The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-30
POLICE JOTTINCS
Sack Stealing Mystery Is Solved
at Last.
Much Wanted Man Who Was
Long Sought.
CHAINED TO ROCK PILE
vii! Work Out a Fine of Twen-
ty Dollars.
How an Amateur Detective Was
, Br, ken In.

lice about the stealing OF SACKS from
their places of business and some of
tho mill owners have reported an
excellent market for the buying of
such sacks.
While roaming through North Tope-
ka last night Officers Mead and Hutton
camo upon man they had seen be-
fore selling empty sacks TO one OF the
milling concerns and they caught him
up at once He was take together
with the sacks to the station and this
morning was fined $4,000 by the po-
lice judge on the charge of larceny.
This man, William Mormon by name,
has been doing this sort of thing for
long time and ne has been leading
the feed dealers an anxious life. He
told Judge Urmy that he needed the
money and the sacks were the first
thing he could get his hands upon. He
claims to be working for the Rock Is
land Al Judge Urmy said this
morning. 'Tne railroad will have to
chain its tracks down if he gets out
again, as he steals everything he gets
his hands upon"
The two officers have seen this man
many times before. The last time they
saw him was a few nights ago when
they were taking the same drive
through the bottoms. He was in front
of the Hartman store trying some
keys in the door. The officers saw
him just as he saw them and sneak
I -
ings he dropped into an alley and was
lost from sight. He was hunted for
two hours but being without lamps
the officers could do nothing but feel
in the dark alleys.
This morning William is chained
with Bus" Williams on the rock pile
and the two men seem to be enjoy
ing the "jewelry" around their an
kles. Mormon cannot pay his fine
and he will be kept at least until
iNh "a
traced.
Oliver Burns, the negro porter who
threw a rock at another man on the
Rock Island platform about month
ago, was arrested against last night
before he could do any damage. He
was drunk as usual, but the vigilant
copperI caught him before a missile
appeared. He is but Z years old, but
learned the art of casting missiles with
bad intentions at an early age.
After being slapped across the
cheek because he cursed and swore at
an old hack driver, Clyde Violet. one
of the tougher youngsters of the city
watched by the police and feared by
his companions, swore out warrant
for the old man who gave him his just
reward. Frank Bechtelheimer, the
hack driver has been abused contin-
ually for the last five months by the
NOuIHlul Iu1ldH. Out lie has always
taken the insults calmly. He told the
police that he could not stSnd the
insolence any longer and he had to
make some kind of defense. Judge
Urmy is glad to have the boy up on
the stand as he will be able to inquire
a little more into his actions.
Samuel Jennings a 14-year-old COL
ored boy was arrested last evening for
stealing two papers from little
released by Chief Eaton after a lee
ture on such matters. The boy
claimed he wanted the papers to sell.
A wealthy farmer named Wilson from
Valencia came to Topeka yesterday af-
ternoon for the purpose of getting a
few bottles of rye for family use While
here he went shopping and his liquor
territory was widened to such an ex-
tent that he took in all he could find.
The police are acquainted with him and
when first seen he was near Fourth
street on Kansas avenue. They could
see he had been drinking and Officers
Mead and Hutton warned him of TAX
ing any more or he would make Kan
sas avenue sway just little too much
for the police judge. Wilson, the farm
er, took insult at the advice, given by
the officers and pulling off his coat he
threatened to make life miserable for
the big detective. Hutton. friend
came along and saved the farmers life
at this time by suggesting that he go
down and catch the Rock Island train
While he was together. The friend had
heard of the Mighty Hutton. Wilson
needed the advice but instead of taking
the train he made for a drug store
and signed up for another complaint.
But he was una ble to leave the build
ing on account of his tipsy condition
and an officer was called. Wilson had
two bottles of the best rye made. on
his person and the liquor was taken
to the police saloon where it will mix
with the other goods in chasing down
the sewer.
Stephen Proudly. the man who was
arrested on warrant yesterday for dis
turbing the peace was released. He
proved that he was only an interested
spectator to the gang that made the
disturbance and failed to join in on the
chorus. stephen is a good young man
according to the testimony of the
neighbors and he was pardoned
Police Judge Urmy was sitting at
his desk busily making out the daily
docket. The door of the court room
opened and a raw looking but resolute
country lad came Ia closely followed
by rural lass. The young tiller of the
soil grabbed the hand of the girl and
half leading her to the desk he said:
Good morning. judge. L am % and
Flossle here is 10. We've tried for the
last tve years to get up enough nerve
TO ask the folks if we could get hitch
ed up and now we are going to do it
anyway: We are in a hurry, judge,
and"
Just minute" interrupted the
kindly police judge as he took off his
spectacles and raised a silencing hand
you nave to go over to the probate
Judge at the county court house in or
der 10 have your wishes filled but while
you are here let me congratulate you,
children, with all my heart and 1 hope
LOT you all the joys that should come
love"
NOT a word was spoken by the sur
prlsed couple but with a look of thank
tulness and respect they slowly stole
helr way from the old court room.
hope the happy people will never
find it necessary to come to this court