The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-06
Topeka J0E'S END
Career of Notorious Bank Bur-
glar Probably Over.
In Jail Credited With Long
String Of Robberies.
USED TO LIVE HERE.
known to the Police But Was
Never Arrested.
Caught In Portland For Vfr-
ginia Burglary.
USED TO LIVE HERE.

Joseph Rapley, who used to be
"rounder'' in Topeka and who is remem-
bered by the police here on account or
the bright future which seemed to be
open for him as professional crook, is
in the clutches of the law for safe break
ing. So far as the police know, Rapley
never did anything while here that was
picious character.
He left here several years ago and lit
tie has been heard from him since his
departure but the news that he has de-
veloped into full fiedged crook does not
surprise the local police. When Rapley
left here he went to Chicago where he
was known as Topeka joe" a name
which has since become familiar to the
police OF every city in the United States.
Rapley was arrested last week in Port
land, Ore, and was taken to Williams
berg, Va, where he is wanted for blow
ing the safe of the Peninsula bank and
removing therefrom $4,000. He was ar
rested through the P1nkertOn agency and
the local detectives in Portland.
The Peninsula bank was robbed on
the night of May "a, 1900 The first ex-
plosion alarmed the citizens, but the
burglars held them at bay while they eX
ploded two more charges of nitrogly-
erin and secured the money. The first
man on the scene was w. d. Powell, a
New York travelling man, who was stop
ping at the hotel. The burglars captured
him and carried him into the bank,
bound and gagged him and deposited
him in the alley until they had compile
ted their work. The hobo class of burg
lars, of which Rapley was a leader, has
operated very extensively in the last
two or three years in both the east and
west and Rapley's capture is one of the
most important yet made in connection
with these burglaries.
Within the past year a number of
small banks in West Virginia, Virginia.
eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland
har h.asa R1,x.1
in skillful manner and on one or two
occasions the burglars We're discovered
while at work, but always made desper-
ate resistance and succeeded in escap-
ing. Numerous postoffices We're also
robbed in the states above named
Investigation showed that these burg
larieS were perpetrated by hobo or
''yegg'' burglars and that they were IN
der the leadership of Joseph Rapiey alias
Topeka Joe. who was known as king
of the yeggmen."
1t was found that Rapley was living
in Baltimore, Md, where he owned a sa-
loon and was known as J. B. Evans. Az
ter the Williamsburg robbery he fed TO
New York and then to Connecticut.
While the detectives weer awaiting the
arrival of the Identifying witness Rap
ley eluded them and went to Portland, to
which place he was traced by Pinkerton
detectives.
Rapley assumed the name of Thomas
]. Harrison, and was ACCOMPANIED by
his wife, who was formerly the wife of
Buck Ballard, another noted "yegg''
burglar now in an eastern penitentia1@y
Rapley arrived in Portland on July l
and he and his wife took rooms in a
boarding house. Rapley was absent
from the city a good deal of the time and
MS Vile gave people to understand that
he was travelling man. When the de-
tectives located his wife Rapley was out
OF town, but returned July %. when he
was arrested In his possession was
round a most elaborate kit of burglar
| tools and proofs that he had been CON
erned in the robbery OF not less than five
different postoffices in Washington and
oregon since his arrival in the west A
map OF the state was also found on his
person, with number of points marked.
indicating that he had planned extensive
raids on banks and postoffices in ore
gOn.