The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-14
new men ON CASE
Pinkerton Detectives Trying to
Solve Platt Murder.
Local Officers Still Cropping in
the Dark.
RUMORS OF ARRESTS.
UnfOunded Gossip Concerning
Relatives of Dead Man.
Chief Jenkins Leaves Topeka
Looking for Evidence.

With every officer at work on the
case and a score of private detectives
searching for evidence, the BENJAMIN
Platt murder mystery is this after
noon unsolved and no immediate ar
rests are probable.
Since the receipt of the coins from
the Plat collection, new secret SER
vice men have been put to work on
the case, but their efforts have been
fruitless. Members of the Pinkerton
association are said to be interested in
the case, and it is claimed that numer-
Gus private detectives are at work.
EVERY sheriff, city marshal and police
onlcer in Kansas and adjoining states
are at work. But there are no results.
Every few hours the police are fur
nlshed with what appears to be some
fresh bit of evidence. A careful in
vestigation always proves that the
information is valueless
An attempt has been made, evident
~ by the officers who have failed in
solution. of the murder. to connect
relatives of the dead man with the
crime. 1t was freely reported on the
streets last night that Samuel Freid-
berg, son-in-law of the murdered man,
had been arrested. Various motives
are ascribed as a reason for the sense
less rumors. The most persistent has
been that Platt carried a large sum
Of insurance.
The facts are that the only insur-
ance carried by Platt was $1,000, the
policy being made payable to his chill
dren- There are two daughters, one
being Mrs. F'reidberg. immediately
Following the murder both Mrs. Freid-
berg and her sister, made assignments
OF the policy to their mother, widow
OF the murdered man. Mr.. Platt had
no money to speak of at any time and
Htv4s
the money-about s1,500-to start
him in business. He has since the
murder also paid $3.50 debt owed
by Mr.. Plat, for which he was surety.
1t is an injustice to Mr.. Freidberg
even to make this explanation, but the
gossips are so busy that the story will
probably continue to grow unless the
facts are printed.
All morning the police and detec-
tives walked the streets. Presumably
they believed they were looking for evil
dence Several officers visited the
Platt store for the hundredth time.
They admitted that the trips were
,, fruitless.
This morning Chief Morris Jenkins
left Topeka and will probably not re-
turn until Wednesday. He stated that
his mission was to investigate the
Platt case.
If the real murderer is in Topeka he
is doubtless finding much enjoyment in
the police walk the streets and fail
to make progress in their search. 1t
is almost three weeks since the MUIR
der was committed. In that time
hundred clues have been found. Sew
eral persons were taken to the police
station for investigation. In each in
stance, no evidence could be found
which would warrant an arrest Across
the river the little stock of furnishing
goods is being sold and the store will
soon be closed. On the wall and coun-
ters are splotches of blood from Platt's
wounds. BertilOn experts examined
the finger prints. Clarivoyants COM
municated with the departed. Police
officers asked foolish questions. De-
tectives looked wise. But no arrests.
The only salvation seems to lie in
the work of the imported detective
force. These men, who were presum-
ably employed by Jewish organizations,
have spent several days in Topeka
They have worked quietly, did not try
the case through the newspapers or call
out the band or fire department in or
der to add proper significance to their
actions. If they have a real, sure
enough tangible clue, they are making
the most of it. But the real murderer
may be standing on the corner watch
ing the Pinkerton force for all the in
formation that interested parties have
been able to gather
Rather q lively Discussion took pIace