The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-28
McLafferty Place Gives Up It's
Burden.
Stock Of Liquor Cleverly Secret
ed Is Found.
Is AN Old OFFENDER
Proprietor Has Been in Jail
Numberless Times.
An Eight Year Old Bank Robber
Is Captured.

/ The same old stand of Dennis Nc
Lafferty, better known as Peg Leg
| at 200 Kansas avenue, was raided Sun
day afternoon by the police and several
ingenious devices found for the secret
maintenance of a thoroughly equipped
joint.
| Dennis is now due a sentence from
the district court for selling spiked
cider last fall and pleading guilty to
the charge. Pure Apple Cider reads
the sign still adjoining the cold place
(which for 20 years has graced the cor
ner of Second and Kansas avenue But
Dennis has partner now, William
| Donovan. This Donovan some months
ago appeared at the police station car
rying bottle rolled up in a newspaper.
Carefully he unrolled it and babe the
chief of police take a long drag, saying
he had some of the best cider ever
made. The chief liked the cider and
can vouch for its genuineness. Now
that's the dope we are going to sell
down there, Chief. No more of the booze
for u.s. said Donovan.
'Pegleg is never above suspicion,
however. and the police have had tips
that he was still in business-in fact
never out of it. Sergeant Ross and
Detective Hutton took Sunday after
noon stroll down by the corner osten-
sibly to see what they could see. A
known booze fighter made his exit from
the place just as the officers came up.
He was grabbed and searched. a bottle
OF whisky being found on him.
Then warrant accompanied by sew
place of Peg and Donovan. Cider.
and cider vinegar filled the barrels
throughout the place and the officers
were ABOUT to leave when Hutton saw
what's that, Peg?" "Oh. I don't know.
That was there when the building was
built" he replied. But in another in
lstant the detective had found a small
piece Of rope dangling from the cell
ing. He pulled and the trap door flew
open while the proprfetors chung to
each other in fear. Ten half bushel
baskets containing 1873 half pint bot
ties of whisky were in the loft. More
diligent search located a 10 gallon key
of whisky, five gallon kegs, pint
bottles and a number of jugs of whisky
and a quantity of empty barrels and
Jugs.
Then right in their midst was found
the marvel of craftsmanship, a table
with a small lever on the under side
which when pulled released two clasps
which held the hinged top in place.
Raised up some thirty bottles of
whisky in pint and half pint bottles
were seen packed neatly in rows or
trays. Common spring window stops
were used for the clasps and the two
were operated by the one lever stimuli
taneously One of the same kind of
stops was found to operate the trap
door, This device was certainly home
spun but decidedly effective in hiding
away liquor.
That business was good is attested
by the fact that Donovan had $500 u
and Pegleg $40. so when arrested. They
have furnished bonds of $500 each and
will be defended by Joseph Reed.
Sergeant Ross ard Detective Lawson
have the distinction of catching the
smallest bank robber in the history of
the state. Ray Sawyer is but years
old and the bank he robbed Is of size
proportionate.
The lad lives with his grandmother
on Fillmore street near Fourth. Sat
urday evening the youthful house
breaker entered the house of Mrs
Vaughn at 424 Fillmore, searched the
house for the safe and upon finding it
blew it into bits with a monkey
wrench, escaping with the plumber
amounting to 40 cents.
Investigation has proven that the lad
broke into the barn of a neighbor to
get the wrench. 1t also shows that he
once entered the Lundahl home near
there, stole some candy, and lit the gas
stove.
In a search for the missing money
which he was reported to have hid he
finally consented to lead the officers to
the treasure. 1t was found in a hole
Western avenue. Digging for a mo-
ment revealed 20 cents. The remainder
of the haul he confessed to having
spent but had saved the twenty cents
for the Fourth of July