The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-16
he IS BOUND over
Jesse Collier Charged With
Burglary and Arson Held.
Will Answer Only for Grand
Larceny.
CAUSED A QUARREL.
Open Rupture Between Sheriff
and Police.
,AUsED A QUARREL.
The Testimony introduced
Proved Rather Meager.

Jesse Collier, negro, was bound
over by Judge Simon in the city court
today for trial in the district court. on
a charge of larceny in connection with
| the alleged burglarizing and robbery
| of Frank Keith's drug store, No. 404
Kansas avenue, on the morning OF
July 26, when the rear of the store
was also set on fire. A charge Of bur-
glary and larceny had been preferred
against Collier. but Judge Simon held
| after a most extended preliminary
hearing. that the burglary charge
could not be maintained against him
but that there were possible grounds
to hold him on the larceny charge.
and this he did fixing the bail bond ar
$500.
This Collier case has become rather
famous in the annals of the peace Of
ncerS or the county and city during
the past month, because, primarily of
an argument which ensued between
the police and the sheriff's forces as to
the custody OF the prisoner and which
threatened for a time TO break UP the
none too harmonious relations exist
ing between them.
From the testimony which was CIV
en- at the hearing by a number of wit
nesseS 1t is certain that early on the
morning of July 26 the Keith drug
store was robbed to the extent of $431
rear part of the store, which is be-
lieved to have been incendiary and for
the purpose of covering up the rob-
berry. Mr.. Keith expressed the opin-
glarized as the rear door had been
forced open.
Collier was employed as a porter
around the place and because of his
the fire he was taken in custody by
r. w. Eaton, chief OF police.
r For some reason or other the officer |
in charge of the station allowed Col |
by the chief. He was again taken into |
custody and asked the privilege of 60 |
ing to his room to find some money |
with which to employ a lawyer. An |
officer was sent with him to a room he |
claimed to be his and he made his es- |
cape by jumping through a window |
Chief Eaton and his detectives caught |
him later in a house on East Seventh |
street and he was placed in Jail for the |
third time in one day. On every &C.
casion of his arrest he had been search
ed at the city Jail but not a cent had |
been found on him, or anything else |
berry of the store. Chief Eaton, accord
ing to his testimony on the stand to-
day, insisted on q more elaborate
search on his last arrest. His clothes
were taken off and in what Chief Eaton
as '.secret hip pocket
was found between $37 and $38 wrap
ped up in a handkerchief.
Chief Eaton then told that Collier
had made sort of confession to him
to the effect that he had been shooting
craps" early on the morning in ques-
ton with Leslie Earnest, an employe
of the Keith store; that he had won
from Earnest and that
Earnest had taken the money to play
with him from the till of the cash reg
lister until it had all been used up.
Earnest took the stand today and
swore that he had never played
craps with the negro, and that while
he was familiar with the game he had
not INDUCED his fancies for 1t for more
than a year as Mr.. Keith had told him
he would have to cut out "crap-shoot-
ing while he was in his employ. Earn
est declared that he arrived in the vi
question for the purpose of opening up
about o'clock when his attention was
called to the fact that the place was
IN fire. He saw that smoke was COM
front door, He rushed in and smoke
drove him out. Then he turned in
Are alarm.
He thought of the money, usually
back for it. He could not state what
his sum might be. He took the
drawer out OF the cash register and
when he got outside he found that 1t
,ents This convinced him that the
place had been robbed. The fire did
lot do much damage. being put out in
short order by the members of the
Ire department.
Earnest said that he noticed Collier
| few doors away from the store at
he time the fire was discovered and
Lsked him why he had not noticed it |
md turned in an alarm. Collier re-
,lied that he had no idea the store
vas on fire. After the fire had been !,
,ut out, Earnest testified that he had .
ent Collier to Keith's home to get
ONE money with which to open up .
business for the day. Collier did this. ..
t was a short time afterwards that
Collier was arrested.
No testimony was offered by the de-
ense, and after arguments had been ..
made on the merits of the case by the
ttorneys Judge Simon dcided to hold
Collier for trial in the district court
N the larceny charge.