The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-17

1t will take time, patience and skill to
trace these clues. w. H. Ritchey, a
Pinkerton man, is here on the case,
hired by the Jordan family. Rftchey
is from Kansas City, and is the detec-
tive who was employed in the Tennyson
murder Investigations in Marshall
county.
And through this shroud of mystery.
all but impenetrable, stands out this
amazing fact: At least half a dozen
people heard the fatal shot, saw the
murderer standing by his victim; saw
him examine the corpse to assure him
self that the man was dead; saw him
calmly turn and walk half a block
down the main street past several
brightly lighted stores, and allowed him
to turn the corner into a sidestreet and
escape!
The little town Of Seneca has been
stunned It is just beginning to awake
to the fact that it has been the scene
of one of the most cruel murders In
the history of the state. And it is be-
ginning to demand victim. The off,
GERS are being abused for not doing
their duty; for not catching somebody;
for not pushing the investigation
faster Sheriff Dennis is accused OF
lacking backbone and thoroughness;
County Attorney Emery is accused OF
failure to rush necessary investigations
and failure to apply sweat oo1 methods
to those under suspicion.
The county attorney and the sherin
should not let this worry them; 1T is the
regular thing: They are DoIh ooihs as
their best, and that's all tnat can De
expected.
What Does Spec Hurlburt Know?
One of the clues which will be of
esneciaI interest to Topeka people is
to he followed by the officers around
Spec Hurlburt the well known To-
neka ball player, and his friend, Sam
Larimer, of Seneca
Neither Hurlburt or Larimer is ac-
cused of the crime, but the officers
want to find out whether they know
ANYTHING about it-and they are go
ing to find out before they are
through.
Hurlburt was in Seneca the day of
the murder. 1t Is claimed that he
left town the next Gay. He % was NOT
seen on the street much Larimer
claims to have been at the opera
| house attending a performance all
through the evening
Seneca is the home OF the Hurlburt
family. Here "Spec" was raised. His
brother still lives mere ano Is a rall- a.
road engineer on the Missouri Pa
cific. Until about a year ago, his
father lived at Seneca, but he was ar
rested and sent to jail ror whipping
his little 3-year-old step-son with
buggy whip. and since that tlme ne
| has not been in Seneca
Tarimer is the town jointist and
"snort.' He is a card player and is
said to be friend of Hurlburt. In
Larimer's joint not many months ago
| man was killed and the feeling
eainst him is bitter.
Hurlburt, who is now travelling for
| a Kansas City liquor house, visits
Seneca quite often, it is said. Hurl-
hurts headquarters are in Kansas
City.
| So far as known, Herbert Jordan,
the murdered man never had any
thing to do with Hurlburt or Larimer.
This much is certain: it wasn't Hurl-
burt or Larimer that bought the re-
yolyer at williams hardware store the
afternoou before the murder: 1T WASH I
Hurlburt or Larimer that inquired the
way to Jordan's home; and, nnally, II
wasn't a man of Hurfburt or Larim ers
description who walked away from the
corpse of Herb Jordan and escaped un-
molested into the darkness. The only
theory OK the officers is that they may
thave some kncwledge about the man