The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-28
Mysterious End of James HOgue,
of NeOdesha, Kan.
The Police Suspect a Young
Woman Acted as Dec0y.
SLUGGED AND ROBBED
Found in a Rooming House
Bleeding and Unconscious.
Bank Books and Checks Gave
Evidence of Missing Cash.

Denver. July 2S.-James Hogue, IS
years old, a merchant of Neodesha.
Kan, who came to Denver on a visit
and who was removed from the Alta
rooming house, 1854 Lawrence street.
after being unconscious for three days,
died at the county hospital.
Numerous wounds on the head and
arms, revealed by an autopsy last
night. the origin of which Hogue's
senseless condition precluded him from.
explaining, and the disappearance OF
$3.50. which his bank book shows him
to have drawn by draft through the
City, July 16 last, lend a mysterious
aspect to the case, which the police
are trying now to solve.
Judging from the evidence gathered
so far by Detectives Sanders and
Green. everything leads to the belief
thugs. and after being slugged and
robbed of his money he was either
taken to his lodgings or left to find his
own way there, for he stumbled into
the room sometime late Wednesday
night or early Thursday morning. be-
ing found unconscious that afternoon.
Mingled with the almost impenetra-
BILE mystery that surrounds the case
is the disappearance of an attractive
young woman who shared Hogue'S
company much of the time in Denver.
He is said to have spent money lavish
ly upon her, and the detectives are
trying now to learn the identity of this
strange woman. Though she was seen
many times with Hogue, the only clue
to her identity is several pictures the
couple had taken together. They know
neither her name nor residence.
Was this strange woman an accom-
plice of others, principal in plot
formed to make way with Hogue, who
lured him to some remote place for
the purpose of having him assaulted
and robbed? is the question the police
are asking themselves. Scarcely day
passed that she was not In Hogue's
company and her disappearance dates
from the day of his return to his
lodgings when he fell unconscious to
the floor
At least five wounds appear on the
body. apparently the result of blows.
His left jaw was broken, bruises APP
pear under his left arm. his right eye
and two places on his head, inflicted.
it seems, either by club or by kicks
or blows with the fist.
No money was found among his
effects, despite the fact that he was
known to have been supplied with
large sums since coming to Denver
less than three weeks ago. Three
bank books and several Cancelled
checks. calling for sums over his
signature. together with a cancelled
draft for $3.50. issued through the
National Bank of Commerce, Kansas
City, on the Metropolitan Bank &
Trust company. Los Angeles. July is.
were found.
The book of the First National
bank Neodesha, Kan. shows him to
have had on deposit $1,000: that of
the First National bank, Coffeyviiie.
Kan. $780, with the final transfer to
the Los Angeles bank on June 26, of
$1,000.
No one in the house saw Hogue
when he entered. A ledger in an ad-
Joining room thinks he heard some
one come in late Wednesday night.
When Hogue was not seen by the
landlady at the accustomed time she
raped at the door of his room. The
KEY was in the lock outside. the door
was unlocked. and believing her guest
had gone away unnoticed, she walked
in. She fixed the time at about 1880
o'clock in the afternoon.
Hogue was found lying outstretched
on the floor, only partially clothed.
The bed had not been disturbed. She
tried to awaken him, and when asked
if he were i'll he answered in a feeble
voice that he was. The landlady, Mrs.
d. T. Allen, assisted him to bed and
sent for phvsician.