The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-05
MAY BE SLAYER
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES as
Planning "Dupe."
Inserts Matrimonial "Ad. in
Topeka Newspaper.
GIRL WILL PROSECUTE
Informs Police That Fanatic
Tried to Entics Her.
She Had Answered His Notice.
Then Was Annoyed.

-Gentleman of education and refine-
ment with good income, age 35 wishes
10 meet Christian young lady of refine
ment, under 30, object matrimony. Ad-
dress D. E. c., Box =, Topeka"
Answers to the above advertisement,
which appeared in a recent Sunday is
sue of a Topeka paper, should be ad-
dressed to the city prison instead of the
postoffice box number mentioned. For
ID. E. Coleman. evangelist preacher
and ex-showman. is in jail, held for in
vestlgatlons and facing the serious
charge of enticing young girls to leave
their homes with him. Whether Cole
man is an agent of white slave traders,
or simply is looking for a "dupe" to his
own devices, the police hope to de-
term1ne by an examination which will
be made when he is confronted by
girl who answered his advertisement.
Coleman was detained this morning
By Sergeant Frank Summers and Pa
trolman England at the request of the
girl who said he had "dogged'' her
about town in the past week. trying to
Scott. where he promised to obtain for
her position Of some sort with a theat-
rical company or circus. She had an
Swered his advertisement, thus giving
him the opportunity of making the
proposal through which it is charged
he tried to lure her away from home.
AS yet the police are unwilling 10
disclose the name of the girl as no
formal complaint has been filed by her
against Coleman.
He Is Taken From Car.
Coleman was taken from a Vine
wood car. on which he was trying to
evade the officers, by Patrolman
England who hailed the car and ar
rested him at Seventh street and Kan
sas avenue The confidence man had
foreseen his danger for he mad been
standing near the corner of Eighth
and Kansas avenue watching proceed
ings while the girl related to England
and to Sergeant Summers the story of
her annoyances by the man. She point
ed ont Coleman across the street.
When he. found himself the object of
interest to the police he climbed on
a passing Vinewood car. England ran
the length of the block and caught
the car at the next corner. Coleman
has been under surveillance for the
week.
The girl has assured the police of
her willingness to assist in his prose-
cution and the fact that she is yet con-
siderably less than Is years of age
will make the case against the prison
er a serious one if substantiated
Chief of Police Maurice Jenkins is
of the opinion that additional evidence
can be obtained against Coleman.
Evidence of Imposition.
Evidence that Coleman is a public
parasite of brand familiar to GRIM
inal courts, that his pose as an evan
gelist is the worst sort of an imposi-
ton, was found in the papers taken
from him when searched by Jailer Al
Hopkins One of the sources of the
good income mentioned in his adj
vertisement was explained by a list of
persons who had contributed sums of
from 81 to SIS with which to purchase
for him an artificial leg.
Coleman is cripple, having lost one
leg below the knee. After his arrest,
in reply to a query regarding the arti-
fetal limb which he was wearing, he
said that "he made those things" His
attitude in his first brief questioning
was jocose. He said he thought he