The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-11
Chicago Paper Says 1t Was Min
ers' Federation President.
HE SETS UP AN ALIBI.
Prisoner at Boise Declares He
Was in Black Hills
During Time He is Alleged to
Have Been in Prison.


prints a long story in which it is
alleged that Charles H. Meyer. presi-
dent of the Western Federation of
Miners, who is about to be tried at
Boise, Idaho, for completely on the
killing of Former Governor Frank
Steunenberg served as a convict in the
Joliet penitentiary in this state in 1886
and 1887. The date of his discharge
is said to have been January 4, 1887.
According to the Journal, Meyer was
sentenced from Cook county on Feb
ruary /, 1885, to serve one year for
burglary. The date Of his discharge
is given as January 4, 1887. The Of
fetal record of the Joliet prison in the
case is said to be as follows:
Name, Charles H. Meyer.
Number 1866.
Sentenced from Cook county Feb
ruary 4, 1886.
Age 20 years.
Term, one year for burglary.
Height feet inches.
Weight 156 pounds.
Complexion, medium dark.
Color of eyes, hazel.
Color of hair, dark brown.
Occupation. farm-hand from Iowa.
Discharged January 4, 1887.
AT one o'clock the office of the
warden of the Joliet penitentary de-
clared that during the period men
toned by the Journal man bearing
the name of Charles H. Meyer, was an
inmate of the prison. His number
was declared to be identical with that
given above.
The records of the Chicago police
department show the following en-
tries under the date of December 4,
1885, the name of the prisoner being
given as &c. s." Meyer in each in
c. S. Meyer alias Fred Baker,
burglary; Complainant, Ingoor Lar
son, 721 West Lake street,
John Heating, burglary, the same
c. s. Meyer. alias Fred Baker, burg
larry; Sven T. Johnson. SIS North
western avenue.
berry; w. S. Newell, As Warren ave-
nue..
c. s. Meyer. alias Fred Baker, rob-
berry; c.. E. Murphy 1888 Michigan
avenue.
c. S. Meyer, alias Fred Baker, at
tempted robbery; Jacob Emans. 20
Walnut street.
c. S. Meyer. alias Fred Baker car
rying concealed weapons; John Hart
nett
In all the above cases duplicate
charges were filed against John Keat-
ing, who was said to have been a
partner of Meyer in the crimes COM
mitted.
The arrest was made on the morning
Of December 4, 1885, according to the
Journals story, by Patrolman John
Hartnett, VINO is now lieutenant at
the West Lake street police station,
and was for a time an inspector.
Knocked Senseless.
Hartnett was walking north in Wood
street toward Warren avenue, when he
heard men running behind him. He
when the men approached him he stop
ped them and asked where they were
going. They said they were going
home. Hartnett then asked one Of the
-to T1AN H.. sG1
ing, what his name was.
Heating replied:
John Kelly
What is your manner" asked Hart
nett of the other man.
Fred Baker" was the reply.
The man giving the name of Baker
opened his coat as he spoke and Hart |
nett caught sight of a revolver. He |
with his club, knocking him senseless |
Heating turned and ran, but was
brought to a halt by Hartnett's threat |
to shoot him if he did not stop.
According to the Journal Hartnett
waited until the man who was after |
ward declared to be Meyer recovered |
his sense and then marched both men
to the patrol box at Wood and Madi- |
Patrolman Thomas Hennessy, who is |
still connected with the. Lake street |
station. Here Heating made an at |
tempt to escape, but was recaptured.
Lake street station. There according |
to the Journal. Meyer first gave the
name of Fred Baker and then said his
name was Charles Meyer Heating
made no further attempt to conceal his |
Identity and made a full confession of |
the crimes enumerated above.
The two men were later held to the |
grand jury in bonds of $1,000 each by |
Justice c. J. White, at the Desplaines |
street police station.
January e. 1886, the men were SEN |
fenced to Joliet penitentiary Heating |
for two years and Meyer for one year. |
The charge on which the sentence was /
based was the burglary of Larson's /
clothing store at 721 West Lake street /
Lieutenant Hartnett today corrobo- |
rated all of the facts given above. and