The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-08
Say 1t HarbOrs Safe Blowers
and Auto Thieves.
FORDS ARE THEIR SPECIALITY
Kansas City Police Capture a
Branch OF Gang.
Arrests Made at East Side
House in Topeka.

Down on the East Side is a house
which. Shawnee county and Kansa--
city officials believe. has been harbor-
ing safe blowers. automobile thieves
ard robbers since about Christmas
time Two men. alleged to be men,
hers OF a gang. were arrested Monday
night by Sheriff Hugh Larimer and
his deputies, and two others have
been arrested in Kansas City Two
cars. alleged to have been stolen, we're
located in Topeka and one of them
got away during the night
James y. Miller and NJ J. Martin
are the two men under arrest in To
peka. Warrants have been issued for
them in Kansas City, Mo. charging
them with stealing automobiles be
longing 20 J. c. Stephens and John
Doe" Miller was arrested at the
East Side house where he has been
living with a woman said to be his
wife Martin was arrested at the Rex
hotel.
Hugh Larimer and Robert Miller,
undersheriff, have been watching the
place for a week or more and were
waiting until there was more OF a
crowd But when the Kansas City
police picked up two Of the gang II
was necessary for Shawnee otncIaLs
to move quickly. Last sunday they
were seen in the alley back OF the
house where Miller has been living.
working on a Ford car. The car was
traced TO the Tenth street garage anG
was removed from there by Robert
Miller today. 1t was Identified MONDAY
night by Kansas City officials as be
longing to J. Q. Stephens of that
place
They Drive in Fortls-
According 70 the information the
sherifFs force has dug up half a doZ-
en- men known TO the underworld have
been hanging around the Miller place
10 ~
them has stayed any length of time
but they have driven in and out OF
Topeka in Ford cars. believed 20 have
been stolen
some Of the men working on the
case" said Larimer today. believe
that men who have been visiting the
Miller place this winter and spring
have been the fellows who have pull
ed off bank and postoffice robberIes
i'm this section of the state We know
that several OF them have records as
ga fe blowers. &. +. Fitzgerald, under
arrest in Kansas city. has dozen
aliases and long criminal record
The same is true Of Fl. B Carroll. his
pal arrested in Kansas City The pres
ent charge against them there Is that
of stealing automobiles. We are sal
isfied there are several other mem
hers of the gang. We were waiting
for them 20 gather in here so We
could make a bigger haul
Admitted Acquaintance
When Miller was arrested Monday
Nj rtin was not with him Sheriff
Iarfmer and IND rsheriff Miller
brought him up town and were stand
ing with him at the corner OF Fifth
and Kansas avenue wondering where
TO look for Martin when they saw
hi coming up the street Miller step
ned to one side and Larimer walked
several steps away. Martin saw Mil
Ter and started 10 speak to him but
AsflIer gave him some secret signal
and he started away. Miller followed
him to the Rex hotel and arrested
him. Each denied knowing the other
for a time but last night atthe county
tail they admitted their acquaintance
Two cars at the Tenth street gar
age we're located and placed under
espionage Thru a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF orders at the garage one car was
taken out during the night 1t ma )
have been taken by the rightful own
ers But il carried no state license
All it carried was a Kansas City driv-
er's license The car taken by IOca
officers was a new Ford In a trunk
at the Miller place on the East side
the officers found Kansas state IL
ceuse tags hidden away. They also
found papers and letters relating tC
several other cars
Miller and Martin VIII probably be
taken to Kansas City late today.
Thru the efforts Of the British min
lister Of labor, who will endeavOr to elm
mate women drivers. A Threatened srrik