The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-15
KANSAS news.
A Young Gypsy Girl From Mer-
Ram in Jail.
Although Only Fourteen Years
Old She Is a Wife.
DEVOTION TO HUSBAND
He Was Arrested on Suspicion
of Stealing Harness.
A Voluntary Guest Of the Police
Station-TeIls Fortunes.

kansas city, Jan. IA pretty SyPSS
girl spent the night IN the holdover at
police headquarters. She was a volun-
tary guest. because she wanted to be
near her husband. good-natured piece
Of humanity who answers to the name
Of Birmingham.
A set of harness was tolen Saturday
from the premises of A. L. Crooks q
farmer residing near Merriam, Kas.s
few miles southwest of Argentine.
William Birmingham was arrested in
Kansas City Sunday afternoon on sus-
picion and is now locked up on q charge
of Investigation While not gypsy ne
leads nomadic life, and his wife, "A
years old, is of the genuine gypsy stock
At police station Birmingham was
marched up to Lieutenant Weber's desk
and his girl wife, who had a large bunch
of yellow beads hanging to each ear,
which ratified with every step she took.
and about twenty strands OF stiH larger
beads hanging from her neck, almost
hiding the bosom of her dress. was
taken into a side room.
Where do you live2" asked Lieuten-
ant Weber.
Il have no home"
s'Where have you been the last year."
Travelling everywhere
wen, tell WHERE insisted the lieu
tenant
i have been travelling about in a
wagon all over the country, in many
different states. and don't stay in one
place"
How do you make your living?''
IT do short jobs Of work and trade
horses. 1t don't cost much for me to
live
near Merriam. Kas.. where some har-
ness was stolen last night?'
Yes"
what did you do with the harnezs?"
II didn't take it.
Where were you going2"
ITO the home of my parents in Ne
hraska, where thought I could get a
but you came to town last night,
didn't your
Yes"
sAnd camped by some gypsies on the
| Southwest boulevard?"
Il camped right by them"
He was searched, and 81 in silver was
found on him and a letter addressed to
a Mr.. Smith.
Smith?''
mo. sir"
How did you come by this letter.
He could give no answer at all to this
his wife was then brought in amid
the rafting of beads She said she was
married when she was thirteen and one
half years old. She has an intelligent
/ face, but is poorly clad. She denied any
/ knowledge of the harness, but said #
! her husband was locked up she wanted
| to be locked up with him.
YES sir" she replied, shaking her
head and rafting the beads in her ears
Il can look right into any mans fu-
1 ture and tell him all about it I can
| tell what kind Of a woman a man IS
going to marry, when the wedding will
be and how they win get along to-
/ gether"
s'Can you predict your own future2''
Eyes, sir"
fWhy didn't you learn last night that
you would be arrested inside of twenty
| four hours?''
sOh, I never thought about it"
She took her arrest calmly, and
| walked down the stairway to the hold
| over as though nothing extraordinary
was happening.
| birmingham says he lived in Kansas
/ city several years ago before he joined
| the gypsies, and was a hard working
man.
The harness was found last night at
the gypsy camp on Southwest boule-
| ward. and some stolen brides owned by
parties at Merriam were found at an
| other gypsy camp on Bellefonta1ne ave
| nue. near Twenty-frst street A set OF
| harness believed to be stolen property
| was also taken charge Of Several sets
| Of harness have been reported missing
from Merriam within the last few days.
Warrants will be sworn out for B1rmlng-
ham and other parties today and they
-.yfII - faIxara ~ Merriam for trial.