The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-11
Also Gets e1s0 From II. G..
West, Bank President.
HE SEEMED WELL ACQUAINTED
Knew Mamma, Papa and All
the Kids Near Here.
Used Cook at County Farm as
His Own Wife.

The Mccormick Motor company. ia
East sixth street. is minus a new four
passenger Chandler car purchased
with a bogus check for s2,O5s and
Herbert G. West. president OF the
Farmers state bank. Is minus $3.50.
the result of a supposedly poor check.
Leo J. Phillips a sauve stranger. who
has gone under half a dozen aliases in
Topeka the last two weeks. Is the man
accused. Sheriff Hugh Larimer re-
ceived word late today that Phillips
had been arrested at Chillicothe. Mo
Phillips came into the Mccormick
garage and asked the price OF an old
roadster. He told NJ. +. Hauserman.
the Chandler agent. that he was a
member OF the wealthy Phillips fam
lily at Eskridge, raisers OF pure blood
ed Hereford cattle. He appeared 20
know every one in the county that
Hauserman knew.
The young auto agent saw. the pros
poets OF a sale OF brand new car.
He tempted Phillips. The farmer"
took the bait like a fish. He consent
ed TO purchase the car and introduced
Hauserman to his wife and child and
spoke of living here temporarily at
1914 Central avenue.
Gave Check After Banks Closed.
The prospective purchaser didn't de-
until O'Clock Saturday afternoon
after the banks were closed. Then
he made his decision and rendered the
garage man a check for $2,03S in pay
ment for tn car. The check was
drawn on the Merchants National
bank OF Topeka
A Young fellow who evidently knew
something about Phillips saw him
driving away in the Saturday after
noon. He hurried to the garage and
informed Hauserman he had better
look out. An investigation began
Phillips had no money in the bank
There is no house at 1914 Central ave-
nue..
The woman, he claimed to be his
wife wasn't his wife. She was a cook
at the county farm. Phillips posed
at the county farm as an attorney
consulting the cook on legal business
He has been in numerous hotels I'M
der assumed names.
Borrows From Bank President.
Several days ago Phillips went
into the Farmers National bank and
shook hands with Herbert G. West
the president. West knew of the
Phillips family. and knew they were
well-to-dO. West used to live on the
Central avenue road and Phillips
knew his family. In fact his mother
lived near the West place.
by the way" said Phillips, II am
planning on purchasing farm. l
would like to have you send In cheek
for 81 1000 on a Chicago bank. Don't
want the money, Just want bank to
send In the check"
West sent in the check. Philips
looked thru his pockets.
by Jove," he continued. I'm about
out Of spending money. What do you
say 10 putting an o. X. on a check
for $50 on that same bank"
amN he
o. KID a blank check and handed II
to Phillips.
Today. West was waiting with some
anxiety to learn IL the two checks have
been turned down. Phillips. 20 West
said, seemed to know a number of
real estate men in Topeka and appar-
entity was transacting business right
and left with them. A warrant charg-
ing Phillips with floating bad checks
was issued today by Tinkham Veale,
acting county attorney.
Wanted In Colorado.
A Burns detective agent has been in
Topeka a week looking for Phillips.
who Is wanted in Colorado for passing
a bad check for 800. His aliases are
]. c. Hill, Robert F. Flynn. Robert F.
Wilson. Bobbie Burns, Robert Kelley.
and Frank Levodskie. He is former
pugiiist.
It is claimed Phillips came into
Topeka two weeks ago in a stolen
Chandler automobile with a Colorado
license tag on II. The machine was
found by the police in the rear of $40
Harrison street.
For several days the car was kept
in the rear of police headquarters.
Now IT is at the home OF Sergt. w. p.
Long of the police department. Long
lives at 100 Beacon street. Probably
Long Is keeping the car out there to
save the city the expense OF a garage
bill.
"He certainly did not use the car"
said Chief Hannah today. The car
won't run. We've advertised that the
machine has been found and no one
called to claim 1t. We thought II would
be better 20 keep the car out at Longs
home"
Iarimer was informed by the Chill
Iothe police that Phillips had the
Chandler car and a woman and a child
with him. 1t Is supposed this is the
woman who cooked at the county farm
and the child is her child.