The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-02

Purcell has been keeping peace for over
eight years and he wears No. 3. c. A.
Smith is the five-year-old and wears
No. as a headlight. Officer Wyatt,
the man who attends to the danger of
Kansas avenue. is standing on the cor
ners with No as his signature of SER
vice. The rest of the officers are wear
ing the following numbers: Wonberly
6; James. Z; Woodward. 8; Bryant, 8;
Douglas. 10; Pinkerton, II; Brown, II;
England, ID; Leach, IA; Fowler, Is;
Costello. 16; Fribance. 1S; Robinson, 21;
Mcguire, %; Mead. "a. Numbers /, II,
Two of the slickest women shop
lifters that have struck Topeka for a
long time were captured at the Mills
dry goods store on Kansas avenue Sat-
urday evening. They gave their names
as Anna Wfthrow and Frances Walker
and plead guilty to Judge Urmy at the
morning session of the police court
The two women had been in the Mills
store for over an hour pricing goods
and looking at practically everything
on the counters They seemed greatly
interested in the loose materials that
were shown in the open show cases and
they would handle everything they
could get their hands on. While look
ing at some gloves one of the young
shoplifters was caught by a clerk try
ing to slip the gloves in her waist The
clerk did not say anything to the two
women but reported the matter to the
fioorwalker who arranged to detain
them until an officer from the police
station could arrive.
Sergeant Ross arrived at the call and
placed the two women under arrest
Two expensive Shfrtwaists were found
in their possession and were kept for
evidence. They spent Sunday in the
Jail under the care of the police mat
ron. $3.50
At court this morning both women
wept copiously and made quite an af-
feet upon the crowded court room. But
Judge Urmy has watched the flow of
too many crocodile tears and after a Sc
we're questioning he decided that they
were professional shoplifters. They
plead guilty to the theft at the Mills
store and were fined $50 each. They
are accompanied by young man in the
city and he will pay their fines.
The two women told Judge Urmy
that they came from Coffeyville, Kan,
and st. Louis. They met in Leaven-
worth and then came to Topeka to-
gether. They gave no reason for their
thefts and did not profess ignorance.
They have no friends or relatives in
Topeka and are unknown. Both of
the young women are very well dress
ed and could not have taken the waists
in case of necessity.
Judge Urmy does not think he treat
ed them as harshly as they should have
been treated. He said:
UNLESS 1 am greatly mistaken they
are regular professional shoplifters. ]
could have fined them 500 and so days
in Jail but 1 let them go at $50 each.
They are well dressed and have no rea-
| son to steal the valuable waists. They
are professionals of the worst type
With his head and shoulders over the
edge of a rock cliff and in a dead
| drunk, Peter Salbason was found by
Officer Meade last night on the other
side of the City park. Another move
would have been fatal to the man as
| he would have fallen over into the river
and drowned. Peter was a happy man
when told of his narrow escape this
! morning and he says he will make IL
right with officer Meade If it takes
| him all the rest of his life to do it. Sal
bason is a common laborer.
| Two brothers, engaged in the chill
| business on Kansas avenue, fought
! over the merits of their different joints
| last night and were arrested by Off,
| Ger Fribance. The two men once were
partners in the business but dissolved
| partnership and operated separate
| store Last night they opened old
| sores and fought the whole battle over
| before the police could get them. When
/ taken to the station, both looked like
| the Christmas editions of a ten cent
magazine.