The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-06
Fourth of July Fishing Party
Made Topekan Free Man.
Observation-Disclosures
His Wife's fearful Alibi.
ON BANK ROBBERY CHARGE
Suspected To Have Been In
yOIved in st. Marys Case.
Father Spent Evening Gin
Bosom of His Family"

Half a dozen words hsped by a A.
year-old girl lifted a Topeka father
out from a web that was being woven
around him by detective and Off
Gals of this and Pottawatomie county.
With the half dozen words she
made it unnecessary for him to prove
that he had no part in the robbery of
the St. Mary's State bank Tuesday
night.
The father had been picked up by
local officials and given sweating"
in the sheriff's office. He had been
required to tell in detail all his move
ments since Monday last. His story
was fixed in the memory of five men
who heard it.
Then they left the man under guard
and drove to his home, out in lone
some suburb. His wife was at home.
She was startled by the sudden ap-
pearance of so many men, but she
answered all questions. She told much
the same story as her husband, but on
some points there were variations.
The imported detective was pleased.
He thought he was getting somewhere.
Now, look here, Mrs -, he,
said, your story does not agree with
the one told by your husband. If he
said he was not at home last night
you would say he Is not telling the
truth, would you?''
She Believed in Him.
Tears came into the woman's eyes.
She had been through the muck and
nlire of a public hearing not so long
before because of transgressions
charged against her husband. But
she had his promise to avoid bad as
sociates and stay out of trouble and
believed he was living up to his prom
ise.
IT don't know what he has told
she replied What is the trouble?
Tell me. Where is he now? He was
to go to work in lumber yard at
noon today"
The detective did not relieve the
wife any when he replied:
Your husband isn't in any lum-
Der yard. In fact he has not been
working in any lumber yard today and
the indications are that he will not be
at work in one any time soon.
why don't you tell me the facts? 2"
asked the woman II dent know
what he has told but know he wasn't
away from home last night. Yester-
day afternoon he took our little girl
and went fishing down in the hollow
while 1 picked berries. They came
home about 5 o'clock. We had supper
at T. We planned to go to Gage park
go. My husband decided he did not
want to go and I was glad to give lit
up because he said he would rather
stay at home with the baby and me.
We went to bed at o'clock I slept
on the front side and I know my hus-
band did not leave the house until to-
day"
Little Girl Is Awakened.
But the detective was not satisfied.
The woman had tripped on a question
asked earlier and he had doubts of
her story.
where is your little grip" he
asked.
why she's sleeping said the
mother.
Wake her up
She's so tired and it's so hot 1 hate
to wake her.
Wake her up and let's talk to her"
and reused the child from a sound
sleep. She was so drowsy she con-
tinued to sleep in her mothers arms,
but eventually she noticed the men
and looked around.
Little girl" asked one of the men,
did you have nice time yesterday
the Fourth"
/ ''Yeth," she lisped.
Did you catch any fish ?"
! My papa did, she answered. He
caught some for me down there" and
/ she pointed toward a little creek.
! Let's co. said one of the officers.
! No one else had anything to say but
everyone arose and in a few moments
the car drove away. Half an hour
later the suspected husband and faith
er was standing at the corner of Fifth
and Kansas avenues waiting for a
street cara free man.