The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-14
POLITICAL PETS.
Two Of Them Are on Trial For
Highway Robbery.
TSCrook" Wright and ssPearIy"
Atkinson Defendants.
IMBLER TELLS STORY.
Was Knocked Down at Early
Hour in Morning.
LMBLER TELLS STORY.
Identified the Two Negroes as
Men Who Robbed Him.

The trial Of Crook Wright and his
pal .Pearly'' Atkinson, both colored, for
the holding up and robbing Of Claud
Tmbler in January, 1900. was commenced
in the district court this morning before
a jury.
Imbler at the time of the robbery was
a news agent on the Santa Fe train run
ming between Topeka and St. Joe. On a
Sunday night in January he returned
from Atchison as usual on the train due
in Topeka at 1875 but which was about
80 minutes late. He put his box OF
merchandise away, ate a light lunch at
d restaurant near the depot and started
for his home at 312 Branner street. He
walked east on the north side of Fourth
street. As he came even with the alley
in the first block just east of the Santa
F'e tracks he was held up by two color
ed men and robbed of all he had, 1865
He was struck on the head twice by the
men and the second blow knocked him
SenseIess. When he recovered his senses
he saw the men running north through
the alley a half block away Imbler
went to the Santa F'e depot and report
ed the hold up to Officers Carpenter and
Turpin. The next day Chief Of Police
Ramsey had Wright and Atkinson ar
rested on the strength of the descrip-
ton given by Irnbler- At the police sta
ton ImbIer saw the two men and posi-
lively identified them as the men who
held him up. At the preliminary trial
in the city court where Wright and At
kinson were bound over he positively
testified that they We're the men who
held him up and robbed him. At the
trial this morning all efforts to shake
his testimony regarding the identInca-
ton was unava1l1ng. He pointed out the
two men to the jury Other testimony
viii be introduced by the state to show
that Wright and Atkinson were seen
around the depot just before the train
came in.
Imbler was the first witness He told
of his movements up to the time of his
starting for home and said: 4 went
half a. block east on Fourth street before
1 saw anyone. 1t was about midnight
What was the first you saw OF any
"A fellow jumped out of the alley and
grabbed me by the throat
Did you see him?'
which one of the defendants was
he?''
"That one pointing at Atkinson
Did you ever see him before"
Yes: I had seen him around the
You say he grabbed you by the
throat2''
What kind Of night was it?''
1T was moonlight
Enough for you to see his face?"
Yes
What did you dor
I struggled to get away. Another
fellow came out Of the alley"
You say some one else came out?''
Yes"
s.TVho?'
THAT man." pointing at "crook"
What did he do?"
Struck me on the side OF the mead
what with?"
"A piece OF gas pipe"
How Iong2
About three feet"
p 411 ink
Yes
what effect did the blow have?''
1T staggered me"
What did they do theng
Grabbed me and threw me down.
What then -
They went through my pockets"
Then what2"
me again"
+sPetween three and four dollars
You say when you tried TO get up |
they knocked you down again
Eyes. It knocked me silly"
How long before you came TOP
about a minute
where were they2"
ABOUT half way down the alley
where did you go then2"
ITO the depot and told Officers Car
penter and Turpin-'
TAT the city jail the next day
Did YOU know their names then
you are sure these are the men who
robbed your
Yes
.sYou identify them now2"
YES"
Upon cross-examination the defense
tried to tangle Imbler about the time Of
night when the robbery happened and /
whether he consented to the drawing up |
Of the complaint
COL r L JeItz. witness for the
defense, said he wanted to catch
train" and was allowed to testify. He i
said he heard that ImbIer has accused I
some Of the boys" of having robbed
him. He gave his own occupation as
journalist He said ImbIer told him
ne wanted to get his money back On
cross-examination County Attorney Jet
more got him somewhat tangled and
JeItz said. Il am surprised that ] was
summoned as a witness"
so am T said Jetm9re-
Crook Wright was the proprietor Of
the Big 400 club which figured IN the
Collins trial Atkinson has always been
Nrfght's first lieutenant The term Of
imprisonment in the penitentiaTy for
highway robbery is from 10 to q years
Both men have d ''DuII'' and they hope