The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-17

hard. It was last fall, he said. The
lawyer then fired questions about
,Platt's coins, about Lolley's frequent
visits to the little store and pinned
| him down on details surrounding his
actions on Washington's birthday
| Lolley got by with many of his an
swers, but at time he contradicted his
| statements.
When the Jacobs woman was seen
this morning, she appeared hurt about
the injustice which prompted the po-
lice to take her to the station. The
woman did not care to discuss the
Platt murder and said she knew moth
ing of the affair except such as she had
heard When asked about Lolley's ac-
tions after he returned home that even
ing, the woman said:
Mr.. Lolley was here the entire even
ing We didn't hear anything about
the murder until the next day when
we read an account of the affair in the
paper. Mr.. Lolley said, That's too bad.
that fellow was a pretty good
Sheeney.'
Mrs. Jacobs said she didn't know
where Platt's store was located.
Man Knew PIatt.
In his statements this morning,
Lolley said he frequently visited the
Platt store and bought much of MS
clothing there. He said he had known
Platt nearly two years.
much of the time in the country Last
Saturday he came to town and went to
the Platt store Lolley asked Harry
Nathanson, who has charge of tho
stock, to cash his check for him. The
request was compiled with. Lolley
stayed in the building several minutes,
looked around but did not buy any
thing. Lolley had worked for the
Nathanson store on the south side of
| the river and was known by members
of the firm.
If the police succeed in connecting
Lolley with the gold coins, it is be-
| lieved that they will be able to present
| a strong case against the North side
painter. Platt's coin collection was
kept in little chamois bag. The bag
was found the day following the muir
der When the coins were sent to DR..
Keith, they were in black leather bill
! book, in which Platt carried his cur
rency- This fact would probably mean
that the coins were not in the possess
Sion of a chance finder but that the
person who sent the coins. took Platt's
| money and his life. 1t is for this rea-
son that the police will work overtime
connect Lolley with the mailing OF
til first package of coins.
With this evidence in hand and the
further testimony that Lolley was
seen washing his hands at the Henry
pump the afternoon of the killing, the
state will be able to present a strong
case against the man.
Has Bad Record.
| LolleyS court record is not alto
gether gilt edge. Several years ago
| he served a term in the penitentiary
| for statutory crime. He was sent up
from Pottawatomfe county. After his
term expired he succeeded in adorning
| other court dockets and it is said was
twice convicted of burglary.
Almost two years ago Lolley came
to Topeka. Except for a season in
southern Kansas in 1910, he has lived
here since that time. He has worked
much of the time since coming here,
but it is claimed that he has never
! been in the good graces of the police
department.
Following the Investigation of Lol-
| ley. his partner King was put on the
grill, but no direct evidence in con-
nection with the crime was obtained
from him. Then the Berrey woman
| was questioned. Her statements may
be used to confront Lolley in his testi-
m onv concerning the postcards.
Lolley's arrest Thursday night is by
far the mott important development in
connection with the Platt murder
chant was slain in his little store at
S19 North Kansas avenue the after
noon of February %. The body was
not found for several hours after the
killing. Platt's store was locked. The
murderer had escaped through a back
door a few feet from the pump at
which Lolley is said to have been seen
washing his hands Robbery was the
only probable theory advanced for the
murder. P1att's pockets were rif1ed
His pocketbook containing a sum of
money and chamois skin containing
a large collection of rare gold coins
| were missing.
Since the killing every officer in To-
peka has worked on the case. Several
Pinkerton detectives and private plain
clothes men have been in Topeka the
la-. week. Until Thursday night their
efforts seemed fruitless.