The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-01
M'UARDY CAUGHT
Wanted for Express Robbery
Found Refuge in Virginia.
Man Worked as Plumber In
lola and Joplin.
WAS KNOWN AS CURTIS
Those Who Remember Him Tell
of His Strange Conduct.
Lived a Sort Of DIR. Jekyll ana
Mr.. Hyde Existence.
WAS KNOWN AS CURTIS

lola kan. Aug Again the tran
Of "a notorious bandit has ended WIN
in prison walls. According to auVlceS
receiyed here by Sheriff Hoover Kerr
Tsln,er McUardy. wanted for the rob-
berv of a Missouri Pacific express
4rain near Coffeyville March 20, IS
prisoner i'm the Virginia state peniten-
4ia,v. where detectives are at WoIh
establishing positive Identification IL
4s stated that McUardy committed
so,ns trivial offense, sufficient how
ever 10 rive him q short term that
-. r,,irbt hide from the detectives who
wore securing the country for him nc
hind prison bars.
McUardy. known as Frank GURUS
was for some time a resident Oh ioid'
ono bl,stcrv February morning in
1qnA tba aoor Of william ii. Root S
,,iurabfnp- shop opened. and "a shaggy
Tmaciated looking indlNidual nleW III
with the crisp winter breeze - luNNy
little cap mounted to a comic peaN
aa it spread down in a pNialiludl
shape over the stranger mead NoWS
OF stmbby dark WhiskerS IN ulNSISl-
1ied directions over his face, giving
evidence of numerous shaNeS WIN ."
barlow and here and there IN the un :
darhrueb were Streaks of scrambled
eecs and mill shaVings, indicating u
careless toilet after night repoSS
i'm some lumber yard Ills iagSeu
clothing hung i'm shapeiess loIIIl ll
around him and he was picture
such as the artists draw for the IunhH
side MIR. Root expected a toucn a.
once Instead. the stranger stralShI-
ened up before him. a confident look
heaming from his eyes and even prlue
showing beneath the surface Oh MS
repulsive appearance
nil
"how's work 2?
amazement. Funny that plumber
should get in your shape at this sea
son OF the year. Yes, there plehty
of work and l need men. What can
Anything that a plumber is sup
posed to do
AN right. I've lot of joints to
wipe. If you can do that. you've got
steady work
Was Expert Mechanic.
The stranger performed the tasks
assigned him with a finish and speed
that stamped him as an expert. And
Frank Curtis name was given a place
on the payroll
AS the weeks sped by, McUardy be-
came popular with his acquaintances.
With his savings he transformed him
self from an exhibit from the under
world to a model of neatness in dress
and manner. He went in good Socl-
ety. Occasionally he yielded to his
appetite for liquor. Then he dropped
into his old ways stunned his ac-
uuaintances and seemed sullen and
mysterious. He seemed to be fight
ing for control of himself and as soon
as he could regain his moral stamina.
be again became light-hearted and
happy He was welcomed into some
of the best homes.
One evening. he went for a pleasure
drive with a friend who had become
closely attached to him. All the way
to a nearby town he chatted gaily
and seemed to be in the best of
spirits. Suddenly, he became silent
and moody. He whirled the team
around. drove back to lola. helped his
friend to alight and gave no word of
explanation.
Later he was chided for this. You
don't know what you're talking
about" he said. Il was right. There
was in the company of one as pure
as the driven snow. A man of my