The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-11

himself as DESTROYS of picking up all
ex-convicts and intending to catch the
first train over.
Willets worked in the mines for near
" two years and once had serious ac-
cident there. A huge block of coal fell
on one side of his chest, tearing a hole
in the flesh and leaving a depression
several inches square for which it was
supposed he could get some remunera-
ton from the state when he was re-
leased. The kind old mother of Willets
with a band of faithful friends worked
persistently from the time of his in
generation for his parole release and
pardon. Finally she secured his parole
and he came home but a few months
ago. He obtained employment with a
local oyster house and drove a wagon
for some time but has been doing
nothing most of the winter. His drift
ing back so soon into the old ways
after his old mother has done so much
for him precludes sympathy for the
man but there is a sad story other
than the heartbreak of his mother.
The girl wife is but 16 years old and
the couple had been married but
month and she seems not to have
known that her husband had been a
convict. Before marriage her name
was Mills and they have been living at
the house of her father, A. w Mills at
$40 East Third street.
But if the girl knew nothing of the
character of her husband it is a mys-
terry to the police for her father A. w.
Mills is wanted at st. Joseph and
great many other places for the same
forgery, and the police over
the state are keeping a lookout for
him. Only few days ago this Willets
approached Patrolman Mead and tell
ing him he understood they were look
ing for his father-in-law offered to
get him for the police if there was a
reward offered. In fact he said he
would produce the goods" for $40.
kilograms were sent all over the
country by the chief of police at st.
Joseph for the arrest of her father
and the dire prospect of having both
husband and father in the penitentiary
confronts the girl of 16 years.
AS a crime wave rolls up enveloping
its victims, so the prosecution may
sweep back engulfing the offenders, at
any rate that is what has been started
against the forgers harboring in To-
peka. Beside the arrest of WilletS and
the agitation concerning Mills. the po-
lice this morning got another, when
Detective Summers went out and
brought in Will Barrett, who during
January forged check on c. o. John
son and was also charged with burn
ing the depot at Berryton. He was
able to square himself with Johnson,
but was bound over the district court
for trial in the depot case.
Now there is another check which
and he is under investigation. Turned
into the jail he went straight to Will
lets for a hearty hand clasp and they
shuffled to corner to talk it over.
J. F. Stevens, the man with the sub
scription list which proved SO popular
with the high officials of the state was
fined $25 and ten days in Jail for being
so audacious as to interrupt the affairs
of state. He claims to be an iron
worker. The man who wrote out the
heading plea for donations has been
located, but not the man who got re-
suits.
The egg thieves have stopped their
operations about the Rock Island de-
pot as it has become the scene of too
many arrests lately and have opened
up transactions with the Missouri Pa
cific railway, taking two cases of the
precious fruit from the baggage end
of the depot.