The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-10

and, al times, desperately exciting chase
all over this country and Canada for
more than two years NJ. N. Let's who
is charged with arson, burglary and
forgery by the railroad company, and
who has been convicted already on the
burglary charge, has been arrested once
again, and this time in Panama, South
America A eabIegram to this effect
was received Saturday by I'll. II. Ger
main, chief secret service agent of the
Santa Fe. 1t came from E. J. Price,
Santa Fe detective, who with Matt
kenny, a detective on the Kansas City,
Mo, police force, went to Panama after
him. They have the necessary reQuisi-
tton papers for his return, and if all
goes well this rather famous criminal
viii be behind the bars in Kansas City
within a couple OF weeks.
But catching Let's and keeping him
In custody is a different proposition.
Whenever he is spoken of by Santa Fe
men he is called slippery Let's and
he deserves the name. Four times be-
fore he has been arrested and each
time he has escaped. His escapes have
been as varied and full OF exciting epi-
sodes as have been those of any crimi-
nal of the present day In fact he is
looked upon with @ little awe by the
law officers, who have had dealings
with him. He seems to be sort of a
reincarnation of HugO's wonderful Gre
dAAoLs jean dtlEdu HIS Ire IS GER
tainly sort of d charmed one for on
more than one occasion pursuing Off
GERS have shOWered bullets by the doz-
en- after him and Onne has ever hit him.
He has broken out of a Jail that was
thought to be rather fmpregnable. Mr..
German, however. is sanguine that he
viii not get away again. He is sure
that Price and Kenny will land him
safely in jail in Kansas City, that he
VIII be convicted of one of the crimes
with which he is charged and that
eventually he viii be landed in prison
to serve a good long term
1t has cost the Santa Fe company
about $4,000 to hunt Let's during
these two years, but it is the policy
of the company to spend any needed
amount and chase cusprft a cOuDIe
of times around the earth before
catching him, as a warning to all that
the company viii take any and all
means to punish dishonesty.
Let's is accused of first rObbing the
station at Princeton, Kas., of $4,000
worth or tickets on the night of No
vember p, 1903, a number of Wells
Fargo Express COMPANY. money orders
and other things, and then setting The
station on fire and burning it to the
ground.
How He Was Found.
For a short time after the fire it was
supposed uhat the station had acct
oentally caught fire and been de-
9--Oy S1 IN Luat way Along In De
cember Mr.. German found two tick
els IN a brokers' office in Kansas Citv
Whlcn looked suspicious. They had
Deen changed and altered but uDon
4Qoklng UP their numbers it was found
Ia tllstL lhey were tickets which had
yesH IN the Princeton office. Then
We conclusion was reAched that fhe
~ lLlilceton station had been burglar
- - ana afterwards burned in order
- me roDpery might be covered. in.
1A-1SI Hhulng these tickets Mr. c.
nam continued his search for -.
a. Lnefn IN Kansas City. and locateS
C-LIL'y OF them in the possession ~
George Wells, ticket broker vE1aIIe
vas taken to the police stafior, 80
go go aatnllted that he had a perfors-
-iou lAacnine, cutter ror r17s1-f,s,-
-llllple1 tickets, and ab0ut 1O006
Nolth or tickets. which he t13rSeS
go 70 Mr. German. 1t was fornd
S,lat tnese had been taken from, ~ !
itilIleton once Wells was tried IN
80 &c OF receiving stolen goods. -vyas
GSoilEicled and sentenced to two 7zears'
~ y ESQ illnent. He appealed to fbe
~ enc court and this appeal is sin
penang However, he pleaded eniif15
~ -ouF counts Of misdemeanors anS
was given one year in Jail.
A Santa Fe Operator.
MT German then got on the trail Of
t ne man who stole the tickets and
1uIAsd tne station. Wells told him
mat he did not know who the faIIoZzT
was from whom he purchased the tick
lCartiuued on Hazs psea.4