The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-02
Takers of Iron Bound Oath Must
Face Court.
Youths Alleged to Have BurgIed
Greek Bunk" Car.
DRIVEN FROM HOME.
ChOuse Boy Declares Parent
Made Him Quit Abode.
Lads Plan Strong, Hot Fight
for Their Liberty.

Fred Burns, aged II, and Francis
Schouse, aged 16, full fiedged partners
under iron bound" oath to divide
equally every cent they can ''mootch''
or earn or steal, and pledged in blood
to stick by each other in life and
death, were bound over today to the
district court for trial for robbing a
Greek bunk" car on the section at
Valencia.
But in spite of the oath to go to-
gether through all universities, Fred
Burns cares not for a reformatory
term and says he had nothing to do
with the Greek robbery. Schouse,
however, says Burns told him to go
do it while he watched at the depot
for home coming Greeks. And both
will likely be found guilty, Schouse re-
fusing to let Burns out of it.
The story of the youthful wild
west pals is patterned somewhat af-
ter the forms and charts of Diamond
Dick. Burns is an orphan, and tears
were in his eyes as he said so. For
ten years he says he has shifted for
himself. He first saw Schouse in Col
orado Springs three years ago, when
he himself in knee breeches was beat
ing the trains over the country. His
last stop for work has been at Wichi-
ia, where he worked for the Yale
theater as ''spie1er."
Schouse has a home at Enid, Ok. His
father IS Henry Schouse. a patent med
icine vendor. The lad has worked on
years he says. He has learned the
Mexican language, and some Greek at
this labor.
Driven From Home.
zone night be says. IT came home
rather late and as 1 got in bed with
father, he awakened and turning over
grabbed me by the throat. choking me.
If ever catch you around here again
I'll kill you.' he said. So 1 slipped out
in my underwear over to Greeks
house where I borrowed some overalls
and a shirt and went back and hid in
our barn until father left. Then I ran
into the house and got my clothes. My
mother was there and 1 talked to her
She knows all about it and she told me
to go if I felt like 1 had to-
Schouse went from Enid to Chero-
kee and other points, finally winding UP
at Wichita where he met and formed
the comradeship with Burns.
Schouse claims he does not use to-
bacco, but Burns fingers are yellow
from the use of cigarettes. Both lads
are long haired, dirty and ragged.
when they showed US into the Jail
Gown there said Burns. 1.-THE prisoners
grabbed us and rearrested US and gave
lis a kangaroo court. Thew said we had
violated their law of breaking in with
cut their consent. They fined us each
200 kaboots with a big kabat before the
big kibosh and executed them with
razor strop, which," he added, was
only a patching to the things they
have done SINCE
VIII Fight for Liberty.
But the kids are game and Burns claims
if his former boss will send him SIS he
is going to hire two of the best lawyers
In the city and show the court a tI<lg
or two. 1t is likely that he can get OFF
by proving that he had nothing but his
oath to bind him to what Schouse did.
Still Schouse's story is pretty good as it
seems that Burns is the leader of the
gang
The Greeks who were brought in testi-
fled that they had done as reported
loaded down with loot consisting of two
razors. revolver, and pair of trousers
they bound him hand and foot and might
have done him injury had not their fore
man came to tell them to turn him over
to the officers.