The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-23
TAPPED HIS WIRE
Road House Proprietor Finds a
Surprise.
His Telephone Line Connected
With That of Robert Stone.

Harry Croft, the proprietor of the
road house on West Seventeenth street,
threatens to bring criminal and civil
actions in the courts against Robert
Stone because Stone tapped his tele-
phone wire.
Croft has been convicted in justice
court OF selling liquor at his road house
and he has appealed the case to the
district court. Robert Stone, of the
law firm of Troutman & Stone, lives
short distance west of Croft'S place.
Stone has been energetic in trying to
have the road house closed in hopes of
driving Croft away from his neighbor-
hood.
saS and Missouri Telephone exchange
here, has in his possession the 600 feet
of wire used in tapping and connecting
the Croft line with the telephone in
Stones house.
Croft became suspicious and this
morning sent word to Manager BayleSs
and the manager sent a ineman out to
investigate. The lineman found 500
feet of insulated wire running from the
Croft telephone line into Stones house.
Mrs Stone claimed the wire but the
Hneman confiscated it and took it to the
telephone exchange.
The wire running to Croft's place
turns in front Of his place and runs in
wires goes further west The wire
which tapped the Croft line was at
tached to the wire where it turned to
run INTO the Croft mousse Ine tapping
wire was Secreted in a crack in the
pole and was carried in the crack to the
ground. 1t was laid a few feet on the
ground to a hedge which runs parallel
with the road on the opposite side from
Croft's. The wire was carried along in
the hedge several hundred feet until
in front of Stones home, then it was
carried in a trench under the road into
the yard and to the house
The end of the wire was near the
telephone which connects Mr. Stones
residence with the city exchange. By
disconnecting the regular wire from
the telephone and inserting the tap
wire from the Croft line those who
listened at the telephone in Mr.. Stones
house could hear the conversation be-
tween Topeka places and the Croft
roadhouse. Mr.. Stone says some of the
conversation was very racy.
When seen this morning Mr.. Stone
did not deny that he had tapped the
wire, but he denied that he had COM
mitted any civil or criminal offense.
Mr.. Stone said this morning: 1.-THE wire
was not connected with Croft's wire
nor with my telephone when it was
found. I expected that it would be
found sooner or later. I did not think
1 could keep them from knowing about
it all the time. The first time I had
dental. Their wire got crossed with ours
last summer. I put in the tapping wire
to hear their telephone messages. The
way to fight the devil is with fire.
got onto good many of their doings,
and that wire has been a source of in
formation to me. There is no statute
under which they can proceed against
me, crirninally nor civilly. / presume
there is an ordinance in the city against
the tapping of wires, but no law ap-
plying to the country. / shall be very
glad to have Mr.. Croft bring a civil or
criminal proceeding against me-"
Mrs. Stone, who was present when the
wire was confiscated, and who demand
ed it, said this morning: Mr.. Stone
had only tapped the wire, that was all.
He had a good purpose in tapping it, 1
tried to get them to give me the wire,
but they would not do it,
Harry Croft said this morning: 81
shall consult a lawyer and bring a
civil and cri~.inal action against Mr..
Stone. I shall sue for damages, but do
not know just what 1 will do until I
consult my lawyer