The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-22
Noted Crook Made Mistake Of
Coming" Politician.
Nolan Wanted for Many Of
lenses in South.

LeaVenWorth, Kan, Jan 22--Slnce
the arrival of ''Diggs" Nolan at the
federal prison here bankers, railroad
managers and express company Off
Gals in a dozen western and southern
states can breathe easier.
Nolan is alleged to have been con-
nected with a gang of safe blowers,
train robbers, forgers and desperadoes
in general who operated from St. Paul,
Mimi, to Savannah, Mo-, and from
Denver to Ell PaSo.
Throughout Oklahoma the band
was particularly we'll known and bad
ly feared and in that state murder
was added to other crimes, it is said.
Nolan has just been tried in Omaha
on a charge of using the mails to as
sist in defrauding and was sentenced
to ten years in prison here. Accord
ing to a detective who brought Nolan
here handcuffed. Nolan and his
pals were the most desperate Grim
lnals, detectives had to deal with in
A Dozen Officers Want Him.
In the court room during Nolan's
trial We're officers from half a dozen
states, all ready with requisition pa
perS to arrest him should the Omaha
jury find him not guilty
Nolan was arrested in Savannah last
November, and the officers started for
Omaha with their prisoners. Both
members of the gang are said to have
determined to rescue their leader, and
gathered in Memphis, Tenn, with the
Intention of raiding the train upon
which Omaha officers were riding.
The plot became known and In a
fight with officers Kinney Bergen, one
of the desperadoes, was killed and
three of them arrested
But others of the gang followed
their leader on to Omaha and made
effort after effort to rescue him. Upon
two different occasions saws were
struggled into his cell and bars at his
windows were found almost severed.
Upon third occasion Nolan was
found with an automatic pistol and a
bottle of nitroglycerine in his cell, but
was deprived of them before he had
an opportunity of dynam1ting the Jail.
His Crimes Are Many.
According to the Pinkerton people,
the gang is responsible for the follow
ing swind1eS during the last year:
Memphis, three forgeries, aggregating
$1,000; Clovis, N. M, lawyer, $4,000;
Denver bank, $3.50; Springfield, Mo,
railroad agent, $125; Temple, Texas,
individuals, $4,000; Omaha saloon
keeper, s1,s7s; Hot Springs saloon
keeper, $1,620; Decatur, Ill, saloon
keeper, $3.50.
In addition to these there are sew
eral train robberies, store raids, and
bank dynamiting and robbing placed
to the credit of the gang.
He "Conned'' Politician.
Nolan made the mistake of his
life when he "conned" Tom Denison
of Omaha. Denison is a big political
boss of the town and when he found
that Nolan had gotten him to cash a
worthless draft he Immediately went
after him.
First he obtained Nolan's indict-
ment in federal court because the
forged draft passed through the mails
Then he put to work all the machin-
cry of the city, and soon Nolan was
found in Savannah, Ga. The arrest
followed and the officials had their
hands full in getting back to Omaha
without losing their prisoner.
And after the sentence was passed
the officers feared that Nolan would
give them the slip. Just as quickly as
possible-within "a hours-Nolan was
brought to the prison here.