The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-07
JOTTINGS.
Gentleman Sheplifter Is the
Newest Thing on Carpet.
And Once Again Complainant Is
Reluctant to Act.

A gentleman shoplifter is the new
record on the police docket. Women
| shophfters have been working in the
city but the store managers have been
uhprepared for the job to be taken up
by men shoppers.
Last evening while attending the
auction at the Giles store at 623 Jack
son. H. d. Elmore, a druggist working
LOT the Arnold Drug company, became
stlcky fingered and gently lifted two
plates and needle box from the coun-
ter and attempted to hide them be-
neath his coat-but he was caught by
the auetioneer and was taken to the
STATION at once. 1t is a mystery to the
police and E. d. Giles why man
! should enter the business of stealing
emma plates and needle boxes. Such
thlnss are unnecessary for he who is
trying to make a living and very nm
satisfactory to dispose of at the pawn
shops. 1t is the general decision of the
detectives on the case that the man
became a. kleptomaniac at an improper
time and at poor counter and his
hands got away with him
Outside of the fact that r. d. EImore
was arrested for shoplifting and
larceny and was placed on the dockets
with good evidence there is another
trouble brewing. 1t is case identical
with the case not long ago when a To-
peka Jeweler made a collection agency
out OF the police court and refused to
testify against the prisoner after he
had made him promise to pay the dam
ages. In this case nothing but names
and articles are changed. Mr.. Giles,
the victim of the petit robbery and the
irate complainant yesterday, has cooled
down and sees a way out of the whole
deal by allowing the prisoner to pay
the damages, return the property and
go free. Judge Urmy was much
wrought up when he heard this morn
ing that Giles had ordered the prison
er released so far as he was concerned
as he would not testify against him.
| This is the second time in the last
month that Topeka business men have
| played with the police court and taken
advantage of them in the punishment
of prisoners. 1t has about been decided
to hold the prisoner regardless of the
| wishes of the complaining witness and
if he refuses to make his appearance
against the prisoner, to subpoena him
to give his evidence.
Fined on two charges created by an
automobile e. NJ. Spencer was
brought before the court this morn
ing. He was fined five dollars for
driving down the left side of the street
and five dollars for exceeding the
speed limit of 16 miles an hour. The
stop watches are being held on the
gas carts and pop wagons and the
owners will be arrested as fast as they
are caught.
Judge Joe Reed came to the police
station this morning and started on
one of his extensive tales about when
he lived in the woods of Maine. In
spite of the fact that he had heard
the same story seven times and it was
as interesting as ever. Judge Urny
fell asleep under the oratorical spell.
Between the Maine stories told by
Judge Reed and the blowout squalls
by Nick Chiles the officers at the po-
lice station are reasonably satisfied
with life and are able to stand the on
slaughts.
| An old colored woman hobbled into
the police station this morning and
gathering together her stock of cen
sures she told long. sad tale of the
! laziness and general non-working dis
abilities of her grandson. Nancy An
derson, the old colored grandmother,
said that her grandson, Frank Jones,
II years old, was the most worthless
piece of humanity she ever knew. He
never works and stays out nights
spending the money he had never
earned. He tells his grandmother that
he can not find work and she told the
police that she was 80 years old, but
she had been able to find work all her
life She wanted the police to put
the boy in the station rather than
nave MIN lay around ana KNOCK on
the board at her home. There will be
hot time in the old home tonight
when frankie arrives.
Three more Knights of the Ballast
Boulevards have been taken UP by the
police and given free board and lodg-
| ing for the night. They were caught
up for trespassing on the Union Pa
cific right of way. They will be in
stalled upon the pebble hill and re-
ouired to make ballast for a few days.