The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-19
Daniel klege, Wealthy CObbler.
Refuses To Register.
Is Veteran of Civil War but
Native of Germany.
DRAWS GOVERNMENT PENSION
Officers Let Him Leave Town
Rather Than Intern Him.
Is Man without COuntry-Can-
not Live in Cities.

Daniel Klege. a shoe cobbler and
junk dealer at AIS East Fourth street,
has forty eight hours to leave Topeka
for the duration of the war. Orders
directing Klege to take his departure
within that time were issued by c. c.
Jackson, deputy United States mar
shall
Klege is 75 years of age and native
of Germany. He has lived in Topeka
twenty-five years and is reputed to be
worth $4,000. His refusal to register
as an enemy alien is the reason for his
enforced exile from Topeka.
klege served in the civil war and is
drawing a pension from the govern
ment. His service for his country, to-
gether with his extreme age caused
ertscn United States district attorney,
that Klege be banished from the city
rather than be interned for the dura-
ton of the war.
Cannot Remain Here.
The old man could not live in the
city under the government rules con-
cerning unregistered enemy aliens. In
Topeka there are haif mile restricted
zones established around the state
house, the armory, the Beatrice
Crea merry companys plant, the fair
grounds and a horse and mule barn
in North Topeka.
Klege must select some town as his
residence where there are no lnstltu-
tions around which the government
has established a restricted zone. He
told jackson he intended to go to
Stockton, Kan, where he has fr1ends-
Klege holds U-boat warfare Just-
fable and has made many remarks,
decidedly pro-German, accorolhe 10
information received by Jackson He
bases his refusal to register upon his
service in the Union army during the
Civil war. He claims such service
establishes him as a citizen and refuses
to listen to officials
ouiry on East Fourth street revealed
today He is decidedly unpopular. is
described as miserly, bitter and un-
friendly. He lives alone in ram
shackle building at AIS East Fourth
street. While he has bought and sold
much Topeka property and improved
the property in order to increase its
selling price, not a dollars worth of
repairs has been placed on the run
down building which he lives in him
self. The building was locked this
morning.
He's Unbeliever?
Neighbors say Klege doesn't believe
in God or in a devil or in his fell
low men.
So far as is known klege in recent
years has disposed of all his Topeka
property, excepting the shack in which
he lives and buys and sells junk. His
money is invested in Texas land and
Kansas City property, according to re-
ports. and he has been negotiating the
purchase of two or three lots and old
buildings adjoining his combination
home and junk shop on East Fourth
street
k1ege has one son, William, and it
is believed wife is living. The son
worked intermittently for his father
In the shoe shop, leaving at various
times to go about the country preach
ing On one of his religious crusades
certain CT his brethren frightened him
INTO believing that the Lord would
take his life unless he donated 81 500
to the cause and he made the dona-
ton, according to information in the
hands of officers. The Whereabouts
of the son is not known.