The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-12
ROMAINE A FAKE.
His Confession Is Exploded by
Developments.
Was in La Junta Day Of Indepen-
dence Outrage.
NO DOUBT OF FACTS.
First Went by Name OF L. o.
White.
Worked on the New Santa Fe
Shops.
HOME ON JUNE 6.
Cared for Baby While Wife Was
Out Washing.
His Record Was Anything But
Good.
Officers Easily Duped by His
. Clever Story.
HOME
Cared for Baby While Wife Was
Out Washing.
lis Record Was Anything But
Good.
Officers Easily Duped by His
Clever Story.

La Junta, Colo, Sept. 11.-In rather
accidental manner it was learned to-
to have aided in the blowing up of the
Vindicator mine and who also implicat-
ed himself in the blowing up of the de-
pot at Independence, on June 9Th last,
was in La Junta at the time that the
explosion occurred. If it is necessary
affidavits of good responsible citizens
can be secured to that effect.
Romaine's history in La Junta is as
follows: Some three years ago he lived
here under the name of 1. o. White,
and leaving here he went to Pueblo
and was sent to the penitentiary from
there in 1901. He returned here about
the 24th of March of this year and Sc
cured board and lodging at the Park
House, and went to work on the new
shops. Shortly after the first of April
he left town but returned on April eth
and resumed his work in the shops.
The 23rd~ of April he left the Park
House and secured rooms for himself
and wife and baby, who had just ar
rived in the city. On May 9Th he rent
ed house on Smithland avenue secur-
ing furniture at second hand store,
Rev. Conrad Bluhm, pastor of the Pres
DylST1dn CnuTCIl, SOOQ IOT Ills
purchase to the amount of $40.
While Romaine was doing time t
Canon City, Rev. Mr. Blum preached
to the convicts and learning that Mr..
church here, he looked him up and told
him OF hearing his sermon at the peni-
tentiary and asked him to assist him
which the reverend gentleman did to
his sorrow. On June 1st he was gar
nisheed by Mrs. Foxworthy, proprie-
fraSS of the Park House for his hOa rd
bill, which resulted in him losing his
job. During this week the Patterson
Braynard Carnival Company was hold
ing forth in this city, and he was
known to attend the carnival every day
and evening during its stay in town,
and on Saturday night, at the close of
the performances, Romaine and wife
came home with some of their neigh
bOrS.
On Sunday he was seen going down
town and on Monday, June 9Th, the day
of the explosion, he was around the
house and his wife was at one of the
neighbors doing some washing while he
was caring for the baby, who gave him
some trouble, and he went to the
neighbors and cursed his wife because
she did not come home and take care of
the child. He also said that if she was
going to remain, he would bring her
bed to her. Soon after this he left La
Junta, presumably, on the 9Th, going
east, his wife remained here until the
d
ON a pass over the Santa Fe, which he
secured for her. Prior to her leaving
La Junta, she had received two tele-
grams from him at Topeka under the
name of Seagle.
During their stay in La Junta they
were in destitute circumstances and
assisting them with food
at different times kept them from
starving. The furniture which they
had purchased was taken by the deal
ers, no house rent was paid and the
small amount of groceries which he
was able to secure was also left un-
paid. In fact if he was guilty of pay
ing any bill at all, it is unknown.
During his first residence in La Jun
ia he went under the name of White,
and on being recognized by one of the
neighbor ladies, she stated that she
would call on Mrs. White, whom she
had formerly known, and upon doing
so found a strange lady. Romaine
explained that he had ditched his for
mer wife stating that she was no good. |
This wife requested the neigh hbor lady |
to address her as Mrs. Romaine. as
they did not care to go under the |
name of White. He secured house |
rent under the name of White, board
under the name of Romaine, and |
worked for the company under the
name of 1. O. White, and all of his |
mail came addressed to I. o. White.
Mrs Romaine stated to her neigh |
oors at the time of the independence |
explosion that she was glad that he |
was not in the Cripple Creek district |
1t the time of the explosion, as he1
was a strike breaker, and might have
been with the men who were killed. |
They seemed to be very much inter-
ested in the affair, and borrowed pa
oers of the neighbors containing an
account of the explosion. After Ro-
maine left La Junta, on the ninth of
Tune, his wife appeared to hear moth
ng from him until she received the |
elegrams and she intimated to the |
leighbors that she feared that he had /,
eft her, yet she was very guarded
n her conversation to the neighbors,
elling nothing of her previous history.
During Romaines residence here
several houses were burglarized in his
leighborhood, and it was presumed ,
hat he did the work, although no ar
ests were made. His picture in the
Topeka State Journal was readily rec
'gnized by his neighbors here.