The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-20
Francis Handlin, College Stu
dent, Accusd of Stealing Car.
Took TOpekan's Auto To Go
Visit Girl in Springfield.
HE is HELD IN JAIL HERE
Father Prominent Financier of
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
He Swears Youth Is Only 15
Years of Age.

Francis Handlin, 15-year-old son of
F. A Handlin, president of the First
National bank at Fort Smith, Ark, is
in the Shawnee county Jail charged
with stealing an automobile from T.
w. Williamson. Topeka architect. The
boy was attending St. Mary's academy
at st. Marys, Kan. prior to the theft
of the car. He has confessed, accord
ing to Sheriff Hugh Larimer. Curly
Nedeau. a deputy, arrived in Topeka
Buick machine which was taken from
in front of the Central National Bank
building about a week ago.
A desire to see a girl at Springfield.
Mo, with whom he became infatuated
while she was visiting at Fort Smith
this summer was the reason given by
the boy for stealing the machine. He
said he came to Topeka, picked out
the Buick, jumped in the car, started
it and drove TO Springfield to visit the
girl who is II years of age.
Car Stolen Again.
The girls younger brother liked the
looks of the new machine standing in
front of the Springfield home. Sud
denly his mother missed him and also
the machine, She called police head
quarters at Springfield and asked that
her boy and the machine be taken
home. The Springfield police located
the boy and the car. A few hours
prior to this. the police there received
a description of the Williamson ma
chine stolen in Topeka.
Immediately the sheriff here was
informed of the recovery of the car.
An hour later the Springfield police
informed officers here that they also
had caught the thief
The lads father. a handsome gray
haired man, met the boy at Topeka.
So far county authorities have abso-
lutely refused to show any clemency
toward the youth and this morning he
was taken to the county Jail and
placed in a cell at the order of Judge
Rad NJ. Lee of the court of Topeka.
The father walked as far as the Jail
with his son and, apparently moved
by the sight of his boy ascending the
steps of the prison, turned and walked
away.
Father Swears to Age.
Young Handlin was arrested on a
warrant issued from the court of To-
peka. Both he and his father took
oath today that he is only 1 5 years of
age. This will throw him under the
jurisdiction of the probate court. He
was placed in Jail awaiting arraign-
ment before the court.
Meantime. Hugh Fisher, county at
torney, is endeavoring to get in COM
munication with Fort Smith city
authorities to get a verification of the
lads age. He also obtained the name
of the attending physician at the time
of the boys birth and will communi-
cate with the physician in an attempt
to get a verification of the story of
the father and son.
The boy. the father stated, looks old
for his age He is feet tall. Neither
Handlin nor his son has much to say.
The boy had the use of a big automo-
bile at his home at Fort Smith during
the summer when he was counting
the girl who led to his downfall. He
was sent to st. Marys to school early
in September and couldn't resist the
temptation Of going to Springfield and
going there truly in the role of a
bankers son with a big car at his
command, so officers stated today.