The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-16
Captain Whistler Had Prepared
Cache for the Money.
Cunningly Concealed Behind
Shelf in His Quarters.
WAS INSANE FROM OVERWORK?
Military Report Says He Was In
Abnormal Mental State.
Some Officials Think His Crime
Was Not Prearranged.

Camp Funston. Kan, Jan. IL
With demoniac cunning Captain Lewis
l. Whistler had prepared a hiding place
for the money he took from the army
bank here prior to his axe murder or
four men. the wounding of fifth snd
his subsequent suicide. All of the
missing money. 62.S26.21, was found
hidden in a prepared recess in the
walls of Captain Whislers quarters.
The money was in currency with a
few pieces of silver and was neatly
stored away in the apartment he had
built into the wall behind a shelf he
had lately put up.
The finding of the money evidently
clears up the theory of possible ac-
cOmplices hut camp authorities de-
clared that the investigation Will con-
tinue uGtil every motive and every rea-
son for the robbery and crimes has
been definitely determined
In abnormal Mental State"
1t was announced officially this aft
erHoon the authorities considered the
robbery. which eliminated in the kill
i4g by Captain Whistler of the four
fnen in the Lank building and the seri-
Gus wouuding of a fifth, a closed in
cident
t was also stated tha- in the opirion
of IKE authorities Captain Whistler was
il si. abnormal mental state" when
lac C~mmitted the crime and that his
object III rohbing the bank was not to
obtain money.
Belief on the part of 0 ficials that
the money had not been smuggled off
the reservation by Captain Whistler
lefore he ended his own life with d
rifle bullet Saturday afternoon, the
Gay following the robbery and muir
Po"S led to another search of the Of
ciccrS quarters this morning. A
bookshelf in the southeast part of the
feoIa ..s--torn away and behind it
wa ~ oard. on removing the latter
= small compartment in the wall was
found and in that was the missing
money. The indications were that the
compartment had been prepared pre-
viously to the robbery.
\ urther explanation of the crime
WIS VoEchsafed this afternoon when
it was announced that the authorities
l7'd como to the conclusion that Whis-
l"r's mortal state was brought on .by
C7 "rvorf and too close application to
his studies
7siTc Owner of $4,000 Find.
lsan. as City. Jans16.-William Hut
{ <, president OF the National Reserve
b. nix of X" nsas city and owner of the
arU' bark at Camp Funston, an
noun 80 today that he had received
- telegram from Camp Funston say
Ing Il at all of the money obtained in
Friday night had been recovered.
AN shortage recovered" said the
rcssa.e to Nr. Huttig. which was
signed ~ M"rIitt Jones. acting vice
president of the army bank.
\ chec- of the funds taken in the
robbery showed $62.S26.21 missing.
Camp Funston. Kan, Jan. 16-
Capt. Lewis f. Whistler took $62,-
S2621 from the army bank here be-
fifth and later ended his own life. ac-
cording to official announcement of
federal bank examiners,
Girl Not to Blame!
II developed today that two other
notes which whistler had written be-
fore he committed suicide were among
the things found in his room. but had
not been given out by the authorities.
They are still being held secret. One
of the notes is said to have been writ
ten to Miss Ruth Craig, student at
the Ottawa university. whose name
has been previously mentioned in con-
nection with the case. 1t reads:
Don't blame yourself in any way I
simply got tired of living and thought
! would become a pirate right. l came
very near committing suicide so many
times and l hated to do so without
stalking il on something. AS for the
consequences that is nothing but what
we are all trairted for. Hope you soon
forget me and realize how lucky you
were to escape me. Lewis.
The other note was said to have
been written to Joseph Haller, at
PlainVille. Kan. 1t read:
Wish you would look after Vadne
and Duane. l have played my last
card in the game and am leaving them
my insurance. Lewis.
Vadne is Whisler's divorced wife
and Duane is his SON