The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-23
Bert Doolittle Needed Money and
Forged Check.
Dying With Consumption and
Family in Want.
FEARED THE RESULT.
Could Not Be Kept at County
Jail.
Ticket to Destination Is Pur.
chased by County.

Bert Doolittle, victim of the great
White Plague, his wife and 2-year-old
daughter. who left their home in Des
Molnes, Ia, about four months ago in
an attempt to reach Albuquerque NJ
M, travelling overland, were granted
the assistance of county officials today
ana VIII complete their journey by rail
at the county's expense.
Tne Kindness, however, was not
prompted by compassion entirely but
oy sanitary caution Doolittle had
Forged check and sold it here. ae
was arranged for hearing in the city
court this morning and had been
thrown In the county Jail more than a
week ago Prisoners and officers at the
jail early discovered that the man was
dying from tuberculosis and called
county Physician Nicoll, who advised
ms isolation and immediate dismissal
from the building. The action today
was a result
Doolittle, with his wife and child had
been making his way across the states
Dy buying and selling junk The family
,Veu IN tneIr moving wagon and cooked
py the roadside when the weather per-
mltted. Inc severe weather made their
existence most miserable but nothing
serious happened until they had reach
co Iopeka and camped at the head Of
the Tyler street lane on the North side
Ihere one of the horses died and the
Journey toward New Mexico ceased In
desperation, Doolittle pawned his watch
to L. LeVensOn, a broker, for 81 go That
money soon exhausted in buying food,
the frantic man forged a check on the
| Shawnee State bank PAYABLE to Fred
Smith and signed, E E. King. took if
TO the pawn broker, redeemed his watch
and secured 1886 in cash as balance
The check was later found to be worth
less by its holder and the man was ar
rested.
The wagon was found by Carl Lar
son, city detective, to be in a delapi-
dated condition with practically no
shelter for the wife who tried to pro-
ect her baby there and prepare food
for herself and invalid husband. The
husband at the approach of the Off
Ger ran a short distance to a barn
and hid the money he had gotten 1t
was found to be 1926.
Appearing before H. G. Larimer.
judge pro tenn. of the court of Tope-
ka today, Doolittle presented a case
| of the last stages of his fatal disease,
quick consumption. His eyes were
hollow, his chest sunken and his
breath was short. He coughed re-
peatedly. Officers and others were
afraid to stand near to him and spoke
from a distance as if he had been a
leper. 1t was one of the saddest spec
tacles ever in a court room and the
officers were moved to sympathy.
The assistant county attorney, w. E.
Atkinson, dismissed the charge of
forgery and placed one of petit lar
ceny, so that the man could be fined a
nominal sum to be held over him in
| case he did not leave the city like an
outcast. hTe man pleaded guilty to
the new charge and was fined $25,
payment of which was staid provided
| that he should leave the city within
Ii hours. L. Levenson was on hand.
He was given the 1925 cash and the
mans watch to cover his loss of
| $3.50 and was satisfied Carl Law
son vouched for the police satisfac-
ton without a prosecution. Ed ONeill
represented the county commissioners
and after Doolittle had been fined by
the court and the payment deferred.
| he asked the guilty man for a bill of
| sale for his wagon and horse in return
| for which the county would buy him
and his wife railroad tickets to Au-
buquerque. The wagon was said by
DoOlittle to be worth not more than
SO and the horse not much more.
| The tickets will cost the county
$4730.
| Mrs. Doolittle accompanied her husband
| to and from the court room. She was
much more neatly dressed and carried
be expected. She said that she had been
married but three years mo, Mr.. Doc
little never showed sign Of the disease
he became ill and the doctors said it was
| change direct to New Mexico would not
| be beneficial on account of the too sud
den change of climate so we took the
slower way. Yes. we are now without
ten along well enough until now 1 don't
know what made him forge that check
| but maybe it was because we didn't have
anything to eat.
Marriage License.
Clarence Winner, aged 2S Topeka