The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-23
BACK IN TOPEKA.
Party That Captured Kidnapers
of Marion BIeakIey Return.
Their Thrilling Experience in
Auto Run TO Kansas City.
HAD A CLOSE CALL
Caught this Train While 1t Was
Moving.
Great Smith Car Fut to a Good
Use.
HAD A CLOSE CALL.

Bleakley might never have been
caught if it had not been for Bee
Smith, who drove to Kansas City Sat
urday evening with Councilman E. F.
Stanley, Detective Hutton and Ser
geant Ross of the police force in
Great Smith automobile. The party
returned in the car last night worn
out but pretty we'll satisfied With the
part they played in the capture of the
kidnapers.
The trip to Kansas City was at
tended by all kinds of excitement in
which an automobile party was held
up and the Topeka people were taken
Tor highwaymen, a thrilling ride from
Lawrence to Olathe attended by The
death of numerous chickens that per-
sisted in taking dust bath IN the
road. ride with a police Inspector
in which the speed laws of Kansas
City were shattered and the big ear
was given the right of way IN the
crowded streets and finally hauling
the officers and their prisoners to the
police station.
Saturday afternoon the police de-
cided that the kidnapers were bead
ed toward Kansas City. 1t was then
known that they had left Topeka in
an automobile. Chief Eaton appealed
to DIR. L. Anton Smith, president OF
the Smith Automobile company for
a car. The only one available was
Q6IHCHSITdLOT. If10 car WHICH Is Il
dull gray as it was never painted, ex
cept for the printing coat. This was
placed at the disposal of the police
and Bee Smith, son of DIR. Smith, was
assigned the task of driving it to
Kansas City. The car left Topeka
Just before o'clock in the afternoon.
The run to Lawrence. 26 miles was
made in little over an hour. There
the party stopped and communicated
with Topeka and it was learned that
an automobile with the kidnapped
child had been seen on the -oad be-
tween Topeka and Lawrence. The
party climbed into the car after this
delay of half an hour and started on
the river road for Kansas City The
car had been seen by people along the
road and it was supposed to be head |
ing toward Olathe so the Topeka
party turned that way, but when they |
reached Olathe there was no trace of |
the car.
Hold Up Auto Like Highwaymen.
They stopped for supper and then |
started for Kansas City. Great was
the excitement when big black car
was seen on the road ahead of them |
and the young driver opened the |
throttle of his car and soon approach |
ed near enough to see that there was |
a little girl in the car, accompanied by |
two men and a woman. Again the To- |
peka driver speeded UP the car and |
flashed by the party at a 40-mile clip |
while the detectives kept their hands |
passed the suspicious car 200 yards the |
Topeka officers jumped out, the Great |
Smith was backed across the road and I
the detectives awaited the approach of |
the supposed kidnapers with revoIvers
and rifle in hand. At the cry Of
''halt'' the frightened driver stopped |
his car and the officers approached
with their weapons ready for action.
AS they approached the frightened oc-
cupants of the car we're ready to de-
liver their money and valuabies. They
that they were being held up by high
waymen- There was a little girl in
the car sure enough but she was at
least IL years old. The party was
had been spending the day in the |
country and they were greatly relieved
when they were permitted to go on
their way without having to stand and
deliver their watches and money.
The next stop was made at
Ettwein's garage in Kansas City
where a supply of gasoline was Sc
cured and the officers communicated
with Topeka by telephone and were
told that Under Sheriff Judkins had
come down on a train and was wait
ing at the central police station. The
run to the station was made without !
Judkins conveyed the information
that the kidnapers were supposed to
he on a Burlington train due in Kan
eas City in a few minutes. Three
the case and Judkins got into the car
making eight in all and the driver
was told to get to the Burlington
bridge where the train would slow up
as fast as his car would go. 1t was a
run of about mile, but notwitfl-
standing the heavy load the bridge
was reached in two minutes and none
too soon at that. for as they APP
preached the bridge the headlight of
the train was seen just coming onto
the bridge. The officers and Mr..
Stanley left the automobile and all
climbed onto the train although 1t
was in motion and the search for the
kidnapers was successful and they
were placed under arrest before the
train backed into the Union depot
and Marian Bleakley was sobbing
with her head on Mr.. Stanley's shout
der
Meanwhile Bee Smith had been left
with his automobile at the Burlington
bridge and concluded that he was no
station and reported Chief of Detec-
tiYes G. Linus Phippen ordered the
driver to go to the union depot in all
possible haste. AS they left the stationl
the drivers at the market were cleaning
up and INSTRUCTED the street The in
spector shouted curses and maledic-
lions upon them and they hurriedly
cleared a path for the automobile Let
her co. shouted the detective and the
man needed no second command. As the
big car flashed down the street two po-
Icemen ran out ana waved their arms
to arrest the driver but the chief stood
and shouted Get out of the way and
at sight of his uniform they fell back.
The union depot was reached in less
time than it takes to tell the story and
as the inspector entered the depot the
prisoners were just coming through the
gate in charge of the officers. Then the
whole crowd was crowded into the car.
There were three Kansas City detec-
tives. Councilman Stanley Officer Jud-
frfus DETECTIVES Hutton Sergeant Ross.
Chief Ph- open. Mrs. Barclay and j. N