed
that they expected to apply it to me.
They did not have any feathers, and
consequently it cannot be said that I
was tarred and feathered. I was able
to offer very little resistance. because
there were three men, and they were
large, strong men, and my efforts to
prevent their assaults amounted to but
little.
after I was pushed into Mr.. Bah
cocks house my sufferings were in a
measure alleviated. and I was taken
home as soon as possible. where my