The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-22
SELLS DENIES 1T.
Says There Is No Truth in Chicago
Sensation.

There is a story going the rounds of
the Chicago and eastern papers i'm
plicating William Sells the Topeka
circus man, in a disgraceful affair in
though it is evident the suit has not
been brought.
Mr.. Sells, who is in New York, has
Itelegraphed his attorney, Eugene Ha-
gan, that the charges are false and
asks him to make a denial
Here are the principal details of the
story as printed in the Chicago papers:
A comic opera singer and circus
owner are mentioned in the story of a
| fight and a broken head which is re-
| lated in the declaration of $25,OOO
damage suit to be filed in the superior
court today.
Further proceedings may follow as
soon as the victim of the attack is able
to leave his bed. and at that time
'Billy" Sells, part owner of the Sells
Brothers circus, will be accused OF
'murderous'' assault. Miss Blanche
Homan, a principal in His HighneSs
the Bey," 1.-The Belle of Newport" and
other musical comedies, is alleged to
| have been party to the attack, in
that she is charged with using the vic
tim as a means to arouse the jealousy
of Sells.
George B. Walker, city salesman of
the Shaw-Walker company, is slowly
recovering from a fracture of the skull,
which, he alleges was caused by Sells
!
he was able to be taken from the Wes-
| ley hospital to his room in the La
Strain hotel, 1888 Ellis avenue, where
he has been visited by his attorney, B.
J.. Wellman, and advised to begin both
civil and criminal proceedings.
Notwithstanding that Walker was at
| tackled within two blocks of the Stan
| ton avenue police station, and that he
ran through the streets Immediately af-
ter being injured, Lieut.. Mulcahy de-
| clared last night he had heard nothing
of the case. 1t was learned later that
a physician who attended Walker re-
ported to the police and that detectives
visited Wesley hospital to investigate.
The story told by Walker and the
only other witness who can be found,
| Mrs. Margaret ]. Kelly, owner of the
La Strain hotel is one of action" al
most fitted for publication in the latest
dime novel, Miss HOman, in company
with Mrs Richard Moser, engaged
rooms there a month ago, and she reg
| istered as Mrs. Blanche Williams. Until
two weeks ago she resided at the hotel.
| She became we'll acquainted with many
of the guests of the house, and after
she rented the fiat on Douglas place,
frequently invited them to attend musi-
cal evenings in her rooms when Sells
was not there.
Walker was one of these men, and he
| learned that she was Blenche Holman,
the actress. She made no attempt to
conceal her identity but said she had
retired from the stage. Last Friday ev-
ening, it is said, she had a quarrel with
Sells
At the climax of the disagreement
Miss Homan went to the telephone and
asked Mrs. Kelly to come to her The
latter went to the fiat. in company with
Walker, at $50 p. m. The travelling
man had been in the apartments only
few minutes when the doorben rang and
Mrs. Kelly went to the door. AS she
opened it Sells coatless and with a re-
volver in his hand, rushed in.
Miss Homan put her arm around
Walker and then Sells rushed at him
and, according to Walker, struck him
over the head with the revolver. The
| injured man sank to the floor and his
assailant is said to have continued to
strike the PROSTATE man. Miss Homan
/ had run from the room, but Mrs. Kelly
seized Sells and dragged him away
Walker F'aints in Physicians Office.
| Walker crawled out and ran to Cot
| tage Grove and Thirty-fifth street,
where he collapsed in the Office of DR..
James G.. Sinclair. The physician saw
| the extent of his injuries and sum-
| moned a surgeon, DIR. E. T. Afford, to
his assistance. Together they checked
| the bleeding, and Walker was taken to
| the Wesley hospital. There his skull
was operated upon, and an excellent
so that he was removed to his hotel
! Wednesday afternoon.
Mrs. Kelly followed Walker from
! the house, and Sells turned upon Miss
I Homan. Mrs. T. J. Switzer, the
! janitress, who occupies the ground
| floor of the building, said last evening
| that he talked and acted in an abusive
manner, later going to the Auditorium
Annex.