The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-17
BANDIT DIES here:
Frank Lewis at End of BraZen
Criminal Career.
Influenza Fatal to Man With
Wound in His Lung.

Frank Lewis, alleged gunman, band
it and train robber. died Wednesday
afternoon in the Shawnee county Jail,
victim of influenza, which quickly
wound thru his lungs inflicted by Col
orado' Springs police September IL,
made Lewis an easy victim of the
disease. 1t was said that the bandit
had been dead about an hour when
his body was found in his cell about
4;S0 O'Clock by c. w. Hixon, jailer.
Lewis was being held by govern
ment authorities in connection with
the holding up of a Katy train at
Koch, Kan, three and a half miles
south of Paola, July 10, 1918. He was
brought TO Topeka, October 2. ar
raigned before c. B. White, United
States commissioner on the charge of
conspiracy to rob mail train. waived
his preliminary hearing and was
bounu over to the grand jury. Since
that time he has been confined in the
county Jail.
End of a Wild Career.
The career of Lewis was wild one.
Most of his life. it is said, was devoted
to crime and he was engaged in sew
eral gun fights to avoid capture by
officers of the law. He was alleged
to be a members of the famous gang
of outlaws headed by Dale Jones, of
Kansas City, who is the only member
of the gang who has not been captured
or killed. Roy D. Sheriff., another
member of the gang, was seriously
wounded September IS in a pitched
battle with Colorado Springs police, at
the time Lewis received his wound,
and is now being held by the govern
ment in a Denver hospital. Roscoe
Lancaster, better known as kansas
City Blackie," was MORALLY wounded
by the Kansas City police during
fight that took place on Montgall ave-
nue. in that city on September "a, and
died a short time later.
Last July detectives engaged Lewis,
Jones and others in a revolver fight
bandits escaped. In the Colorado
Springs fight John D. Rowan. chief of
the Colorado Springs detectives. was
killed. and John D. Riley. detective.
seriously wounded. 1t was charged by
other members of the gang that Lewis
was the one who killed the officer, but
Lewis always denied this. t'H
brothers Were Criminals.
Frank lewis was one of three brothers,
all of whom were criminals. Ora and Roy
Lewis are serving term in the Missouri
state penitentiary for killing William A.
Dillon and John Mckenna, st. Louis
policemen, April q, 1916. Dillon tried to
art me Tor khs
virtually hacked his body to pieces, 1t
was said. Ora and Roy are serving life
81
Lewiss body was taken to PenwelHs I'M
dertaking establishment Wednesday night.
c. {. Jackson. chief United States marshal.
said this morning that an effort would
be made to locate some relatives of Lewis
before the funeral held. The bandit
was said to lave had wife and child but
their whereabouts is unknown to the au-
thorities.
Lewis was % years old. He was a large,
powerfully built man, weighing 235 pounds
and In his opefatioBs is said to have posesi,
usually, as wealthy oil man. While adj
with which he had been charged, he
strenuously denied the rest He told
Undersheriff Bob Miller that If he had been
guilty of all the misdeeds with which he
was attributed that he wouldn't be able
to sleep nights" When reminded that he
was still a young man, Lewis's face
frightened and he earnestly expressed the
hope that some leniency might be shown
him and that after doing his bit" he
could straighten up and live better life,
for the sake of his family. He was said
to have begun his life of crime when he
was IA wears old