The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-29
PLAN TO ARREST
EX-TOPEKAN AT
W|FE'S FUNERAL
Ira Prickett Charged With Rob-
bling H. B. Howard Store.
He's Risking Liberty To Bury
Body in Native State.
SHERIFF HAS A WARRANT
He May Serve 1t After Services
at Cemetery.
Mrs. Prickett Shot With Pistol
in Chicago.
He's Risking Liberty To Bury
Body in Native State.
SHERIFF HAS A WARRANT
He May Serve 1t After Services
at Cemetery.

A desire to witness his wife's
| burial in Topeka today will cause the
arrest and prosecution of Ira Prickett
! for robbing the H. B. Howard sport
! ing goods store. according to an
! nouncement by Sheriff Hugh Larimer.
The untimely death of Prickett's wife
! in Chicago Tuesday when, it is al
! legged, she shot and killed herself,
called for a funeral in Topeka. and
| the supposed accompanying of the
body by her husband and his neces
sary surrender to the law.
Information was received this
morning by Larimer that the body.
accompanied by Prickett. would ar
rive on a Santa Fe train this after
noon. Either Larimer or deputies in
his office will be at the train to serve
the old warrant on Prickett.
Or, Larimer may merely shadow
Prickett to the cemetery and serve
the warrant on him after the body
| procedure to follow puzzled Larimer
this morning. He might arrest
Prickett, delay the funeral until bond
| is furnished and then permit Prickett
to proceed with the burial of his wife.
| 1t is a peculiar circumstance said
Larimer. I'VE have the goods on the
man and have been searching for him
for months. His partner, Ray Sieber.
| has served time for the robbery. We
don't want to be hard-hearted. At
any chances of Prickett getting away
| from u.s."
Larimer Has Facts.
Larimer apparently has the exact
time of the arrival of the body in To-
peka, and, according to the telegram
I 49,
Prickett is accompanying the body. At
PenwelPs undertaking parlors, clerks
| have a written order to meet the body
of Mrs. Prickett on a Santa Fe train.
The time of the arrival hasn't been
! placed on the order blank. The order
was written by Col. L. M. Penwen and
he is in Manhattan today.
Prickett has relatives living in To-
peka- They couldn't be located by
the un6ertakers today So the ar
| engagements for the funeral apparently
aren't known by anyone in Topeka.
| PenwelPs order left on the desk stated
that he had been requested to meet
the body by F. o. Denner of Meri-
den. and F. M. Denner, of Ozawkie
1t is presumed they are relatives of
Mrs. Prickett
Following the discovery of the body
of Mrs. Prickett in Chicago Tuesday,
her husband was held by the police
awaiting an investigation. Apparently
[,
the telegram received by Larimer
stated that he is accompanying the
body.
A dispatch received in Topeka was
to the effect that Prickett had been
working hard and faithfully until
recently when he lost his position.
Since that time he had been drinking
heavily. the dispatch stated Neigh
bOrS alleged that he came home at 5
o'clock in the morning under the in
fluence of liquor. Loud voices were
heard, the neighbors declared, and
shortly afterwards they heard report
of a shot.
Called for Help.
Prickett and a roomer ran out of the
house and called for help. They both
swore Mrs. Prickett had taken her
own life, Prickett declaring that he
had been awakened from slumber by
the report of a shot.
1t is a curious coincidence that
Prickett and Seiber, alleged compan-
ions in the Howard robbery, should
both be apprehended thru a shooting
affray. Seiber was mixed up in a
gun fight in crap game in Texas.
That caused his subsequent arrest by
Shawnee county officials on the rob
berry charge. Prickett was appre-
hended by the suicide of his wife
Police Officer Ferguson saw Seiber
and Prickett in the Howard store. ac-
cordirg TO Larimer. Seiber was tried
and convicted and served time in the
state reformatory for the crime Iarf-
mer states. The sheriff alleges that
testimony by Seiber will aid in the
prosecution of Prickett
| Warrants were issued at the time
for the arrest of Seiber and Prickett.
Both men capped at the time of the
robbery. frickett lived at 1928 Lime
street while in Topeka.