The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-09
STOLE ONLY A KISS.
Captured Burglar Tells a Story That
Secures His Release.

| 3 Kansas City, Sept. "a kiss stolen
| from the lips of little child reunited
a family Saturday night and the recon-
ciliation was completed and left intact
by Holly Jarboe, desk sergeant at po-
lice headquarters, who saw a higher
6uty than that Of police officer and
dared to do it although in conflict with
his official duty. Jarboe did not say
anything about the circumstance, hop
ing to keep it quiet
Il did not think it wise for me to
say anything, for 1 had caught the man
in the act of housebreaking, and maybe
burglary, too, and then turned him
loose. That does not sound very well
for police officer, but I feel that I did
right just the same acknowledged
Jarboe when questioned.
II think l can clear myself by eX-
planning the circumstances, but some of
the details / am going to omit for the
sake of other persons.
LAS I was returning from lunch Sat-
urday night, l saw man jump out of
a window of a house, scale down a
porch post and run. At the same time
a woman in. the house screamed. 1
chased the man and caught him. He
did not look like a thief, but 1 started
to the station with him. Then the man
began to weep.
1 have had trouble enough he said
" but l am no thief. I doubt if you
will believe the truth when 1 tell it, I
do not know whether 1 can prove what
1 am going to tell you, or not. Maybe
I will not need to prove it-are you a
married mann he asked me. 1 told
'' Then you have never loved a little
child, and you will not understand me-
he replied
"I broke into that house just to steal
this, and kiss, and he showed me
lock of yellow hair coiled around one of
his fingers.
II live in a little town out in Kan
sas- 1t does not make any difference
been a fool all right. in the eyes of
most people, but they do not need to
know.
"A few days ago-wen, wife and I,
we had a misunderstanding. Both were
to blame, or at least I was. She took
out little boy years old, and started
for Kansas City, saying I would never
see her again. I was proud-tried to
act like I did not care. 1 bore up all
day, but when night came. But you
are not married. You have no wife nor
baby. You do not know what a real
home is. 1 did not until night came and
they were not there. / sat up all night
waiting for the first train to Kansas
City. I did not know what was going
to do when I got there, but 1 came. I
found my wife in the home of a friend,
just where I expected she would be. 1
did not expect she would make up with
me. All that l hoped for was just an
other kiss from baby. climbed the
porch and cut the screen from the win
dow. leaned over my wife while she
was asleep and kissed the baby A curl
was hanging over mis- forehead. I took
my pocket knife and cut it loose I
guess 1 pulled some, for he walked with
a scream and I ran, and you caught
me.
Il stopped him right there. Man,
we are going back to that woman and
baby 1 said to the fellow, and If that
woman does not take you back IIl-
but she will take you back
DO you think So, he exclaimed
never saw a more changed and happy
expression come over man.
ssRack at the house all was excite
ment over the supposed burglar 1 saw
a woman there with a yellow-haire
child in her arms I took the man by
the hand, in which he was still holding
the stolen lock. Here is the burglar,