The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-07
DODGE DIDN'T GO.
Henry Miller, PickpOcket, Must
Answer in Court.
Had Been Turned Over to Fake
Officer.
SET FREE IN CHICAGO.
Special Effort Made to Prevent
Return to Kansas.
Officers of That City Interceded
in Vain.

Harry Miller, professional pick
pocket, was brought to Topeka Thurs
day night from Chicago to answer
state charge in the Shawnee county
district court. and developments in the
case are causing all sorts of specula-
ton at the court house. Not least
among the theories is that Miller is a
member of a notorious gang of crooks
who have been pledged immunity at
the hands of the Chicago officials.
1t was in October that Miller was
arrested at the Santa Fe depot on
charge of attempting to pick the
pockets of one F. A. Bliason. Two
women saw Miller put his hand in
Bliason's pocket just as the latter was
boarding an eastbound train. They
screamed and a police officer caught
Miller after a short chase
At the county Jail the officers learn
ed that Miller was paroled prisoner
from the Illinois reformatory, where
he had been sent for term of Ia
years. 1t was after Miller waived his
preliminary hearing and was bound
over to the district court that things
began to happen. One day man
appeared at the court house with al
legged papers from the Illinois re-
formatory for Miller's return. The
sheriff and county attorney consulted
and finally agreed to turn the prisoner
over to the Illinois authorities.
Miller was taken to Chicago by the
supposed paroled officer. Here he
was T6IGdSeu anu SiIlCG the 1OpChGN
episode has never spent day in the
reformatory. When this fact was
learned by B. y. Wood, special Santa
Fe agent, he began a thorough inves-
tigation of the matter.
It was learned to Woods satisfae-
ton and that of the Shawnee county
officials that the man who took Miller
to Chicago was an employee of Bath
house" John Coughlin, the Chicago
alderman, and that Miller was also
of a of clever CROOKS
who had gained the protection Of the
police,
A requisition was then secured from
the governor and the Shawnee county
officials with the assistance of WOOD
made formal demands for Miller. Ten
days ago a Chicago police officer visit
ed Topeka. He stated authoritatively
that Miller was confined to his bed IN
Chicago and was expected to die at any
hour from tuberculosis. The Chicago
police department through this man
recommended that the Kansas authori-
ties drop the case, as Miller would new
er be strong enough to be brought tc
this state for trial.
= But the Kansas officials were begin
ming to learn things. Wood made an
other trip to Chicago. He found where
Miller stayed. A trip to the rooms
found Miller in his bed. His clothes
were scattered about the room. Then
Wood went for an. officer. When he re-
turned he met Miller on the stairs. He
was dressed and in apparently excellent
health. The Chicago police apologized
and declared they had been deceived
Miller was brought to Topeka and ar
rived here Thursday evening. The
prisoner declares he does not know
ssHfnkey- Dink' Kenna and Bath
house john Coughlin. and that he is
lust downtrodden bit of humanity
who has suffered unjustly.
AIiller's bond has been fixed at $1,000.
He is now in the county Jail awaiting
his preliminary hearing, which will be
held Saturday, April Is.