The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-27
HAD WILD NIGHT
Ten Year-OId Reform School
Lad Tells Strange Tale.
He Says He Left School Be-
cause He Was Whipped.
BROKE INTO TWO STORES
North Topekan Accused OF
Making Improper Proposal.
Boy Was Sent to School for
Stealing Chickens.

With his hips bruised blue, purple
and pink as the result, he claimed, OF
a whipping he received at the Boys
Industrial school. north of the city.
Willie Shaffer, 10 years old, was
picked up in North Topeka last mid
night by Police officer Sturm and
Henry Smith, a merchant policeman.
The boy, according to the story he told
at the police station this morning, had
escaped from the school late Tuesday
night, using the window of a dormi-
tory for his exit. He made his way
into North Topeka, he says, and broke
into the Owl grocery store on North
Kansas avenue, and the FORBES feed
store on West Laurent street, in an at
in Garden City
1t was when he was leaving the
Forbes store that Smith, the merchant
policeman, discovered him and chased
him up alley towards the Thomas
Lumber company, and, with the aid of
Sturm, ran him down. Upon his ar
rival at police headquarters The youth
told story of being approached by
man who made suggestion of an un-
natural act as he was climbing out the
window of the Owl grocery store.
James Hodge Arrested.
On the strength of the story James
Hodge, a North Topekan, about 10 or
20 years old, was arrested and charged
with disorderly conduct This morn
ling in police court Hodge was fined
s25 by Judge Heinz. The boy testi-
fled that Hodge made the suggestion
and he objected strenuously. Then,
he said. Hodge asserted he was Just
having some fun.
AT the police station the boy told
what the police believe to be straight
forward story. He said he arrived at
the Industrial school about ten days
O a nf
Chickens a bicycle and then AN
other batch of chickens" at Garden
City, his home. Three or four days
ago he ran away. he said, because he
was homeSick and wanted to go home.
Another boy accompanied him. The
two youths caught Santa Fe freight
train, he declares, and went to New
ton where they were caught and sent
back to the school 1t was upon his
return from the first runaway trip. he
says, that he was given the whipping.
He asserted a man called Mr.. Titus
performed the ceremony" and dem
onstrated by bending his body at right
angle with his legs and grasping his
ankles with his hands how he was
forced to receive the punishment
Harness Strap Used.
Did DR.. H w. Charles, the super
intendent, know of the whipping?"
the boy was asked.
II don't know. l don't think they
tell him.
Willie said strap which he
thought came off of harness was used
to administer the punishment and de-
clared the other boy was treated SINH
larry.
The boy said he ran away, the sec
ond time, last midnight, because he
wanted to go home and be a good
boy" He asserted that stealing the
money was the only way he had of
obtaining finances for his trip to Gar
den City. He entered both the North
side stores thru windows, and accord
ing to the police, obtained no money
at either place
Willie was taken back to the indus
trial school today.
DR.. H. W. Charles, superintendent
of the school, when asked about the
alleged whipping. said it might be
possible that the boy received it.
Il have been away and just got
back said the superintendent, land
have not made an investigation yet,
and really am not in position to
say anything for sure just now. The
boy. I understand, is a pretty tough
i1ittle article"