The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-16
he IS CAUGHT.
Man Who Fleeced Bank of To-
peka Apprehended.
Arrested by PinkertOn Men in
COnejos, Colorado.
is KNOWN AS ROYCE.
Was Attempting to Work Old
Game When Arrested.
Whole PfDkert0n Machinery
Has Been on His Trail.
Will Probably Be Brought to
Topeka For Trial.

The man who f1eeced the Bank of To-
peka out of $500 has been caught. At
least Edwin J. Royce is under arrest
at Conejos, Colorado, an obscure ham
let near the New Mexico line, charged
with the crime.
The information of the capture was
received by f. H. Tillotson Pinkerton
superintendent in Kansas City.
Since the deal in Topeka last August
the entire force of the immense Pinker-
ton organization in North America has
been after Royce and his arrest now is
considered one of the most important
captures the Pinkertons have made for
a long time. Superintendent Tillotson
says it is a source of qualification that
Royce was finally run down by Kansas
City men, He was arrested under the
name of Wilbur. Superintendent Til
lotSon at once began yesterday to try to
have Royce brought to Topeka for trial,
and though there are the same serious
charges against him in Conejos, it is
expected he will be returned to answer
for the Bank of Topeka deal
ROyce'S plan of operation was not in
tricate. He dealt with prominent law
yers and Heading banks. His deal in
Topeka carried out with surprising ease
is but fair sample of his work in
scores of other places.
Here Royce went to the law firm of
Overmyer & Mulvane. and represented
that his home was in Pardee, Kan; that
he owned a general merchandise store
there, and because of family difficulties
wished to sell out. He gave the name
of Ross in the transaction here. He said
his brother, who hZed in Pardee wish
to buy, and Royce said he simply wish
ed the lawyers to conserve his interests
in the transaction. The lawyers ad-
dressed a letter to the name and ad-
dress Royce gave. Several days later
an answer came, ostensibly from the
brother, accepting the offer of sale, the
purchase price being 81, 500, and inclos-
ing a certified check for 5000 and a
promissory note for $500. That ended
the deal
Z Royce said he was practically a
stranger in Topeka, and asked Mr..
Overmyer to introduce him to a bank
where he could get his certified check
for the 5000 cashed. The lawyer intro
duced him at the Bank of Topeka, and
he got his 5000. The certified check,
forged of course, was drawn upon
bank in st. Joseph, Mo-, and was re-
turned in due time with an IN. G."
stamp.
Since the deal in Topeka Superin-
tendent Tillotson says he has received
nearly 100 letters from different parts
of the country pertaining to similar
deals. 1t is thought Royce has success
fully worked the plan in over 20 differ
ent cities since he worked the trick in
Topeka last August. Every week since
then the PinkertOns have heard of the
plan again being worked, now in one
state, now in another, but every case
bore the same earmarkS. The Snan
rested in Conejos was attempting the
same scheme and though he gave the
name of Wilbur the information tele-
graphed to Kansas City was that he is
the Edwin J. Royce of the Topeka
deal.
OvERMYER REFUSES TO TALK.
Mr.. Overmyer today positively re-
fused to discuss the matter. To a re-
porter for the State Journal who called
to see him, he strenuously objected to a
rehearsal of the case in the newspa-
pers.
when the case is finally brought into
the courts and the man put on trial, /
will be ready to make a statement re-
garding the transaction, said Mr..
Overnyer. Until that time 1 consider
it would be very unwise for me to talk
about it for publication
The scheme in which he was so in
nocently assisted by Mr.. Oyermyer, was
we'll worked by the man Royce and is
one of the cleverest bank swindling
this country.
Soon after it was discovered that the
5000 note the man had cashed at the
Bank of Topeka was worthless, Pinker-
ton men were put to work on the case.
In following up a clew through one of
the banks at ST. Joseph and Horton,
Kansas, the Pinkerton man talked more
about the case than was perhaps neces-
sary, and in this manner it became
public property
Following the disclosure of the swim
City made special efforts to apprehend
the swindler. and bankers in all parts
of the country rejoice in the capture.
Royce will undoubtedly be tried in
the Shawnee county district court.