The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-29
William Donovan Drops Out of
Sight.
Evidently Has No Desire to Face
Judge Urmy.
DROVE TO LECOMPTON
Then Took the Train for Kan
sas City.
Peg Leg McClafferty Offers to
Pay the Damages.

William Donovan, partner in crime
with ''Pegleg' McClafferty in the
profitable dispensation of intoxicating
liquors at 200 Kansas avenue, hired a
livery rig just before police court
opened last evening when he and
"Pegleg" were bonded to appear, and
drove hurriedly toward the city of
Oakland and disappeared.
Never before has a patient of
Joseph Reed failed him and the judge
is greatly put out. Reed has per-
sonal acquaintance with his clients
and trusts them implicitly, securing
their bonds for them repeatedly and
never losing a cent. This Donovan.
however, was new one to him and
he took Pegs word for him. John
Grief, who furnished the bond, also
took Pegs word.
The bond was for $500 and upon
the nOnappearance of Donovan, Judge
Urmy declared his bond forfeited.
in his voice asked as he witnessed
the nonappearance if he should ''pay
now and began to get his roll I'M
furled and though his lawyer stopped
him, it is evident that he will bear
the loss.
This readiness on the part of Nc
Clafferty aroused the suspicion of the
police that it was a fixed affair. The
rig was secured from the Benton DdTn
on Monroe street. Today the chief
received a telegram from Lecompton
which explains the story.
After driving the horse nearly to
death, Donovan hitched it to a rack
at Lecompton and boarded a train
Arriving at Argentine he stopped long
enough in his fight to send a telegram
to the agent at Lecompton that
strange horse tied there in the street
belonged in Topeka.
Mr.
he supposed all the time that "Peg-
leg" had the horse. as 1t had been got
ten for him. Peg is expected to pay
any damages on the rig besides the
forfeited bond together with his forth
coming fine and imprisonment on six
counts.
"Hey, chief, I want to get that case
my own use," ernphatically announced
Mrs. Robert Kneisler, as she strolled
into the police Office at court time.
Here, officer, lock that woman up
for investigation," promptly respond
Something of a murmur went
around the office as the jailer sprang
to the task of booking the lady on that
excellent device Investigation" But
that was not ALL
..Here you." he turned to a detec-
tive, make me out search and
seizure warrant for 423 East Crane
street. Let's sees if she can bluff me
out" That's her residence.
The excitement was all a result of
the arrest of one Gilbert, an express
man, last week while engaged in the
business of delivering a case Of beer,
charging him with investigations and
piling the beer down cellar with the
ordinary disorderly booze.
"Why didn't you come after me-"
continued the abused lady.
Because you saved me the trouble
ior, Ofx fol
answered the chief
AS the jailer led her upstairs to
spend her little "a hours "investiga-
ton provided for such felonious
cases. she snapped at the jailer, "He
thinks he's awful smart"
Meanwhile the chief looked up her
time for a former sentence of selling
liquor and found that she still owed
three days which he might keep her
for if he cared to.
But the lady could not be squelched
SO easily and shortly had Ed Nc
Keever in consultation with the result
presently issued a writ of habeas
corpus for the perusal of the chief
and Jailers Hopkins and Smith. At
the time Henry Bayless, county jailer,
hold down the job while he hurried
over to the city prison with the writ.
The chief had gone home to supper,
Hopkins was alone but lost no time in
confronting the judge of the district
court to explain the detention of Rena
Kneisler. Thereupon he was ordered
to release her by o'clock or prefer
charges and let her go on bond. "That
was SO near 6 o'clock says the jailer,
chat had to run to get back in time
to let her OUT
The complaint was at the time being
made out in the Office of the city at
torney: Chief Eaton says: eff I had
been there I would not have hesitated
There are enough of them from which
to draw a preference
The delayed warrant was served on
the woman this morning and charges
and one nuisance.
A search warrant for a block sup
posed to be owned by the Kneislers
was executed this morning by Ser
geant Ross, Detective Lawson and Pa
trolmen England and Bryant The
house at 324 Crane street was the big
gest job, as it included the residence
cement stone Offices. work benches
page. Another house at 419 was
searched likewise. Nothing was dis
covered.
mo, didn't buy no whisky That
was Jamaica ginger said Bush
Carper today to the police Judge.
Bush and another fellow had a
powerful cravfn' for the booze last
night but Bush alone was satisfied.
The other fellow gave Bush dol
lar to go and get some whisky and
watched his messenger board a street
car. He did not come back however
and the other fellow started to find
him and that dollar. And he did, but
Mr.. r. L. Carper was in no con-
dition to return to anybody Twenty
five cents he had spent for jag and
the rest he had in his pocket.
The other fellow was rightly sore
and in revenge phoned the police to
come and get his faithless pard. It
was thought that Bush had some
where found the whisky until he dis
abused the cops of the suspicion
against the drought in the city by