The Topeka state journal., 1908-10-19
COT WHOLE GANG
Bicycle Thieves Did the Busi.
ness Systematically.
They Kept Stolen Plunder i'm a
Barn.
MADE MANY CHANGES.
Then Sold the Wheels to Who
ever Would Buy.
Confessions Secured and Four
Bows Are in Jail.
[ADE MANY CHANGES.

The bicycle thefts that have been
bothering the police as we'll as the bicy-
Gle owners for the past month or Sc
will linger in the arms of the law for
awhile at least. Sunday afternoon the
police after very clever detective work
captured the whole gang" and today
Herbert Smith, c. P. Oden. C. A. Shuck
and H. H. Horton all II years old are
in the city jail awaiting trial..
The capture came from a complaint
issued yesterday by w. E. Trapp who
lives at Eighth and Fillmore. Young
Trapp had just purchased a new wheel
and it had been stolen while he was in
a house in the west part of the city.
He reported the theft to the police at
once and gave a good description to the
police. All eyes were pealed and Off
GER Wyatt was the first patrolman to
pick out the stolen property. He
brought the thief-Herbert Smith-to
the station. Not lon after the Smith
boy had been captured in came De-
tectives Hutton and Sauls, with two
friends of the Smith boy.
The police smelled the gang" at once
and sweating" the young thieves they
gained enough information to lead
them to the den used by the boys. This
den was situated in a large barn at
obtained entrance through a number OF
passages and secret doors they found
in huge heap, the spoils of their
daily raids. Bicycles complete, handle
bars, lamps, tires and every part of
bicycle imaginable was found in this
work shop. When the boys captured
bicycle they would change the wheels,
the handle bars and then sell it. In
many instances they painted the whole
frame a different color. They had all
of the necessary tools in the barn and
the work was done Systematically and
in a business-like way.
Chief of Police Eaton was more than
proud of the capture and he said that
he would miss with gratitude the daily
complaints that have been coming into
the station.
The bicycles we're piled in the back
room of the Jail and all day long people
have been visiting the outlay trying TO
identify their property. In some cases
the same property has been claimed by
one or more persons and the police had
to stop another row. One man came In
this morning and after looking all the
wheels over said he would take GER
tain one and pointed 1t out to the po-
lice. When asked concerning the inert
etc he said he did not lose it but sim
nlv wanted to buy it. Some of the
bicycles are of the best make and are
worth from forty TO fifty dollars.
The following people have Identified
wheels or parts Of wheels in the sta
ton: Fred Crosseiy, Victoria hotel; W.
e. Trapp, Eighth and Fillmore; Ben
Jendkins, 1900 Lincoln; c. II: Pearson,
691 Norris: ]. S. Jeffrey and c. ]. Price
claim the same bicycles; H. p. Pond,
1910 Kansas avenue; c. A. Conroe, l5OS
Harrison.
c. Gates a young man % years of age
was arrested this morning for 1nVesn-
CATION. He has been seen around town
a number of times by the police and
seemed to have nothing especially to
do Several complaints from different.
parties caused his arrest and he Will
be held until Judge Urmy can ask him
a few questions.
Arthur Cook is having a hard time
entering the straits of the matrimonial
sea This morning his sweetheart issu
ed warrant for the ar
rest of Arthur because he
did not treat her as all good lovers
should. 1t seems that Arthur had a
date with Florence this was his GRID
for Sunday evening. Now Arthur dear
had been over to see Flossie for almost
every evening for the last month or so
and he decided that he would take a
little stroll up town just to see the boys
and renew acquaintances. While up
town he met one of the girls instead
and they engaged in a how-do-you-do
which quickly developed
into deeper water and before he knew
it Arthur was strutting gafly down
Kansas avenue with Girl No. 2. But
he was doomed and must pay for his
sin. Girl No. was we'll acquainted
with Girl No / and just as soon as she
could grab a telephone she told the
whole affair While the telephone wires
were burning with the answers of the
Jealous sweetheart, Artie made rush
for her house and he had any number
of excuses to make to his beloved He
knocked on the door and was Just TAX
ing his last inhale from a tailor made
cigarette when the door was opened.
Instead of receiving the customary
greeting which consisted of things un-
known to the older generations, Flos-
sic flew un In the race OF ner loVer
and with words of airy tones she told
him the long lost story. Then she chas-
tised him. Then she slapped him. Then
She but Arthur decided to get into the
game and with an illustrated volume
of heated words he won the battle
His charge on the police docket is
assault, strike, beat and bruise-' When
asked about it this morning Cook SAID
that they had just had words.
Sunday was a big day at the police
station-the biggest day this year Ihe
office was crowded all day long with
prisoners waiting for their names to be
entered on the docket and Jailer Smith
slashed ink until he had to be reliev-
ed on account of a weakened wrist Sat
urday night the patrol wagon was in
the barn but one hour during the wnole
night The horses were driven until
today they are almost useless. Eleven
suppers were served to the prisoners
night and Sunday night COW
ers were laid for %. Drunks were the
main feature and they gave the prin-
cipal addresses at the banquet. Disor-
derby house inmates and customers sat
at the head of the table and gave some
very interesting and sensational toasts