The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-24
BANDIT NAUGHTY
Tells Officers He Could Have
Blown Their Heads OF.
Dempsey, Brought Back to To-
peka, Kept in Solitude.
FIND SAFE UNDER CULVERT
Youthful RObber Takes Miller to
Cache Near City.
Says He and Dead Pal Were
in Service.

in Service.
do you know could have blown
both of your heads off Sunday night
out at the Hickory Jones FARM"
That was the question which Har-
risof Dempsey. %. confessed bandit,
calmly asked Sheriff Hugh Larimer
room this morning by Bob Miller. I'M
dersheriff.
Flows that?" asked Larimer.
II had a shotgun in the corner be-
hind the door and grabbed it when I
jumped back" he said. But I thought
good
Dempsey Looks Effeminate.
This shotgun. Dempsey stated. was
the one found in the Lasswen girls
room at 309 West Seventh street.
Dempsey is a tall youth with dark
ual observer.
Aside from saying he served under
the colors and that his dead pal. w. II.
Gringrich. fought in France with the
Thirty-fifth division. Dempsey had lit
tie to say about himself today He re-
fused to give officers any information
as to where he lived.
Dempsey stated that he and Grin
erich changed clothes in the Lasswell
girls room Sunday morning and left
IOI 1AdnSdS lily vi Tic Oslf y ClOCh
Santa Fe.
Find Safe Under CuIvert-
This morning Miller took him in a
motor car out on the Topeka avenue
road and the youthful bandit pointed
TO a culvert on a cross road just
south of the Santa Fe crossing as the
hiding place of the safe stolen from
the Fitch drug store; Miller looked
under the culvert and there was the
safe. 1t was taken to the county jail
today.
Dempsey, Miller stated, will be kept
in solitude fer a few days. Hickory"
Jones is still in solitude and the Lass
well girl is being kept in the matron's
room at the county jail.
I'VE didn't know thing about that
picture of the Lasswell girl" said Mi
Ter today AT least, I didn't. No one
had told me.
Miller Explains Capture.
Il woke up Saturday morning and
began reviewing the case. 1 decided
those men must have operated In
town from a place open all night !
them.
Then Hugh and called In two men
we had under suspicion. They also
helped US. 1 went to Kansas City and
looked over the rogue's gallery.
recognized the picture of Dempsey
anu l0dTU60 Ol IlAo 1AOAl
went out and patrolled the neighbor-
hood until We found him."
Gringrich probably will be buried in
Kansas City. Miller said today he un-
derstood his home was there. There
will be an inquest held which Miller
expects he will be obliged to attend.
Determined Not To Fnil.
Il hated to shoot said Miller, but
I knew he would have killed us II he
had half a chance and I wasn't COM
ing back home to report he had es-
capped the second time. We all three
fired and evidently we all hit him.
The only thing he said was when
I was searching him was:
ct amt go nothing on me-"
Larimer today was undecided what
to do with the Lasswell girl. Follow
ing her fainting spell Monday after
noon, she appears calm and not the
least remorseful over her part in the
affair. Larimer believes he has suffi-
cient evidence to convict Jones and
send him to state prison. On just what
charge Dempsey will be arraigned has
not been decided.
II feel now that the pain and trou-
BILE this wound has caused me has
been repaid by the gang we broke up"
said Larimer today. I'VE certainly
ran into 2 nest of real criminals. 1
cant speak too highly of the work
done in Kansas City by Bob Miller"
Confess To RObberies.
Dempsey last night confessed that
he and Gringrich robbed the Nussbeck
hardware store in Oakland. the N. A.
Fitch drug store. 1855 kansas avenue
in addition to stealing numerous auto
mobiles and a safe from a st. Joseph
bank The safe taken from the Fitch
store is hidden on the Topeka avenue
road, Dempsey told officers. Miller
and Oscar Carlson. deputy sheriff.
were to go tot with Dempsey this
morning to locate the safe.
Dempsey, arrested by Miller at a
garage at Fifteenth and Forest avenue
Sunday afternoon, steadfastly refused
to divulge the whereabouts OF his part
ner Miller learned where Gringrich
dressed wounds in HIS back inflicted
in the gun duel with Sheriff Larimer
at the Hickory" Jones farm.
About $3.50 o'clock Monday morn
ing, Miller. accompanied by I. B.
Watson and David Oldham, Kansas
City detectives, went to 261e Spruce
street. One detective went to the rear
of the house Another began search
ing the house and Miller stood on the
stairway.
Next to the stairway was a door
leading into the parlor. Miller heard
the knob of the door turn softly. He
drew his revolver and threw open the
door. Gringrich was covered.
Little Boy Got in Way.
| Il searched him." said Miller. Then
I grabbed both his wrists and waited
for the detectives o come and hand
cuff him. Suddenly he jerked away
and ran down the hall. threw my
gun on him. Just then a little boy
ran into the hall. I didn't dare fire.
"Gr;ngrich jumped thru a window
onto the roof of a back porch. He
| leaped to the ground We followed
onto the porch. He tried to elm b
over a back fence four feet high with
| two feet of chicken wire on top. His
foot slipped and his body sagged to
one side.
All Three Shots Took Effect
I'VE all three fired. There were
three fresh wounds in his body. He