The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-13
BANDIT AUTHOR.
J. s. Kerns, Great Bend Robber,
Writes Strange Story.
Manuscript Found in His Rooms
i'm Chicago.
TALE OF BANK HOLDUP
Resem bles In SOmeRespects Facts
in the Newton Case.
The Horrors He Suffered End
With Suicide.
TALE OF BANK HOLDUF

Chicago. Dec 1s.@The Tribune
gives the following remarkable story in
connection with the history of J. S.
<erns. the Newton and Great Bend
bank robber. It says:
Joseph Shepard Kerns, 10 years old,
self declared failure in civilized life, .
after few weeks attempt in Chicago
at dry goods, journalism, and what not
has now a record Of three bank rob-
berries to his .'credit''=two Of them
coIdly real and the third imaginary but
crammed full Of verisimilitude.
Kerns, who was captured last Satur-
day in the once wild west town Of
Great Bend, Kan, after holding up a
bank cashier at the point of a gun and
r0bbing the bank of $3.50, confessed
yesterday to having robbed the Mid
land National bank at Newton, Kan,
on the afternoon of November Is. when
he locked the clerks and customers.
six IN all, In the bank vault and es-
capped with $500.
Kerns Recently in Chicago.
Until short time ago Kerns lived
IN Chicago in the house Of Mrs. s. E.
White, PAS Prairie avenue. He re-
turned to this city ten days ago and re-
NAMED a short time. The Newton rob-
berry occurred before this visit and the
Great Bend robbery one week after
ward
In the room which the young bandit
occupied in Mrs Whites house there
was discovered yesterday a manuscript
written by Kerns and detailing the in
firnAte story of a bank rcbber-
In its broader outlines the account
resembles the facts Of the Newton rob-
barry Possibly ii was intended to be
m account OF this exploit: more likely
At stands as the third "robbery'-the
imaginary case worked out to far con-
illusions and carrying an account Of
she workings Of the robbers mind
NH
Certainly the remarkable narrative
was written within the last few weeks,
for II tells al the outset the account Of
the boys discharge from the City
Press association, on which he was
employed for a week shortly before
leaving Chicago
Although told n the third person.
the story Is clearly autobiographfcaI-
large size note paper bearing the let
ter head OF the Grand Pacific hotel. in
a scraHI which would Indicate that
the writer was 1aboring under great
nervous excitement
The climax OF the story is a $4,000
bank robbery committed by the
hero in a hypoth etical town named
GRANVILLE. which might be Newton A
subsequent sharing Of the spoils with
relatives and a visit to the robber's
home approach closely to the facts Of
Kerns' experience While the boys
mother Is said to have died several
years ago. his two sisters, residing at
SIS Liberty street, Ann Arbor, Mich.
received money from him at several
times when II is now known he had
no means Of earning it.
HIS sisters of course believed he was
working at honest employment.
Takes Name OF tom Ryan,
Young Kerns, sitting down to write
ont the fancifui story of his robbery
which already had nearly a counter
part In his actual career. and was to
have another partial reproduction so
Boon-With the consequent capture
took the name of Tom Ryan" for his
hero. The manuscript starts right
into the account OF his discharge from
work in Chicago as follows:
I'm sorry, but we find It neces-
rarT to cut down expenses and we
zaust lay or a man. As you were the
iast one hired Il Is my disagreeable
H1ty tn pick upon you as the one
Tom Ryan for such was the name