The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-12
He Might Have Robbed Some
one But Didn't.
Wharf Rat Carrying Dangerous
SlungshOt Arrested.
NOT DRUNK BUT SICK
Mistake Made in Arresting Help
less Woman.
Her Uncle Was Trying to Put
Her in an Institution.

After the incoming of the first ships
at the Melan piers Tuesday morning
a suspicious character was seen by
dock hands, fishermen and others
ambling about the water front and on
the lower Kansas avenue. His am
bulations were confined to the wharf
districts and the river walks. All day
the foater from the high seas made
his queer rounds exciting interest in
the community. Finally when the
populace could stand the strain no
longer, Detective Wonderly was called
to investigate the mysterious stranger.
The officer found his man sideling
along Fourth street and Immediately
took him in charge.
An improvised slug was found on
him at the police station which may
be held to signify his vocation. 1t is
one of those weapons considered dan
gerous even in Frisco along the
wfarves. A strong towel with a
chunk of iron as large as a golf ball
secured in the middle by leather
thongs with the ends of the towel for
a grip made a deadly weapon which
the police have added to their cabi-
net of rogues implements. That the
man was picked UP before nfghtfa1l
is believed to have thwarted some
fiendish purpose of the visitor. In
court this morning he was fined SIS.
One of the late millionaire Lucky
Baldwin's employees, though Baldwin
most likely never knew it, is confined
in the castle on the Fourth street
line. He is a red haired individual
named Donovan and talks involved
Erin, having arrived in Topeka after
a long and tedious cross continent
stroll ain search OF work." from San
Francisco He had worked nine
months on the Baldwin ranch in Cal
ifornia receiving $500 as wages but
when he got to Frisco, somebody blew
out the lights and took his sock.
Hence he has walked this far In a
steady tramp and has never had an
offer to appear in vaudeville for $10,-
600 Ia Weston. The only burden
Donovan carries is an empty stomach,
razor, brush and piece of soap. Gaz-
ing occasionally into the bottom of
can of California peaches from which
the peaches have long since dsap-
peared, he whips out his razor and
outfit, scrapes the heather off his face,
and resumes his hungry tramp. He
will be given a rest of several days in
the city prison with meals on the city
Staggering in all of the fifty-seven
varieties, a man and a woman got off
a Union Pacific train last evening and
directed their efforts toward the South
side. Incidentally they met a police
man who, upon being told of their
search for charity, directed them to
the Provident association. Later on
they arrived there where the man
asked that a home be provided for the
woman. To the officers there, how
ever, the two seemed to be intoxicated
rather than otherwise in trouble and
they were told to go on up Jackson
another block where they would be
taken in. They were cordially re-
ceived at the police station and book
ed for drunkenness, giving their
names as w. M. BerSeau and Nellie
Shields of st. Marys.
The man seemed to be able to con-
troll himself but the woman staggered
fearfully and almost keeled over sew
eral times. They were locked up I'M
til this morning. Berseau, "a years of
age. is a farmer of st. Marys. He
pleaded not guilty to being drunk and
was fined IS. The woman was called
for trial but could not go because she
was in an epileptic fit. Then an in
vestigation was made which proved
that that was the ailnent yesterday
and not drunkenness. County Poor
Commissioner Hale was appeal led to
by Berseau to send Nellie his niece,
to the poor farm she claiming Topeka
as her home. Finally, however, she
confessed that she had always lived
in st. Marys and Hale furnished her
transportation back. Hence it de
velops that the real object of the trip
to Topeka was to get Nellie Shields
into some charitable home here and
that fits are responsible for the stag
gering. 1t is still believed that Ber-
seau had been drinking and he will
have to pay his fine.
All the local hot house flowers and a
number of imported Pansies, Roses,
Violets, Lilies and Lemons were out
last night in full bloom trying so hard
to decorate the lapels of the "Rest
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