The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-16
Pal of Homer CullOr Was Play
ing on Trusty Mouth Organ.
WAS CAUGHT NEAR MENOkEN
Melodies of "HOme, Sweet
Home'' FIoated to Armed Men.
Pockets Filled With Sweet PO-
tatoes and Candy.

Sitting upon a railroad bank obllV-
ious to everything except the music
he made with his own "harmonica''
William E. Smith, the pal of Homer
M. Cullor, wanted at Emporia for
striking the taller over the head with
an iron bar and escaping Jail, was cap
tured today quarter OF a mile west
of Menoken station.
Pursued by posses, sleeping out IN
the rain, eating only occasionally,
Smith was tagged out today. With his
last ''two-bit piece" he bought a mouth
organ" in North Topeka early TINS
morning, filled his pockets with Irish
potatoes and sweet potatoes from
grocery store displays, and journeyed
on west. He stopped at Menoken sta
ton and bought nickel's worth of
candy and trudged on.
Two hundred yards west of Memo
ken he climbed up on the bank, off
the railroad track, ate his candy and
forgot his Immediate troubles with
what music he could draw out of the
mouth harp.
Joseph Holman, deputy sheriff,
heard of. Smiths visit to Topeka soon
after he had left. A man who served
time in the Shawnee county Jail when
Smith was here, tipped it off. Holman
and Carl Lawson loaded Winchesters
and automatics into an automobile and
speeded West. Inquiries were made
along the road but no trace of Smith
was found until a stop was made al
Menoken.
"Why he hasn't been gone from here
| ten minutes said woman. He
bought a nickel's worth of candy here
If I'd known he was that kind of g
man I'd have been scared to DEATH
Quarry Is Sighted.
The railroad track runs straight for
| half a mile west of Menoken. Far up
the track high on the bank the indis-
tinct form of a man could be seen
| Get out the guns" said Holman
The men with him armed them
selves and Joined Holmans posse -
They trailed along up the track. The
form became distinct but the man did
not look up. When the officers were
perhaps $50 feet from Smith his
sHome. Sweet Home" stopped and he
raised his head. Officers had beer
warned that he was armed. Two Win
cheSters and an automatic were drawn
upon him. He made no motion.
Put 'em up" shouted Holman
| drawing nearer.
/ I've got 'em up" smiled Smith
| Cant you see that far?'
The handouts were slipped on his
wrists and the posse" started back
for the automobile at Menoken.
You're going back to Emporia,
some one said.
Say" said Smith, ''if I've got to &C
back there one OF you give me a CUR
and I'll end it right here"
Anybody Would Have Left.
Smith talked on the way back. h
declared that any one but fool woulc
Rave done what he did at Emporia
THAT guard or jailer left boil
doors open and me there with the
penitentiary staring me in the face
| Why shouldn't 1 try to get away?
claim 1 made a fine getaway. Bu
I've had a tough time since. 1 slep
in a barn right near Emporia tn.
first night. Then / waded a rive
and a creek and worked my way cas-
to Lawrence. Last night about darl
I was within ten miles of Kansas Cit,
but got turned back.
Il got into North Topeka early thi
morning. I'm all in, sleeping out il
the rain and 1 feel like I've earned
a dry place to sleep in the Shawne,
county Jail. No doubt I'll get it,"
Smith walked along silently for
while.
Say he asked, will they han,
me when 1 get abck to Emporia ?''
When it was suggested that h
would probably get only few year
in the penitentiary he showed relief
That won't be half bad,v he said
Most of the way back to the coun
ty Jail he played his "harmonica
laughed and talked.