The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-26
FOUND HIS BODY.
James Roach, Farm Hand, Had Been
Killed In Bryantss Joint.

s'>>@AASO 4SosS~AAs 49, SUAk0- ,Vt4Ae sWA5l
murdered late Monday night or Tues
day morning in the bottoms" ana his
body was discovered Thursday after
noon. The body of Roach was found
by Mrs.. Ida Bryant, q paroled prisoner
OF the county Jail. who saw his body
In the cellar of her home. 125 North
Monroe street. Forty" Bryant. her
der arrest in Valley Falls, charged
with the murder of Roach.
Ida Bryant went to her home Christ
mas morning but was unable to find
her divorced husband, the alleged
murderer. She started to make . fire
and early In the afternoon went to the
cellar for more wood. As she entered
the basement she saw the body of a
man lying on the floor. 1t was under
pile of wood. She ran out Of the
mouse and her screams attracted the
neighbors who called the police.
It was soon discovered that the dead
man was James Roach. q farm hand.
who had become a frequenter of the
bottoms" His body was taken to the
Shellabarger undertaking rooms. The
body had been robbed. Roach had
been employed on the farm of Moore
Mcconnell. near Silver Lake. McCon-
nell said last night that he had given
the man q $40 check last Friday
morning when he came to Topeka and
that Roach had IS in cash. II il be-
ACVSO t4A0e TIC ulOllV6 WIS TOOO0Iys as
no other explanation has been present
ed by the police.
Roach was evidently sleeping when
killed as blood stained pillow and
blanket were found at the Bryant
home. His head was crushed with an
axe. but a revolver was probably used
in knocking him unconscious. The pill
low and blanket were found in a
closet.
Roach was last seen Monday even
ing by T. H. Godfrey and others. Ac-
cording to their stories, Roach and
place and the former was drunk when
they left the house. That was the
last seen Of the farm hand and the
theory il that he was murdered that
night as he was in drunken stupor.
As soon as the murder was reported.
Sheriff L. L. Kiene and Detective
Charles Lyle went to the scene. They
quickly notified all of the Topeka pO-
lice and officers in neighboring cities
Late last night word came to the police
that Bryant had been arrested in Val
ley Falls by Marshal jackson of that
city. Sheriff L. L. Kiene left on an
early morning train for Valley Falls
and will bring Bryant back with him.
He will be taken to the county Jail and
will be charged with murder.
Bryant did not sleep at his own home
Tuesday night but it is not yet ascer-
tanned where he spent the night He
tried to get a room at the Rock Island
restaurant on Kansas avenue but adj
mission was refused. He told the pro-
prietor, Nels Robinson. that he would
leave the city early Wednesday morn
ing. He was traced to Oskal0osa and
later to Valley Falls. /
The parents of the dead man died
20 years ago and he Is survived by three
sisters. One of them, Mamie Roach.
formerly lived here but now resides in
Coronado Beach. Cal. Miss Mary
Roach, another sister. is an inmate of
the state hospital for the insane in
Topeka. A third sister Is said to live
in southern Kansas but has not yet
been found.
= Forty Bryants-~the alleged mur-
derer. has had a shady character In |
Topeka for several years, and he has
been constantly in trouble with the |
officers of the law. He has been con- |
victed of disturbing the peace, dtsOr- |
Derby conduct and selling liquor num-
erous times. Bryant is a giant in size. |
This is the first time that he has ever |
been charged with a serious crime.
Kiene Arrested 'Forty" Bryant.
Sheriff L. L. Kiene returned today |
from Valley Falls with Forty Bry-
ant, colored, charged with the murder |
Of James Roach. white. Bryant was +,
arrested by the town marshal at Valley |
Falls and held in Jail until the arrival
Of the sheriff of Shawnee county. In
of the case is being made
this afternoon-inquisition held-and
plans formed for the cOrOner's inquest.