The Topeka state journal., 1911-03-21
DIR. Keith Turned 1t Over to
PinkertOn Detective.
THERE is NO SPENCER
POstOffice Of That Name Long
Ago Abolished.
Lolley Objects to Sweating by
the Officers.

The officers have lost a valuable
bit of evidence in the Platt murder
the bit of newspaper in which the
coins were sent to the State Journal.
After spending seven hours in the
sweat box Monday night and early
this morning Charles Lolley refused
to alter his statement concerning his
whereabouts the day Benjamin Platt
was killed and gave no new evidence
that will be OF value to the state. Lol-
ley was stubborn, cross and peevish
throughout the burning examination.
He was not always choice in the selec-
tion OF language and he freely told
the police and detectives that if he
went to the penitentiary for the killing
ii would be on facts and evidence and
not theories.
Early Monday evening, the police
Boyle of the Kansas City detective
force, led the grilling. Sheriff ]. ID.
Norton, Chief Morris Jenkins and De-
tectives Golf and Voiles assisted in
the attempt to force a confession from
the man who has been held at the
police station for investigation. But
there was little. doing.
AS the big black eyed Kansas City
man drew his chair up close to that
of I.olleys and placed his hand on the
prisoners knee, Lolley trembled. But
it didn't force any statements from
the little North side painter He glar-
ed defiance at his accusers and re-
fused to change his latest statement
that he worked with Tom Brown the
day Platt was slain. Although the po-
lice have refuted this statement, Lol-
lev refused to listen to them. He was
certain he possessed an alibi and that
it would hold good when tested in
court.
Then Boyle tried a new tack. He
questioned Lolley about matters two
and three months old. The prisoner
gave a good account of himself at all
times in that period. He was certain
just where, how and for whom he
worked. But a recollection of affairs
on Nashingtons birthday were just
bit hazy in the mans mind. That was
the most important fact the police Sc
cured Lolley's action and manner
convinced the police that the man was
holding out, that he was not always
telling a good straight story. Steadily
they kept after him. They told him
they had ample theories and clues
which showed that he knew more of
the murder than he told. Then Lolley
would look the officers straight in
the eye and tell them to produce the
goods. Not until after o'clock this
morning did the grilling examination
the officers tried again. Still there
were no new developments.
After the trying test of last night,
Lolley did not sleep we'll this morning.
More than four days he has been de-
MED his freedom. He knows little of
just what is happening out in the big
world and there is little certainty in
his mind as to just how much evidence
the officers really have.
V,OIIeV Is PoeVPd
In addition to this Lolley did not
appreciate the treatment he received
at the hands of the officers. He de-
cIared this morning that the police
were unfair in their investigation. Tie
man said that the officers cursed ano
abused him. frequently called him d
liar and applied epithets which ne was
unable to resent. Lolley was of the
opinion that Boyle's tactics in secur-
ing evidence were bulldozing and the
examination set badly on the prisoners
nerves.
For the first time since his arres.,
Lolley was this morning permitted to
talk with an attorney. He has retain
ed J. r. McNary to look after his legal
interests and McNary spent an hour
this morning at the city jail The two
men discussed the probability of the
success of LOllcy's alibi'' and out
lined the evidence in case Lclley should
be formally charged with the murder.
At 8 o'clock this afternoon no formal
charge had been preferred against Lol-
ley for the Platt killing. His attorn 3y
threatens to commence habeas corp1s
proceedings Wednesday morning in
case Lolley is held longer than today.
in connection with the murder investi-
cation. 1t is known that the officers
desire to strengthen their case before
charging Lolley with the crime and the
threat of habeas corpus actions MAY
prompt them to get busy this after
noon and prevail upon F.. r. Simor,
county attorney, to issue a complaint
Lost the Evidence.
1t is probable that the police and
county officials thoughtlessly dropped
a valuable piece of evidence when they
failed to keep the bit of newspaper in
which the gold coins sent to the State
Journal were wrapped. The coins and
paper were turned over to DR.. H. Ii
Keith, county coroner, by the State
Journal. Keith gave them to a Pinker-
ton detective and now it appears that
the bit of newspaper has disappeared.