The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-19
Vacant House at X. G. Well Pro-
tected With Guns.
Hazel Estes Mixed Up in the
~BIOw" of FrittOn Safe.
PICK up GIRL THIS AFTERNOON
Hazel Estes Denies She Had
Anything to Do With 1t.
Said Was on Way to h. L. IN
Stolen Auto That Night.

Charles Estes, Chester McLaln, da-
eel Estes, sister of Charles, and COOK
named Bill" all Topeka people,
robbed the St. Marys State bank the
night of July 4, according to con-
fession made by Charles Estes to Kan
sas City secret service men Tuesday
night His confession was complete,
according to information telephoned
to the Topeka police today. Estes is
in Jail in Kansas City after having
been captured with pal named
Charles Repp Tuesday night.
In his confession Estes declared
that Hazel Estes drove the Ford car
to and from St Marys and that the
same car is now in use as a jitney in
Topeka. He declared that Bill" the
alleged cook. is Hazers sweetheart and
that where she is found he will be
found. He gave the information that
Hazel, Chester McLain and "Bill' are
all now in Topeka
Net Over City.
Immediately upon the receipt of
this information Chief Harvey Par
sons spread a net over the city for
the three mentioned by Estes. Hazel
is supposed to be living at a number
on Central avenue, in North Topeka,
hut she was not there when a quiet
Investigation was made this afternoon.
Estes and his pal. Repp, were cap
turcd III vacant house at 1911 East
Tenth street, Kansas city, Mo-. last
night without a serious fight. Al
though all neighbors supposed the
house was vacant Estes and Repp
have been staying there for some time
They have not used the doors to the
house 1t has been their custom.
Estes said. 20 enter the house through
a basement window at night and come
up through a trap door under a bed.
Guns in the House.
Suit cases filled with guns ard am
munition were found In the supposed
" vacant house when the arrests were
made No money of any consequence
was found The officials of the St
Marys bank gave out the information
following the robbery that the total
amount of money taken from the
blown safe was around $4,000. There
have been many rumors since that the
amount was much in excess of that.
Wounded in Fight.
Half a dozen St Marys people. in
cluding Marshal Best, were wounded
by the robbers while the yeggman
was doing his work on the bank safe.
Marshal Best was shot through the
body and was brought to a Topeka
hospital. A gun batrIe between the
robbers and St. Marys officers and
citizens lasted for half an hour be-
fore the robbers walked four abreast
down the main street to the Ford car
and started back east.
In the interviews given by St
Marys people several stated that ore
of the robbers was referred to by the
others as BILL" Various other in
formation secured following the rob-
berry fits in with the alleged con-
fession of Charles Estes. Estes has
been lodging local officers since an
escapade last spring when he fought
with a man, killed his dog and drove
his horse and wagon into Soldier
creek where the horse drowned.
Estes an Ex-Convict.
been looked upon as an exceptionally
bad man by local officers. Hazel
Estes, his sister, who he says drove the
car for the four men the night OF
the robbery, was mixed up with VIM
Butler and others in the blowing OF
the Fritton safe in Topeka last spring
She testified in tne case but refused
to say anything that would injure
Butler. She admitted she was Buffers
sweetheart and that she was with him
the night of the robbery of the Frit
ton safe.
For a long time she took lunches t.
Butler regularly in the county Jail 4
significant thing. in view of Charles
Estes confession, is the discovery to-
Continued on Page Six.)