The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-14
TOOK The HORSES.
Son Of Melan Bridge Contractor
Skips the Country.
Struggled Two Teams and Wag-
Ons Out of a Barn.
OTHERS IN CHARGE.
Bonding Company Have Taken
Over Bridge Work.
City and County Hunting for the
Runaways.

Still more trouble with the dry land
bridge
Daniel johnson, son of A. D. Johnson,
the contractor on the Melan bridge ex-
tension, who gave up his work on the
bridge the other day and turned every
thing over to the Fidelity Surety and
Bonding company of Maryland 1t is
charged broke into a barn about
o'clock this morning and together with
his brother. he took the teams ana
wagons of the bonding company and
started out over the country with them:
The two teams and wagons belonged
originally to the contractor but since
he turned over everything to his bond
ing company, this company becomes the
possessor of the property. 1t is thought
that young Johnson, the son OF the
contractor, figured that he could get
away with the horses and making an
entrance into barn on the North SIDE
of the river he took the teams ana
started north with them
Sheriff on the Trail.
The sheriff's office and the police
department have been notified and
chase is on hand this afternoon. Shaw
nee county is being scourged for the
runaways and every farm house anc
surrounding town and village has been
| notified.
The representatives of the bonding
company had prepared to commence
work tomorrow on the complexion OF
the work johnson had started on the
Melan bridge extension Arrangements
had been made to get the workmen,
the experts, and the material together.
| Among the equipment they had the
two big teams and wagons formerly
owned by Johnson.
The city officials have taken up the
matter and will make every effort 10
catch the boys who ran away with the
horses and wagons. Work on the bridge
extension up to date has been accom-
panied with so much trouble and worry
on the part of the officials that they
are anxious to get work started.
If caught it is possible that the FL
deity people will prosecute the John-
son boys to the full extent of the law
The failure Of A. D. Johnson to carr!
out his agreement with the city anc
the rumors to the effect that he has
disposed of his property in Kansas CITY
has aroused the company and they vii
make short work of the recent actions
The barn in which the horses ane
wagons were kept belongs TO O.t'
Kuehne the big preserving manufac'
turer on the North side. This barr
twas locked and the property was un'
der the charge of the Fidelity company
The theft of the horses was not foune
out until laborers went after them this
morning. No one seems to have seer
the boys take the horses until aftel
they had reached the city limits.
, The bonding company will have
time settling matters on the bridge, ac
, cording to the city officials. johnson
, has been allowed about $4,000 In estl
mates on the bridge work. He has con
: siderable material on the ground but
3 is not known if the payments have beel
. made. ~
The contract price was about $500
: and very little actual work has beel
done. Part of the excavation has beel
made and a few pilings driven. TIL
) bridge was to have been completed b
) the first of October. The city official
: state that they will be pleased if 1T
? completed before Christmas.