The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-10
WILL STAND TRIAL
Quartet of Shoplifters Bound
Over 10 District Court
THEFT CT DRESS SKIRTS
Some Interesting Legal Points
Came Up Today.

| Yesterday morning the two couples,
John Wilson. Aggie Henry. Mildred Rog-
ers and J. B. Rogers were given pre-
Iiminsry hearing. TO answer TO the charge
of sbopiifting or rather the stealing Of a
silk dress skirt from the Boston store
last week.
Chief Burt, Harry Sutton and several
other police officers testified that Mrs.
Rogers had confessed that she and the
other three were guilty of the charge.
The evidence disclosed the fact that the
quartet seemed to be out on a hop lift
ing excursion and it is alleged that they
commenced their operations at Cash Hen
derson's last Thursday, then visited
Louis Policiners storeFriday and on Sat
urday they are said to have touched the
Boston store and lines for several skirts.
The stolen goods were found Saturday
evening in the rooms of Mr.. and Mrs.
Rogers at the Piazza hotel. The police
at once placed Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers n
der arrest and later Officer Sutton arrest
ed John Wilson and Aggie Henry, who
it is claimed were in the company of Mr..
and Mrs. Rogers. After hearing the tes-
timony of the different witnesses for the
state an adjournment was taken until
$3.50 yesterday afternoon, the defense stat
ing that they would offer no testimony.
About 3:z5 the case was again taken up,
when ]. D. Houston, who is the attorney
for John Wilson addressed the court,
making a very eloquent appeal for his
client, who he claimed was not guilty
Of the crime for which he was arrested,
but that he had simply been found in
bad company which had involved him in
the crime. Mr.. Houston furthermore
stated that Mr.. Wilson's parents were old
and respected citizens Of Wichita, and
that he did not believe the evidence in
troduced was strong enough to force
Wilson to be bound over with the other
three alleged criminals. In reply to this
James Conley. attorney for the state,
made an exceptionally strong and con-
vincfng address. scoring Wilson and Ag-
gle Henry especially. saying that If VII
son was not guilty of any knowledge of
the crime, how It came that Aggie Henry
had to ask permission of the police to
talk with Wilson so that they could 10
cate where the stolen goods were con-
cealed.
Mr. Comfy was complimented by many
of those present during the hearing of
the case, on his excellent speech.
Attorney George Adams had no argu-
ment to make for his clients. Mr.. and
Mrs. Rogers and Aggie Henry.
Judge Harvey after several minutes Of
elaboration, decided that John Wilson
appeared to be as guilty as the rest, and
bound the four over to the September
term of the district court, fixing the
amount of bail at $500 each.
Judge L. c. Green, the father Of NIL
bred Rogers, one of the misguided girls,
and J. c. Casey of this city went as Sc
curity on Mrs. Rogers bond, but she
refused to leave the jail unless her hus-
band accompanied her. So far no one
has appeared to prefer their services as
bondsmen for the remaining three.
An interesting question viii be discuss
ed this morning in the city court when
the lines charge against the four al
ready accused VIII be heard. It seems
that George Adams, attorney for the de-
PENDANT claims that the prisoners can not
be given a hearing for a misdemeanor
while they are already bound over on a
charge Of grand larceny to the September
term Of district court. Mr.. Adams seems
20 think that Judge Harvey has for the
present lost Jurisdiction over the alleged
81 oplifters.
County Attorney James Comfy claims
that the accused can be returned to the
city court to have a preliminary hearing
for misdemeanor for a similar offense
as that implied in the grand larceny
charge, only that the theft Of the goods
from Policiner and lines &, Co. amounted
to less than 500 which makes it a mis-
demeanor and the Boston Store loss
amounted TO nearly SIS, making the
charge one of grand larceny.