The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-27

Randolph, One Of Bleakley Kid
napers, Led Way.
Took County Attorneys Party
This Morning.
1T WAS A DEEP PLOT
And 1t Worked in All Its De-
tails in Topeka.
Proved That Gentry Alone En-
tered Thompson Home.
1T WAS A DEEP PLOT

New disclosures in connection with
the capture and examination of Rob-
ert Randolph, the last taken of the
Marian Bleakley kidnapers, throw
more light on the depth of the plot
and the exactness and precautions
taken before the attempt was made.
Deputy Sheriff Ben Judkins is
authority for the statements that
Mrs. E. w. Ewing. supposed to be the
wife of Capt. j. C. Tillitson, rented
and lived in the brick house at 1920
Garfield avenue across the street from
the home of Mrs. Thompson for a
month prior to the kidnapping watch
ing the movements of Mrs. Bleakley
and little Marian. Bob Randolph,
in charge of Deputy Judkins was TAX
en- over the route of the kidnaper's
automobile by County Attorney
Schenck this morning. He seemed
to remember distinctly each item of
the exciting mornings actions and
told freely what he knew.
Starting at the Stafford garage at
the corner of Seventh and Quincy
streets where he said he had gotten
into the machine, they went on
north down Quincy street to Second
and turned west to Jackson where
Gentry brought Mrs. Barclay from
the Chesterfield hotel in a buggy, tied
the horse, both of them getting into
the machine and going to Harrison
street and south to Fourth and west
again to the alley east of Greenwood
avenue where he and Gentry got into
a buggy driven by an unknown man,
supposed to be Dave Gregg, and pro-
ceeded to the house of Mrs. Thomp
son at 1927 Garfield avenue.
When the party of the county at
torney reached the house this morn
ing, all went around to the rear door
where Mrs. Thompson answered the
knock. She Immediately recognized
Randolph. He insisted that he had
not gone into the house at the kid
naping and she verified his statement. |
Both say that Gentry, coming in the
front door grabbed the little girl
grandmother, and scuffled with her
at the kitchen door after having
struck Belnap with his revolver in the
front room. Randolph says he heard |
the fight and that as he and Gentry
led Marian out the back yard Gentry
said to him, There was a guy in
there tried to stop me and I had to
hit him with my gum
Randolph was then taken down the
alley, where he led the way to where
the buggy waited for him. The rig had
stood at the alley west OF Garfield ave
nue. on Eleventh street and the I'M
known man was holding the horse.
There hey left the driver and drove
west TO the asylum ROAD, nOrLE 10 the
asylum ard east again to StormOnt
hospital where the chauffeurs waited
with the automobile. That part of the
route and the ensuing trip along Third
street TO Kansas avenue and north out
of the city was not covered this morn
ing.
The main object of the county attor-
ney was to have Randolph explain the |
operations at the Thompson home to
find where they differed from the story
Il 1,-1xv c-s,sI
that this man was in the house with |
Sim and struck Beynap. No one agreed |
with him and Randolph also fails to
agree.
In talking to the reporter at the scene |
of the child theft. Randolph protested |
that he had been asked by Gentry to |
come along and had been promised that |
he would have nothing to do in the af- |
fair. In reply to a question he admit |
ted he knew what the party was COM |
ing here for but would still insist "he |
lust came along" you've still got to |
show me that the child did not legally |
telcng to Mrs. Barclay before I think |
it was kidnaping anyhow" he stated.
Asked if he was going to turn states |
evidence and throw the whole crime |
upon Gentry Randolph made no def
nite reply, but one which would indi-
cate he would if asked to and that as
yet no such proposition had been
made.
Although the Matching of the plot
occupied months and almost years,
Randolph said that he had heard moth
ng of it until the Tuesday before the
Wednesday they came to Topeka. He
has been in the employ of w. F. May
berry in livery stable ever since the
.ieed. Mayberry is the particular
friend of Gentry who has been exert
ing himself to secure bail for that
prisoner.
Randolph is a good looking, we'll
dressed, and evidently well fed man.
He seems to be taking the matter none
too seriously in the belief that he was
not very deeply mixed in it. He tells
remarkably straight story of the
chain of incidents and tries to hide
nothing.