The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-11
Terminates in Wreck of Judge
Lee M0nrOe's Car.
Young Men Took 1t From Garage
Without Permission.
CHORUS GIRL PARTY.
Preceded the Disastrous Ride
Into the Country.
Geo. Rutter and Philip Billiard
Unconscious When Found.

A wrecked automobile-one of the
Thomas racer type-today bears mute
witness of a wild, mad, joy-ride, dur
ing the early morning hours when
Judge Lee Monroe's huge $4,000 car
was wrecked in an accident which oc-
Cured on the Berryton road. in High
land Park vicinity. The machine was
driven by George Rutter. and besides
the chauffeur, contained Phil Billiard
of North Topeka. and John McCauley
and Frank McGinnis of Berryton.
McGinnis and McCauley came here
last night with the other two young
men. They attended the show and at
O'Clock this morning after the To-
peka young men had spent the night
as the hosts of party of chorus
girls in which they saw the city,
started for their homes. Rutters driv-
ing, and Billiard beside in the front
seat of the machine.
The party had reached the 7 roads
east of Highland Park. when accord
ing to McCauley, the driver started
to continue southwark. This is
boys cried out. Then as Rutter
swerved the steering wheel the lights
went out. The car was racing along
at a high rate of speed and the turn
was such an abrupt one that it was
impossible to steer straight in the
dark.
The huge tonneau with terrific
force struck a seasoned hedge fence
post, and the occupants were thrown
from the car, both the Berryton
young men backward over the rear
seat Rutter 20 feet to the right, and
Billiard under the front of the ma
chine The car landed on top of the
post
Two Men Were Unconscious.
McCauley and McGinnis who were
unhurt, hurried to the assistance OF
Rutter who was unconscious and
thought to be in almost a dying con-
dition His actions were such that it
was thought he would die and little
attention was paid to Billiard for the
time being.
nearby farm house and telephonedi to
DIR. H. H. Keith Shawnee county cor
oner, who repaired to the scene imn1e~
diately. Billiard and Rutter, uncon--
scious. were loaded in his car. and
brought to town where both vera
resuscitated, and given medical attend
ance. 1t later developed that neither
was as badly injured as at first thought
and both were able to be upon tho
streets today.
After the two Topeka young men had
left their show girls, members of the
Marcelle troupe, they met their friends
from Berryton. and started to take
them home. They had intended COW
ering the distance in Billiards. own car,
but when they arrived at the garage it
was found the machine had a fiat tire.
Then they jumped into the Monroe ma
chine, and the wild, mad ride was on.
When the garage employees went to
the scene of the wreck this morning,
they found the huge car astrlde the
hedge post, the bed broken in frag-
ments, the tenders demolished, and the
glass front of the machine broken in a
thousand fragments Damage done the
machine will amount to hundreds OF
dollars.
Judge Monroe says that Rutter was
employed only irregularly as chauffeur
and that the garage owners had str1ct
orders not to permit him to take the
car out without Judge Monroe's ordey;-
The car was stolen out early in the
evening. Rutter is an experienced
driver. He was formerly student at
Washburn and his parents live .. s&aw-
renee.
With reference to the affair Judge
Monroe said this afternoon that he did
rot know whether or not he would
prosecute the joy-riders. II am un-
prepared to say what 1 shall do. either
way" he continued. but I shall most
certainly institute suit for damages
certain against whom until 1 have in
vcstigated further
strict orders had been given. the
Kansas Auto company. where the ma
chine was kept, that 1t was not to be
let out under any circumstances except
en- the personal order of myself or Mrs.
Monroe. / talked with the manager
there today and he said that the night
man told him that Billiard and Rutter
drove in there during the morning
hours in Billiards. machine. He said he
asked them if there was anything they
wanted, ard they answered that there
was nothing. He then repaired to the
rear of the building and hearing the
chug of a machine came back to the
front in time to see the young men dis
in my car
Judge Monroe said that he had not
had an opportunity to have personal
talk with the night man at the gar
age.