The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-13
Excited Person Applies to the
Sheriff for Assistance.
Told Queer Story About Aged
Woman Being Kidnapped.
REAL STORY OUT
Man Had Secured Valuable Pa
pers from Mrs. KautZ.
She Became Suspicious and At
tOrney Helped Recover Them.

Last night, about 1920 o'clock, a
highly excited person giving the name
of o. L. Woodwork, called upon
Sheriff John Wilkerson with a tale of
woe. He wanted Wilkerson to hurry
with him to the Santa Fe depot and
stop an old lady who was about TO
escape to California. At high speed he
told a story of being the representative
of the old lady, and having power of
| attorney to handle her affairs, and how
she had been kidnapped" by Topeka
lawyer who was trying to get her out
of town.
who is the lawyer?' asked Wilker-
son..
His name is L. S. Ferry almost
shouted the excited person.
Instantly "Old John" began to lose
interest. Il hardly think Ferry will
do anything crooked was his COM
ment, and he made move to go back
to bed. Then the Woodwork person
became vehement. He insisted that the
sheriff go with him and detain the old
lady until he could talk to her."
''All right" said Wilkerson, but you
will have to hire hack I have been
sick, and am badly crippled, and L
will not walk down there.
Woodwork hesitated a moment and
then said he didn't have enough money
to hire a hack. That closed the inter-
view. Wilkerson opined that a person
representing $4,000 in securities either
had the price of a hack or was crazy.
All this interview between Wilkerson
and Woodwork requires an explana-
ton, and that is another story.
Out in Los Angeles, California, l..
NJ Fall. former county attorney OF
Reno county, and Webster Davis,
former mayor of Kansas City, are law
partners One Of their clients is Mrs.
Augusta Kautz, a widow SO years OF
age, who usually relies upon their
judgment She Is rich, and holds many
Kansas securities.
few days ago Mrs. kautz was per
suaded by a comparative stranger, y.
L. Woodwork, to give him $24OO0
worth of her Kansas securities and
power of attorney to come here and
transact business for her. After she
/ had given him these things and her
faVorte valise to carry them in and ne
was headed for Kansas. she became
nervous and consulted her attorneys.
Mr.. Fall told her she had better trans
act the business herself, and promised
to help her to the best of his ability.
Mrs. Kautz at once started for KAN
sas, a day behind her doubtful agent,
and in response to a telegram from
Mr. Fall was met at Topeka Friday
night by L. S. Ferry, attorney at law.
Ferry accompanied her to her destina-
ton. which was Olathe. There they
found Woodwork in consultation with
J. L. Pettyjohn. an old friend OF
Mrs. KautZ who had been doing her
business in this country for many
years Mrs. Kautz's suspicion had been
growing since leaving California. and
the actions of Woodwork did not allay
them. So she and Judge Ferry Went
into court al Olathe, had Woodworth's
power of attorney revoked. and pro-
ceeded to get possession of the securi-
ties he carried. He skipped to Kansas
City, was followed by Ferry, and then
| skipped back to Olathe, Where he was
cornered by Mrs. Kautz and almost
forcibly separated from the securities.
few hours later, upon returning to
| Olathe, Judge Ferry caught WOOD
worth coming out of her room with her
handbag which contained the Securl-
ties. She was away from the hotel
visiting a friend at the time. Ferry
| bluffed Woodwork, made him drop the
handbag and skip. Skipping seemed to
be his strong point. Three time after
| that Woodwork attempted to see Mrs.
| Kautz and get her to give him back the
power of attorney.
Yesterday Monday Ferry and Mrs.
Kautz came to Topeka, and Mrs. Kautz
| left for Los Angeles on No. last night
| at 11:50. Neither of them knew that
the villain still pursued her." but he
| had followed them from Olathe. If he
did not have money to hire a hack he
may not have had money to return to
California. Nothing further has been
| heard from him.
Mrs. Kautz's suspicious of her ex-
agent were again stirred up when she
discovered that he had stopped over ip
Kansas City and advertised some lots
which she owns there for 900 eff sold
within "a hours" The power of at
torney she had given him was for the
securities only, and did not cover the
Kansas City property.