The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-23

linen the pIODdD1y 0EdS-
ged the body back of the counter,
| covered it with old clothing, locked the
| front door from the inside and escap-
| ed by way of the back door. The po-
| lice think that whoever committed the
| crime was thoroughly familiar with
| the store. Chief Jenkins, who with
Detective Carl Golf and Sergeant Dan
| Garden investigated the case last
night, are of the opinion that the ia
tai blow might have been with a heavy
revolver. On this theory he will sweat
| every gun-toter arrested for the
next several days.
Find Empty Purses.
PatroIman Robert Palmer and Pa
| trolman Mathews, as soon as Fried
berg notified the police department of
| the affair were also sent to the scene.
| They found two chamois skin bags in
which the old man kept his money. He
did not use till, according to Mr..
Friedberg.
Whether the victim made much re-
sistance is hard to tell. There was no
sign of a struggle. However, rag
upon which the murderer evidently
wiped his hands after committing the
crime was found and also a bloody
footprint near the counter. The last
is about the only clue.
Platt was last seen alive about 10
O'Clock Wednesday morning. He had
passed through the Henry hardware
drink of water. 1t is also said that
about this time a man carrying a bum
die was seen to enter the PIatt store.
The old man had considerable MeXi-
can and negro trade. He had been at
819 North Kansas avenue since last
August. Previously he had been in
business in Kansas City for about 20
years He was born in Germany.
He leaves an aged wife and another
daughter, besides Mrs. Freidberg. The
latter is prostrated from the shock
and with grief. The other daughter,
Miss Stella Platt, employed by the
Partisan Cloak company in Kansas
City, is in New York on business.
The body was taken to Penwell's
undertaking rooms. No funeral ar
rangements have been made, pending
the arrival of Miss Platt.
The old man was of a very quiet dis
position. He had no enemies as far as
is known. In this connection Mr..
Freidberg said this morning.
PLAT wouldn't have harmed a fly.
He never did anything wrong to any
one. He was very unobtrusive. But
somehow or other, some one learned
that he carried money with him and
he was murdered for his money.
81 begged him not to go into bust
ness, as we could have kept him, but
he was not content unless he was do
ing something. He had been in the
habit of opening up his store a little
after Z o'clock in the morning and
coming home a little after in the
evening. AS soon as I heard that he
was not home and that his store was
locked with the clothing outside, I
knew that something was wrong and
hurried over. My wife heard my con-
versation over the telephone and fol-
lowed"
Mr.. F'reidberg has offered 500 re-
ward for the arrest and conviction of
the murderer.
Negro Entered Store at p. NJ
Indications are that the murder
was not committed until after 8
o'clock. Platt was seen alive by sew
eral previous to this hour in front of
his store. About o'clock Fred Vol
land, clothier at 827 North Kansas
avenue, says he saw a negro carrying
something wrapped in newspaper
enter the store. The same incident
was noted by NJ. w. Kimes. a dray-
man, who has a stand at the south
east corner of North Kansas avenue
and Norris street, not far from the
PIatt store.
"At the time I never thought any
thing about it," said Mr.. Voiland this
morning. However, Mr.. Kimes this
gro carrying bundle go into the
store about the same time I saw him.
I didn't see the man come out. In
fact, 1 didn't pay any more attention
to it as people going into a store are
ordinary happenings. The negro was
suit, but didn't notice his features or
the color of his clothes. He was
about thirty feet ahead of me and
walked along in an ordinary manner.
I just happened to be on the street at
the time"
Before this, VIM w Edmonds, a
jeweler, saw white man with a bun
die go into the store.
II was waiting for car to cross the
river about 1:3O o'clock said Mr.. Ed
mondS, when ] saw a man dressed in
a yellowish brown suit. am positive
of the time, for I looked at the clock.
1t was about 1880 p m, and L marked
on my card, Back at $780, signifying
the time I was to return
Many speak of seeing Platt alive at
2 o'clock, standing in front of his
store.
No Sound Heard Next Door.
E. L. K1ussman, clerk at the Henry
hardware store, just north Of the PIatt
store, from which it is separated by a
hallway, says that neither he nor any
of the others in the store had any in
timation of anything being wrong that
afternoon. However, it is thought that
the noise of the blow, which must have
been given in the south corner furthest
away from the hardware establish
ment, could not have been heard.
l was greatly shocked when Chief
Jenkins told me of the killing" said
Mr.. Klussman ''Chief Jenkins came
to my house at 1881 North Madison
street, about 9 o'clock and told me,
and asked me if I had heard anything
suspicion. I told him mo-.
"Platt was in the habit of coming
into our store two or three times a
/ day and getting drink. We were
rather friendly as he was a nice old
man and a Woodman, to which lodge
! l belonged. He used to get me to read
! bills and other papers for him, as he
! couldn't read English
The Platt store is a two story brick
and stone building. The stock was
mostly clothing, suit cases and similar
articles.
The murder is as mysterious as any
| in the Topeka police records, and al
most unparalleled in the history of the
neighborhood. The affair caused great
excitement in the neighborhood. This
morning crowds of curious people
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