The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-17
j. j. Rogers Accused of Taking
$50 From w. III. lines.
Girl Bride FOrSakeS Him To 60
Home With Father.
HE BREAKS DOWN IN COURT
Pleads in Vain for a Chance To
Explain All.
Wife Had To Pawn NaIuableS
To Live, Friend Says.

Unable to obtain bond, facing Il
probable state prison sentence. j. j.
Rogers, former automobile salesman
for w. H. lines, broke down and cried
like a child today in the court of To
peka when he learned that his wife
had left him and was speeding on her
way to her fathers home at Omaha.
Intelligence of his wife's sudden leave
taking came to Rogers few minutes
before he was placed on trial, charged
with stealing $35 from the cash regis
ter in the lines garage, $40 Kansas
avenue.
"Oh," said Rogers. IF I could only
get bond for a few hours to explain it
ALL
The court raped for order. Wit
nesses were called and one by one en-
ployes of the garage were called to
the stand. Rogers, too was obliged
to testify He was bound over for trial
in the district court.
Wife Telegraphed Father.
The young wife's sudden departure
followed the arrival in Topeka of her
father, ]. W. Wardell. wealthy
Omaha cattleman, according to the
police. His young daughter had run
away and married Rogers the father
told the police. Finally, when this
trouble befe1l her, the daughter tele-
graphed to him and he hurried to To-
peka and persuaded her to return to
their home, leaving the rooming house
at 405 East Eighth street, where she
had been living.
In order to keep the wolf from the
door the young woman had been
obliged to pawn her engagement ring
and furs, according to Mrs. Beulah
Mcdonald, a young lady who mad be
friended Mrs Rogers and who lived IN
the same house with her. Then, her
father arrived on the scene early Mon
day morning. Mrs. Rogers returned
to the rooming house later in the day
with the information that her father
had recovered the ring and furs.
Later in the evening the police car
drove up in front of the rooming
house Detective Frost and Uuder-
sheriff Bob Miller talked to Mrs.
Rogers a few minutes and she hurried
to her room. Mrs. Mcdonald went
into the room and saw Mrs. Rogers
packing her clothes.
II may never come back said Mrs.
Rogers.
Police Helped Father.
A few minutes later, a man called
for the landlady of the rooming house.
He said it was the girls father and
promised to straighten up the board
bill. The police say they took Mrs.
Rogers to the station where she met
her father and that the two caught
train for Omaha.
Rogers denied questions fired al
him by Walter CLANCY, deputy coun-
ty attorney, fntimating that he was
living in Topeka under an assumed
name, that his right name was Purl
Wright, that he had been arrested al
Des Moines on a forgery charge and
in Omaha on an adultery charge. He
! also denied that when he talked to
his wife in the county Jail he told heI
to look under the gas pipe in thei1
room and find bills amounting to $25
Rogers is 25 years of age.
/ Rogers also denied stealing the
money Testimony of certain wit
nesses tended to indicate that Rogers
had more money than he was able
to account for. Former Police Judge
R. NJ. Yates defended Rogers. Rogers
| has been in Topeka only a short time