The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-08
Mr.. West, Alias Steve Leatherby,
in Hands Of Law.
Accused OF SwIndling Old Sol
diers Out Of Money.
HAD A SMOOTH GRAFT.
Was Long in Promises But Sly
in Performance.
Wanted in KIngman, Fall River
Cheney and Mulvane.

Wichita, June Starry GoldsDery, OF
Kingman, passed through here with a
man under arrest whom some Of the
old soldiers at Kingman viii be glad
to see. The old boys in blue have
desire to land this particular individual
in the penitentiary for obtaining money
from them under circumstances that
they think were not honest
The man under arrest was known at
Kingnan last spring as William West
and some of the old soldiers at Mulvane
claim that they knew the same indivd-
uaI as steve Leatherby. Whatever his
name Mr.. GoldsDery claims he has got
the individual wanted at Kingman, and
at Mulvane. He was arrested at Fall
River in this state, where he was play
ing the same game on the old soldiers
that he played at Kingman and Null
vane.
William T.. West came to Cheney last
spring and represented that he was
from Mankato. Mimi, and that he had
just sold a. farm near that place for
$4,000 and had left the money in the
bank at Mankato. He was also the
owner of large number OF nne WOOL
sheep and he wanted to buy a farm
near Cheney on which to Craze his
sheep There was an old soldier or two
at Cheney who had known " llI nam =,
West in the army. This gave west q
standing and he contracted for several
farms, some of which were over the
line in Kingman county
There was nothing about Mr.. West
that ought to have aroused suspicion.
He would borrow small amounts OF
money from the people of whom he con
tracted land to be repaid when his
money arrived from Mankato. He also
had a pleasant habit of promising to
make presents to the fam lilies of the
men of whom he borrowed small
amounts. He promised several new
dresses and suits of clothes and several
parrots that were famous 1ngu1sts-
They could talk all the languages to
suit the persons to whom he intended
to give them
He came to Wichita one day with one
Of his victims to meet his family and
several carloads of sheep that he ex-
pected to arrive here from Minnesota
They went to the Santa F'e depot where
Mr.. West was taken ILL., His Cheney
friend went out to hunt for a physician
and when he returned his friend West
could not be found. That was few
days before Easter Sunday. There were
broad hints at foul play at the time, but
it was afterwards found that West took
the next train for Mulvane, where he
repeated his story about the sale OF the
farm.
1t was rather singular that a man
would attempt the same game in two
towns so close together. but he made it
win. Strange as it may seem when ne
went to Mulvane and said his name
was Steve Leatherby. an old soldier at
that place knew Steve like book.
Steve reminded him Of SO many circum-
stances of their service in the same reg
iment that the Mulvane man remem-
bered him distinctly. but now he is
wondering how he did it.
The contracting of the farms and the
promising of presents among which the
parrots were conspicuous was repeated
at Mulvane. Nobody seen ed to doubt
the integrity of Steve Leatherby. One
day Mr. Leatherby told his Mulvane
to meet his family and that cargo of
fine sheep. That night a large number
of old soldiers were at the depot at Null
vane to meet their new found friend
and his family, but from that day to
this they never heard a word from
| Steve Leatherby.