The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-02
BAD ONE CAUGHT.
Continued from Page one.)

rather slight of build with big black
eyes and mass of curly black hair.
He is always smiling, showing good
white teeth.
Mrs. Battles, the mother of the boy,
was taken before the federal officials
and inspectors this morning. She Will
not admit that her son ever had any
thing to do with the robbery and states
that she was never aware of his being
connected with the loss of the packages
In any manner. There is a second mys-
terry connected with the capture OF Bat
ties. The mother made several con-
tradicting statements concerning the
ROCK Island theft last fall and TINS
has led the inspectors to believe that
something was the matter.
How Evidence Was Secured.
one of the strongest evidences
against Battles was revealed this morn
ing by the inspectors. A majority OF
the missing packages from the post
office have been rural payments MADE
ment at Washington. The Topeka of,
fee is the paying station for rural
routes all over the state of Kansas.
Money has been missing for many
months from this source and it was
through this trouble directly that the
inspectors were ordered from WASH
tngton- The money always comes to
the Topeka Office the first OF the
month. This is only known by en-
ployes. The train and wagon Tor the
delivery have always been spotted by
the robber and a certain amount taken.
Every month the amount grew larger.
The inspectors were ordered TO work
on the case at once and they com
menced with the railway trains and the
local force There are only keys In
these two places and the fact that
driver of wagon had key was never
dreamed by the inspectors. The local
office and the railway offices were
found to be honest
Then the wagons were watched ana
the final capture made. There is an
other cleW connected with this wagon
robbery. In April one of the employees
of the local Office was arrested and sent
to the federal penitentiary for stealing
money from the mailing room. the
next day after the arrest young Battles
left the city at once for an extensive
tour to the coast. He remained away
from the city a long time-until the
excitement over the April arrest dieo
away. 1t was also noticed by the de.
tectives that the May delivery of rural
payments were not touched. This was
piling evidence together. Battles then
returned and the payments for TINS
June period were tempered With again
and the thief was caught. Most OF the
losses have been by the postoff1ce de-
partment. Several city packages nave
been stolen but they did not compare
with the government losses.
Sergeant Ross of the police depart
ment has in tow number of drivers
who happened to witness a series of
suspicious looking actions in the mail
| wagons going between the Union Pa
| cific depot and the postofflce- These
men report that Battles mas peen
| riding many times in the back of the
wagon. This always looks suspicious
| in the first place no one is allowed to
| ride in these wagons except the driver.
| The government has the mail hauled to
liam Gilcrist has the contract this
year. He hires the drivers-and on
| account of the small pay it is necessary
| to procure as cheap class OF men as
possible. This explodes the curb talk
| going over the CITY today to the erect
that this robbery throws reflections
upon the local office. Postmaster
Rodgers has nothing to do with the
hiring of these men.
| Before night the inspectors expect
to. clear up the Rock Island robbery
| last fall. 1t is easy to see that Bat
| ties procured his key in this manner.
The questions asked Mrs. Battles this
| morning in reference to the Rock Is
land affair placed the matter in a
| different light. She made several con-
| tradicting statements-all of them
| bordering on the mystery in some way
or other. The inspectors tore the
| planks from the floor of the shack
! nothing was found and there were no
evidences of loose planks. The small
| opening in the ceiling was searched
| thoroughly. Nothing except the
| charred remains of the burned wrap
pers and register receipts was found
at the house. The search will be con-
| tinued. Since the inspectors have
cleared the present affair they expect
to have the Rock Island incident COW
| cred in q short time.
Relatives Held for Investigation.
This morning the daughter of Mrs.
husband. Claude Stroude, were ar
rested by Deputy United States Mar
| shall F1enniken. He claims to know
nothing of the affair and will be held
| for investigation. Mrs. Stroude was
| taken to the office of the United
States marshal and searched but
nothing was found on her person ex-
| cept a marriage license. She was al
most crazy when arrested and she
cried continually to the officers ask
ing them to release her husband ION
| account of the baby" She proclaim
ed her innocence during the entire
search and not until she realized that
she was in the hands of Uncle Sam did
she submit. She was dressed in gypsy
style with her hair braided down he1
back.
Claude Stroude does not do much OF
anything. He lives with his mother
in-law and performs few errands
around the chilli stand operated by
the family just north of the Unior
Pacific depot. This is the eating place
of the family.
A man whose name could not bt
procured living in rooms Just acros.
the alley from the wagon platform
at the postoffice has considerable in
formation for the benefit of the in
spectors. He claims to have seer
and heard several things during thu
unloading and loading of mails below
his window. The federal officers OBJ
tanned an option on the information
however. and refused to part will
any of it. 1t is said however tina
the. information was conclusive ans
| will furnish considerable evidence
completes
It is claimed by Mrs. Stroud ant
Mrs. Battles that Claude Stroud wa
: in Kansas City last night and knew
nothing of the arrest until receiving
; telegram from Mrs. Battles late il
the night. This excuse was t