The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-14
HIS MOTHER WINS
Gets Mike" Quirk's Confession
After Officers Fail.
She May Get Reward of 81, 900
Offered by q. s.
AT FIT. RILEY
Are Other Army Officers ImpIi-
Gated in Outragesl
Punishment of Preacher Said
to Have Been Severe.

Junction City. Kan, Dec 1.-THE
plead1ngs Of his mother accomplished
what threats. coaxing and sweating by
the officers had failed to do in the case
of Private Nike Cuirk, held for blow
ing up the military bridge at Fort Ri
ley and the destruction OF half a nil
lion dollars worth Of other government
property at the post After listening to
her entreaties for two weeks -xuirk made
his confession duplicating Rev. Charles
NJ Brewer, Mrs Anna Jordan and 9TH
ers higher up and not yet arrested
That a scandal IN the army is likely
to be the result OF the explosions and
confession is regarded as likely here
and army men do not deny IT to their
friends The only answer they make to
such insinuatiOns is a smile. In state
ments for publication these reports are
vigorously uenied-
Quirk has long been suspected Of be-
ing responsible for the fires and dyna-
miting and the fact that these out
RACES ceased with his arrest made the
officers sure Of their theory. But they
could get no direct evidence Questions
failed to make him confess So did
coaxing and threats. Then the officers
decided that if they wanted any evil
dence against the mer who were inn
pIicated with him they must try an
other plan
Then Came Confession
Looking I'D Quirk's enlistment papers
they found where his home was located
A telegram brought his mother to the
prison She stayed here for two weeks
comforting much with her SON. Then
came the confession
There is a reward of 81, 900 offered by
the government for the arrest and con-
yictiou of the dynamiter and firebug-
1t is reported that Quirks mother is
to receive this money but this report
is not confirmed In fact the army Of
fcers do things in their own peculiar
way and heed not the plea for news.
III .1f
enlisted men are not allowed to speak
upon such-uatters-
His Punishment Severe.
It is not considered unlikely here that
Brewer sought revenge for the treat
ment he received at Fort Riley About
IS years old. big. brainy. good looking,
a good mixer and with love for liquor
he was a prince Of good fellows until
his appetite got the best OF him. he
attended an enlisted mans ball while
intoxicated and had trouble with the
men and their wives Complaint was
made against him and instead Of being
allowed to resign he was court mar
tailed Previous to his trial he was un-
der arrest and confined to his quarters
a prisoner for two months His wife
and family sent away. he was kept
alone until the time came for him to
leave the fort at which time ne was
publicly disgraced and expelled from
the government reservation
Sympathy for Fallen Man
There Is a lot OF sympathy for Brew
er here He was well liked and the
feeling is that his disgrace was made
more public and his sentence more Sc
vere because he was a chaplain. than
would have been the case had he been
an officer under other circumstances
He was Baptist preacher before en-
tering the army
brewer is expected to reach Fort RI
ey early tomorrow or late today. Mrs.
Anna Jordan will also be brought to
the fort sometime today. Whether or
not interviewers will be allowed to see
them rests with the fort authorities