The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-13
BATTLE POLICE
Two Weeks Since kidnapping
and Clues Still Scarce.
Prosecutor Goes to Oklahoma
for New Evidence.

Springfield, Mo-, June 1.-TWO
weeks will have passed tonight since
the abduction of Lloyd Keet from the
home of his parents here, without the
uncovering of evidence, stronger than
of mere circumstances, directly con-
Meeting any of the suspected persons
with the crime. Dick Carter, for
whom the authorities thruout the
country are searching, is the only per-
son against whom Prosecuting Attor-
ney O'Day has preferred a formal
charge of murder in connection with
the finding of the baby's body in the
well on the Crenshaw place last Sat
urday Altho local investigators
headed by Judge Arch A. Johnson of
the criminal court, have not ceased in
their efforts to solve the mystery and
bring before justice the kidnaper.
it was stated early this morning that
there had been no important develop
ments over night
Private Detectives Quit.
1t is understood that private detec-
tives who were working on the case
when the members of the Piersol-
Adams gang were taken into custody.
have withdrawn from the case. This
leaves the solution of the mystery to
the local authorities and federal
agents in Kansas City, whose investi-
cation of the supposed German plots
that preceded the plans to kidnap c.
A Clement, a local jeweler, and the
actual kidnapping of the Keet baby,
local investigators hope. may bring to
light evidence as to the identity of
the baby's abductors and, it is be-
lieved. its slayer
Before leaving for Tulsa, Okla, last
night Prosecutor O'Day said he did
not expect to cause any arrests on his
trip. He said the main purposes of
his mission was to round up men who
he believed would tell of Claude Pier
sol having invited them to join him in
kldnaDlnE a hal 1yy
will go to Kansas City where Piersol
and Cletus Adams are in Jail before
returning to Springfield.
The inquest by a coroner's jury into
the death of the Keet baby was set
for this morning. The inquiry was
expected to be brief with no attempt
to place the blame of the baby's death
upon any named persons.
Baby Probably Suffocated.
DIR. ]. H. Fulbright, testifying re-
garding a postmortem examination of
the baby's body three hours after it
was taken fro mthe cistern, expressed
the opinion that death came from suf-
location Absence of water from
lungs he said indicated that death was
not due to drowning. The physician
said that an estimate of the time the
body was in the well would be guess
work, but he said he believed the
baby had ben dead for four or five
days. when the body was found.
The baby appeared to have been
well nourished and sickness apparent
lY did not contribute to its DEATH
said DIR. Fulbright.
He added that it was possible that
an opiate given to keep him from cry
ing might have killed the baby.
Will Arrest More.
Tulsa, June ia man giving his
name as ]. L. McMachin. but whose
real name, according to the police is
Riggs, was taken to the police sta
ton here today to be held as a wit
ness at the request of Prosecuting At
torney Paul O'Day of Springfield. Mo-,
who is here seking information in con-
nection with kidnapping plots Mr..
O'Day said he expected to have four
men under arrest within the next "a
hours.