The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-03
Messenger Boy Tells Strange
Story of Assault.
Checking Up Waterman Disas-
trOus for Guy Hovenden.
HELD FOR HIS KEYS
Was Also Hit on the Head by
Furry Negro.
c, $. Pope Arrested for Selling
Liquor to Minors.

Guy Hovenden, living at S33 Madi-
son street, reported to the police yes
terday evening that he had been as
saulted by negro at an early hour
Thursday morning while in pursuit of
his duties as a messenger boy for the
Western Union He had bad bruise
on the right side of his face to support
his story.
Hovenden takes care of the machine
that registers the calls of the Ia night
watchmen employed by business con-
Germs in different parts of the city.
THESE Watchmen are supposed to reg
lister every hour and if they fail to
do SO Hovenden must send a messen-
ger to their posts to see what the
trouble is. There is 20 messenger to
send after midnight and failure to
report neCeSSitateS the young man GO
ing himself. Thursday morning at 4
O'Clock the Waterman at the Central
Sash and Door company failed to reg
lister and Hovenden at once mounted
his bicycle and started for the COM
pany's office in North Topeka. Arriv-
ing at the front door of the office he
was accosted by negro who asked
him for his keys and followed up his
demand by knocking the messenger
boy down. The lad was dazed for
minute but soon recovered sufficiently
to get to Kansas avenue and notify the
two officers there of the assault. A
search failed to find the negro.
Hovenden stated that this was the
second time a negro has held him UP
for keys. The other incident occurred
last week at Wolff's packing plant
ing revolver on him. Hovenden
wants permission to carry a gun all
the time, and unless it is granted he
will resign his hazardous position.
keys except those for his own personal
use.
John and Mary Hoffman were tried
in police court Thursday evening on
charge of maintaining a nuisance and
were fined 500 apiece and sentenced
to serve 80 days in the county Jail. They
appealed the case to the district court
The case against ]. c. Swihart and
Luella Beeler, charged with keeping
disorderly house was also tried and
resulted in the acquittal Of the de-
PENDANTS, as the evidence was not clear
and direct enough to convince the court
beyond a doubt of their guilt. Swihart,
while on the stand, testified that he
had lived here forh 20 years, and dur
ing that time had been engaged in the
real estate and Insurance business:
When arrested he was rooming at $40
Kansas avenue. The arrest occurred at
80 Saturday night and when the Of
ficers appeared Mrs. Beeler was in the
hallway and Swihart was in his room
undressed. The door was partly open.
The defendants explained this suspic-
ious state of aaffirs by stating that
Swihart had some furniture for sale
on commission and that Mrs. Beeler
was merely a customer who had called
late to see about this furniture, and
he was dressing himself in order that
he might explain about this furniture
which she had called several times be-
fore to see about buying.
c. S. Pope, who conducts a drug
store on the avenue just north of the
postoffice, was arrested Friday morn
ing on complaint of Mrs Battles, who
alleges that he sold liquor to her son.
minor, and other boys. There are
four counts to the Indictment. Pope
gave bond for his appearance, and will
be tried in police court next Monday
afternoon at o'clock.