The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-24
A NEGRO is HELD.
Joe Small Detained on Account
of Platt Murder.
Gives Conflicting Account OF His
Movements.
SWEATED BY OFFICERS
Maintains His Innocence of the
Terrible Crime.
Went to Kansas City Following
the Murder.
,WEATED BY OFFICERS


luton.
A negro, known as Joe Small is be-
ing held for investigation on suspicion
of being the murderer of Benjamin
Platt, who was found dead with his
skull crushed, behind the counter of
his store, S19 North Kansas avenue,
about 7:15 O'Clock Wednesday even
ing. His pockets were turned inside
out. About S100, which Platt had
carried was missing.
The day before the murder 1t IS SAID
that Small. who is a window washer
by profession and a gambler by occu-
patton, said that he had to have mon
ey and was going to get it some way.
The next noon it is reported, he was
seen looking into the window at the
Platt store. About 8 o'clock, Fred
Voiland, a clothing merchant, at S27
North Kansas avenue, saw negro en-
ter the store, carrying bundle Mr..
Voiland, this morning, however, could
not Identify Small as being the one
he had seen, as the negro held is
taller, according to Voiland's state
ment.
Nevertheless, evidence was strong
enough to detain the suspect. He told
several disconnected stories as to his
actions and whereabouts Wednesday
afternoon and evening. He was also
carrying bundle in newspaper, like
the negro seen by Voiland, although
it contained only old clothes, when
he was seized by Detective Judkins.
The detective was given the clue
by the man to whom Small had men,
toned his need of money and his de-
termination to get it.
Upon examination in the sheriff S
office at the courthouse this morning,
Small said that he did not know any
thing about the murder until "a little
after o'clock when he saw the am
bulance and the crowd of people in
front of the store. He also told of go
ing across the river and wandering in
the bottoms looking for an acquain-
tance and rather confused his time Of
coming and going.
Went to Kansas City.
That same evening he admitted
having gone to Kansas City, where he
went to tough resort on MCGEE
street. He returned here last evening.
This morning man whose name the
detective withholds notified Judkins
that they suspected the negro and
gave his location. Judkins picked
him up az ut II o'clock on the North
side.
He was Immediately taken to the
court house where Judkins, Assistant
County Attorney Mcclure and Judge
Simon questioned him. He answered
queries doggedly, maintaining that he
had no connection with the murder.
He said that he was working Wednes-
day afternoon.
He gave his home on Brooks ave-
nue., where he lives with his mother.
He has served in the army and has
the straight carriage of the trained
soldier. He is nearly six feet tall and
very black. He wore brownish suit
and cap. He is unmarried.
When placed in the county Jail for
detention this noon, he Immediately
began to read newspaper.
He had practically no money on him
when taken hIJf If iS fhnnphf he
spent everything for car fare and at
the Kansas City resort
''Sure, I'll tell you my name" he
said this noon to a reporter. TITS Joe
3. Small. I live with my mother on
Brooks avenue.
mo. 1 am not going to tell you
where l was when some one said I
was looking in at the window of that
store. The people who ought to know
where I was at the time know and
that's enough.
I'm not bothering. I didn't have
anything to do with the murder It's
too bad. isn't it?''
ct didn't say anything about having
to get money"
Follow Many Clues.
All Wednesday nigh: and Thursday
and today the police have followed up
clues. Late Thursday afternoon Frank
Roach, we'll known negro on the
North side, was found by the officers
He was thought by Fred Voiland to
be the one he had seen enter the
Platt store about p. m Wednesday.
a few hours before Platt's body was
found. He showed considerable agi-
tation when the officers approached
him, but said he could prove an alibi,
that he was in the country at the hour
mentioned. The police told him to go
to the station, telling him that it was
useless to try to escape. The man
went to the station alone and was let
go after proving his aIibi.
A white man was also held by the
police, but let go. He seemed to be a
religious fanatic. Among the effects
in his room was a large sack filed
with doughnuts, biscuits and other
food.
Another man who suddenly left his
room near the U. P. pharmacy, just
across from the Union Pacific depot,
was thought to have been the man
seen by Mr.. Voiland, but this also
proved wrong.
Detectives Joe Ross and VIII Hutton
spent all Thursday on the case Con-
siderable interest in the search is he
ing taken by private individuals. per
haps because of the offer of S10O re-
ward for the slayer, made by Samuel
Freidberg, son-in-law of Platt.
Chief jenkins said this morning: 'sI
think that the murderer was an ac-
duaintance of the old man and that he
killed him just as he started to "a !.
lunch from the fact that his lunch was
partly unwrapped When the BODY was
found.
IT think that because an acouaint-
ance entered. Platt did not rise from
his meal. And a stranger might have
only stunned him before robbing him,
but an acquaintance would desire 20
make sure that Platt was dead so that
he could not identify him upon recov-
cry.
THE crime was comparatively essv
to commit without detection, as on ac-
count OF clothing over the window it