The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-14
Suitcase Captain Whistler
Owned Is Missing.
WOrnau Says He Saw RObber
Shove Money Into Sack.
EXAMINERS CHECK UP BANK
Thousands of Dollars in Plain
Sight Wasn't Touched.
Note Left by Suicide-Murderer
to Ottawa Girl.


Craig, aged II, or Natoma, Kan,
attending Ottawa university here, in
statement today admitted that she
had frequently corresponded with
the late Captain Whistler and admit
ted that in all probability, the note
written by Whistler, just prior to his
suicide at Camp Funston, was ad
dressed to her.
When Miss Craig was told that
Captain Whistler had committed
suicide after robbing the army bank
at Camp Funston and killing four
men and wounding fifth, she
swooned but soon revived and ex-
claimed:
"Oh, it cannot be, he was too nice
and good a man.
Miss Craig has admitted that she
and Whistler spent tn Thanksgiving
holiday together at the home of her
stepmother in Natoma and that they
were very good friends.
Camp Funston, Kan, Jan. 14.-That
Capt Lewis E. Whistler obtained prob
ably $4,000 in the robbery of the
army bank at the cantonment here
before the axe murde- of four men
and the attack on the fifth man, is
the unofficial estimate made this
morning.
The theory is being advanced that
an accoraplice made way with the
money, while Whistler returned to his
quarters after the fiendish murders.
rattan suit case, which Whistler kept
in his quarters is missing and investi-
g tors are working on the theory that
the accomplice carried away the
money in this. 1t is limited that army
officers have some clews as to the
alleged accomplice, but they refuse to
give any information. -.
Federal bank examiners and mill
tary Investigators worked all of Sun
day checking, the accounts, and it, is
thought that a statemen will be made
tonight Accountants, represent .ng the
owners of the bank, have been re-
fused permission to check the books
until the official check is completed.
Diamond Ring Missing.
Wornan believes that his fouI
friends who were killed by Whistler
are still alive, and reports of theil
condition are being given him hourly
it being believed that knowledge OF
their death would be too great {
shock for his weakened condition. He
is conscious nearly all the time nov
and continually asks for his friends.
How is Johnnie coming?" is hi:
persistent inquiry to his mother, who
is at his bedside constantly. Mrs
Wornall has been allowed to have {
bed in the room with her son since
she arrived at the hospital, but She
has hardly slept since Saturday.
1t became known late today that
| diamond ring worth $1,000 worn b.
| c. Fuller Winters is missing. 1t wa
said the ring was on his finger aftel
the murders, but when the body wa
dressed for burial it could not b,
| found.
Only Few Bills Found
! = roll of thirty-nine one dollar bill!
| is all OF the loot reported recovered
t is having been found lying in the
snow a short distance from the scene
oe the robber.' and murders Th'
-a1ls of the quarters occupied BY
| Whistler are being torn open thi.
morning in the search for a possible
| tding place for the money.
/ The condition of Kearney Worna1l
| cashier of the bank. was reported a
Improved this morning and attendin.
| physicians stated that his chances fo
disfigured for life as a result of tn
axe blows showered on his head ant
face by the murderer.
WornaIl Identifies Robbers Body.
Kearney WornalI of Kansas City
cashier of the bank, who was the onl,
survivor CT the tragedy, continued t.
improve and it was believed by tn
physicians that he was practically ou
of danger. WornalI identified tn
body of the dead army officer as tn
man VINO had robbed the bank an,
committed the murders.
The camp today was rapidly return
| ing to normal.
It developed today that the not
Captain. Whistler wrote when he de
cided to kill himself Saturday after j
became apparent that he would b
identified as the robber and murdere
was addressed to a young woman a
| Ottawa Kan.
81 went out last night and made m
a reason" the note said, after Stain
that the captain for a long time ha
contemplated such step
Maj. Frank Wilbur Smith assista n
chief of staff of the Eighty-ninth D1vi
sion and head of the intelligence de
partment, estimates that about $500
Continued on Page Two |