The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-20
But Topeka Officials Doubt if
He Was in st. Marys.
Place but Little Faith in His
Confession at X. G..
He IS SOMEWHERE IN KANSAS
TOpekan, Under Guard, Left the
Missouri City Today.
Reward of $1,000 for Arrest and
Conviction of Bandits.

If Charles Estes is telling the truth
in the alleged Kansas City confession
wherein he declared he and three
other Topekans robbed the st. Marys
state bank the night of July 4, local
officers have been Understanding
Estes for a good many years. They
Thought they knew him like book
and to a man they express doubt that
he has sufficient nerve or ability TO
participate in an affair like the rop-
berry of the bank. 49,,
That Estes had confessed TO llV "
crime and implicated his sister, Haze.
snd two men. Chester McLain ana Z
mysterious "Bill'' was telephoneu u
the Topeka police station Just a1ter
noon Wednesday by Kansas CltS uo
tectives. The chief points III the con
fession were related to Roperl Nl1teI' L..
rToDeka detective, with Harvey far-
sons chief, standing near. MileI
made notations as the conversation
went along. ,,.,... 1,o,i
an opportunity to talk alone they p1
Gan to doubt the truth of Estess al
Iened statements They did not ques-
tion the statement that he had iiaue
a confession but they did and stlli 90
6oubt that he was telling the Whoie
truth and nothing but the tIuth.
Thev believe Estes knows something
hank but they do not believe ne mas
sufficient nerve to stand out on IN tne
street and be shot at nor 10 nelP 1hsI4
Teer a ulan that might bring ABOUT
such a situation.
IL Is Not Like Him.
ESTES is a coward said CHIEF Par-
SONS .arThe more l think about our
experiences with him the more doupl
his story He has nerve enough 10
kill dogs, beat horses ana WhiP ms
wife but am satisfied ne wouiu not
take such chances as the men at 81.
Marys took"
L. Kiene, sheriff. also knows
Estes. He is of the same opinion as
Parsons .---
''The fellows who pulled off that
bank robbery We're CROOKS all right
he said. but they were also men. They
had nerve and initiative. l don't be-
Iievc Estes has either"
Following the information from
Kansas city Parsons sent men out on
:; search for Hazel Estes. Chester Nc
Lain and the mysterious BILL
Hazel Estes was found at the home
of her parents on Central avenue,
north of the Soldier creek bridge. She
was taken to the police station and
put through a series of questions. She
denied any knowledge of the bank rob
berry, denied she knew anything about
Charles Estes. She furnished an alibi
which has since been investigated by
officers and found to hold water.
Her Alibi
The Estes girl said that the evening
of July 4, the night the St. Marys
bank was robbed, she left for Kansas
City with George Lauman in a Ford
car. She said she did not know it
at the time, but has learned since that
the car had been stolen from j. j.
King in North Topeka July 8. They
reached Kansas City the morning OF
July and Lauman was arrested upon
orders from Topeka July 6. He was
brought back by Sheriff Kiene and is
now in the county Jail. He has
vouched for all the girl told and in
vestigations conducted on the outside
verify the stories told by both.
If the story told by Hazel Estes is
true, and the officers believe it is,
the confession of Charles Estes is
faulty. Hazel Estes was released by
the police Wednesday night.
Dispatches from Kansas city say
that Estes, accompanied by local de-
tectiVes, left Kansas City late Wednes-
day night for some point in Kansas.
City and county officials have been
expecting the party in Topeka, but
they have not stopped here. Inquiries
made at st. Marys this afternoon
brought the information that neither
Estes nor his guards have been there
There is a reward of $1,000 for the
arrest and conviction of the men who
robbed the St. Marys State bank, and
local officials doubt that the Kansas
City detectives will turn Estes over
to Topeka or Shawnee county officers
at present. Estes is wanted here on a
minor charge-that of cruelty to ami
mails. Last spring Kilmaurs King
swore to a complaint upon which a
warrant was issued charging that Of
fense.