The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-29
Rewards From Lodges and
Governor Capper Today.
GIRL UNlNJURED, MOTHER SAYS
Sheriff'S Son Raised Disturb
ance Thwarting Criminal.
No Clue, Although Officers Be-
Heve HOuSer Is Man.

over Thursday nights attack on
Francis kiene and Miss Laura
Bailey. Reward after reward is
being Offered for the apprehen-
sion of Arthur Houser, thought to
be the guilty man. In a state
ment to the State journal, George
Port Ashton, exalted ruler of the
Topeka ElkS lodge, and j. E.
Crockett, w. o. Anderson and E.
G. Arnold, three trustees of the
order, announced that the local
B. p. o. E. is offering a reward of
$500 for the apprehension of
HOuSer. The statement also con-
tanned a plea for other OrganiZa-
tions, fraternaI and public, to Of
fer inducements for the running
down of the dangerous degenerate.
Governor Capper stated that
the state would offer a reward of
$500 for the man who engineered
last nights holdup. Sheriff kiene
has Offered "a reward of 500. If
the degenerate, when captured,
proves to be Houser, the afOre-
mentioned rewards will be in ad-
dition to those previously made.
Rewards totaling $500 have pre-
viously been offered by the cOun-
ty, city and state and still stand.
This brings the amount placed
upon the head of Houser, dead or
alive, up to nearly $4,000.
Another daring holdup and attempt
ed assault was staged by a degenerate
criminal, thought to be Arthur Houser,
who is wanted for scores of similar
crimes in many cities, in Topeka
Thursday evening when Francis Kene,
IS, son of Sheriff L. L. Kiene, and
Laura Bailey, 16, daughter of Frank
Bailey, 40S Lincoln street, were held
up at the Willow park-West Sixth
street waiting room. The holdup oc-
CURED about 1918 o'clock. The boy
and girl were held prisoners for nearly
two hours. The girl. owing to the at
tention the degenerate was forced to
pay to young Kiene to keep him from
making a disturbance, was uninjured.
The description furnished by the boy
to his father, Sheriff Kiene, was sim
liar to that of Arthur Houser. Early
this morning, about an hour after the
releasal of the young couple by the
thug, a Rock Island Switchman noticed
a man answering the description of
Houser climb between two box cars in
an eastbound extra freight which was
just pulling out of the yards.
Search to No Avail.
An all day search had resulted in
late hour this afternoon. Scores of
Topekans called at the police station
today and offered their help in rr1n-
ming down the criminal. Phil Billiard,
son of ]. 3. Billiard, ex-mayor of To-
peka, called at the sheriff's office this
morning and offered his services with
the use of his automobiles for as long
a time as they were needed.
Talk of Lynching.
If Houser is arrested and brought
an attempted lynching, according to
the belief of several county officials.
The ground at the scene of the rob-
berry and attempted assault was
not once, but several times
today. Not a single clue that could
be of service in tracing the guilty man
could be brought to light.
Report From Oakland.
Members of the sheriff's force and
police spent considerable time about
noon today trying to locate a reported
assault, similar to the one Thursday
night, which a woman's voice in
formed the police, had taken place in
Wednesday night. The re-
port was proven groundless. Several
similar reports were run down.
Young Kiene described the man
who held him up. He stated that
the thug wore a military cap.
Miss Bailey, late this afternoon, was
still at her home but according to
friends was not feeling any bad eff
PectS from her experience
A conference was held by state of
ficials and the sheriff this afternoon.
It is probable that the state will again
raise the reward for apprehension of
the guilty man.
Local Suspects.
Although local officials believe that
f a capture is made it will be in Kan
sas City, close watch is being kept
1n several local suspects. No arrests
have been made, and late this after
loon no warrants had been issued.
When held up, young Kiene had in
mis- possession a picture of Arthur
Houser with a description that he had
clipped from the State Journal that
evening. This was taken from him by
me man.
Five minutes later an auto carrying
Sheriff kiene and members of the po-
ice force pulled into the yards The
CONTINUED on Page Six.)
l0FFRF IS IN I0Nn0N