The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-05-17
HORSE THIEF FAST AND LOOSE
George s. Crouse.Arrestedl at Harris
Boarding Honse, but Dodges and
Got Clear Away.

walks and through back yards quickly
aroused the neighborhood in the vi
cinity of the John Harris boarding
house at the corner Of Spruce and
Walnut streets about nine O'Clock Sun
day. investigation proved that it
was not terrible murder, but the dep
uty sheriff vainly trying Ito recover
possession of George Grouse, arrested
for theft and running for his life.
About two weeks ago George S.
Grouse engaged a room and board at
the Harris boarding house. He was
domiciled in the rear of the building
ris home. An elderly man and girl
called with him to secure the rooms
He secured enough stable room for
good horse and said he expected his
brother to arrive shortly from Blue
Mound with his harness and buggy,
he himself arriving on horseback.
He soon secured work on the Method
list church under John l.. Harris, the
contractor, and impressed everyone as
a quiet, sober, industrious gentleman.
On the excuse of his old clothes and
the non-arrival of his good ones, he
mingled little with the other boarders,
but was kind and obliging about the
place. One morning he peeled the po-
tatoes for Mrs. Harris when the girls
| al ID al tit,,au hn 70
one Of the house maids twenty-five
cents, from pure kindness. So he was
held in high esteem.
About O'Clock Saturday afternoon
he settled his bill and stated that he
was going to Kincaid for his clothes
and buggy. The next news of him was
the visit Of deputy sheriff Hutton with
news that the officers had telegraphed
| to look out for him as he and another
man had stolen a buggy from widow
living between Blue Mound and Kin
caid. A druggist who rooms at the
house and had an interest in the buggy
got on the trail, discovered wherestwo
men had pulled the buggy from 1.-THE
barn and hitched up in the road and
driven toward Kincaid. So quick was
the pursuit and so accurate the des-
cription that the trail was easily fol-
lowed to lola.
About y O'Clock Grouse drove to the
barn, unhitched andlwas preparingtogo
tohis room when Deputy Sheriff Hutton
and Constable Conleyl nabbed him.
They read the warrant and Grouse
turned pale and trembled violently.
He was searched but nothing found on
him but razor. Mr.. Harris came
out from the house and Grouse asked
If he would 90 on his bond, but was
told he had better secure the man he
worked for. Grouse then seemed to
give up and turning asked to be al
lowed to feed his horse. Grain was
placed in the feed box and then ne
said something about hay and stepped
toward the pile. Mr.. Harris ana Hut
ton both protested that thoylwould at
tend to that, but Grouse took one step
and Swisted through siGe doorr Hut
ton after him. Grouse ran around the
barn and then went across. the lawn to
Walnut street, around next the ROsen-
berg house TO the alley again and
then Off across the Duffy property
Hutton pursued him out OF the barn
and at u, distance of about twenty feet
fired his ,revolver after the Aeeing man,
calling to him to "halt." 1t is a we'll
known fact, however, that you have
to hurry TO see George" and this was
no exception. He never stopped, but
flew to safety, leaving the. officers to
beat up the alley and barns to no Pur-
pose. No further trace of him has
been found.
Monday Sheriff Moore and depaties
from Garnstt are here, but have learned
nothing. They did possess a com
plete description of the man, gained
from his note book, secured in his
room. He is five feet. eleven inches
tall, "a years old, dark hair and a
lighter mustache, sandy complicated.
He claimed to hail from Nebraska and
it is now believed he stole the horse
also, On his way here he tore the
trade mark from the back of the buggy
and whip stock. He repeatedly spoke
of having another horse and a buggy
and it is surmised that he simply had
his eye on another. He claimed to
have an uncle at Blue Mound, but no
one seems to know about him nor who
the old man and girl were who accom-
panied him when he first came. Sher-
in Moore took what things he had, in
Guiding a good kodac and will try and
locate some one who can give more in
formation about him.
In the meantime Bill Conley Is grin
ming in sympathy for Hutton, for not
many moons ago Bill lost prisoner
off a Missouri Pacific freight coming
from Yates Center. He now thinks he
has company.
A Io,,o m, MID 0onon