davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Driuen From Home She
Seeks Refuge At Altar
Is Bride At So Years
Another Chapter Written in Life of Mrs Lulu Redfied,
Who Today Secures Third Husband Case Wor-
ries Chief Hannah Until New Groom Shows Up.

that time, for the most part. she has
been living with her daughter and
former husband. according TO officers
In her petition for divorce. which
was filed during the summer of 1913.
Mrs Straughn stated that she had
married Lapont at Waterloo. Iowa. in
1872, and that they moved TO Kansas
in 1879. She charged that Lapont was
addicted TO the use of liquor; that he
frequently abused her when intoxi-
Gated. During that last twenty-five
years of their married life this abuse
was so strenuous. she asserted, that
she had to occupy a separate room
and frequently take refuge in It.
Lapont filed denial of the charges.
However the divorce was granted
to the wife. who was also allowed
S2.225 alimony payable in monthly
instalments Of $25. The old lady fire.
quently displayed her absent minded
ness by losing some of the alimony
checks and then calling for duplicates.
IT often happened that she found the
originals afterward.
Chief Hannah and Miss Kate King.
welfare worker. who investigated the
alleged treatment Mrs. Redneld re-
ceived at the hands of her daughter
and former husband. were told that
she had frequently been driven from
home and forced to seek refuge with
neighbors.
But the curtains Of the past were
drawn over those stormy scenes as the
old couple stood before Judge Cav
this morning and now the curious are
wondering If 1t will all end like a fairy
tale and they will live happy ever
after"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
SEN. HARDING TO TRENCHES
But They Arc Used at Big Barbecue
in His Honor.

jackson, O., Oct. 20.-A country
barbecue here with trenches to accom-
modate fifty roasting steers and count
less kettles of burgoo, supplanted the
front porch for Warren G. Harding
today.
The Republican nominee left Marion
on a special train early today. From
here he goes east to Rochester for an
afternoon speech tomorrow and Buff
falo tomorrow night, returning to
Marion Friday morning.
The barbecue here provided a pic
turesque setting for the candidate S
speech after the noon day feast
Phrase makers of the Democratic
party were contrasted with the per-
formers Of the Republican party by
Sen. Warren G. Harding in his speech
at a barbecue here today. Despite all
the progressive tongues and literary
idealism of the Democrats. 1t is the
Republican party that stands as the
safeguard of America, he declared
No wonder, he added, that the pres
ent administration is trying to divert
the attention of the country from the
prodigaI wastes and grotesQue ineffi-
cheney for which they have made the
nation pay so dearly.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Man Who hterfered in
Diuisior, of Family Cash
Victim of Ku-Klux Degree
Wrists Scared With Rope Marks His Back Torn by Whip
He Is Deported by Attackers From South
Carolina to Philadelphia.

the men told me they had decided TO
let me go.
Then they drove me to Denmark,
s. c.. gave me money to buy ticket
to New York and made me promise
would not return. All the way from
Denmark to Washington some one
came into the car occasionally and.
after looking at me, retired into
another coach. This man acted as
guard to see that I did not leave the
train
Mcmahon said he was too weak to
leave the train at Washington. He
told the police he was a friend and ad-
wiser of Miss Powell. He said her
father lives at Alike !. and is president
of a bank. Recently, according to
Mcmahon, the father made a division
of his property among his children
Florence Powe1l's share was $4,000.
II did not believe that sufficient" he
said. and she and went to Aiken last
week to see il we could not get bet
ter share for her"
Mcmahon said feeling engendered
by his interest in the case resulted in
the alleged mistreatment. He also de-
clared that when one of the men who
beat him asked If he would sign a
paper saying Miss Powell was in
competent to handle her own or her
fathers affairs. he refused and was
beaten with clubs
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
now FAST
Drop in Food Prices for Sep
tember Two Per Cent.
Potatoes and Sugar Dropped
Most Rapidly, Say Figures.

Washington, Oct. 2O.-The decline
in the retail price of foodstuffs during
September was placed at 2 per- cent
by the department of labor bureau of
labor statistics in it's monthly report
today on food costs.
Some foodstuffs, notably potatoes
and sugar, sustained a marked de-
crease in price while others. including
such commodities as eggs, pork chops
and oranges. underwent price in
creases ranging from per cent for
oranges to II per cent for eggs. The
drop in the price of potatoes was
placed at % per cent; sugar, 20 per
cent; cabbage. IA per cent, and cof-
fee, s per cent.
The decline in retail food prices,
however, according to the bureaus
figures, did not keep pace with the
drop in wholesale quotations. The
latter were placed at per cent as
compared with per cent decrease in
the retailers prices to the consumer.
Not all of the fifty-one leading cities
of the country shared alike In the re-
tail price decline the drop being esti-
mated at per cent in Butte, while it
was less than five-tenths of l per cent
in Boston. Los Angeles Minneapolis,
Omaha, Pittsburgh and Washington,
d. c. The decline was estimated at
per cent in Kansas City.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20

Another chapter was written in the
life of Mrs Lulu Redfield today when
she became the bride" of Jerome
Straughn, a local huckster. Mrs.
Straughn is reputed to be SS years
old. She gave her age to the license
clerk as ~. Straughn is So
The romance came to light Tuesday
night. Mrs. Redfield. was picked up
by Chief G. G. Hannah in the vicinity
" wet. She said her daughter. Anna
Lapont, 1922 Van Buren street. shad
thrown a bucket of water on her and
driven her away from home. Chief
Hannah took her to police headquar-
ters and committed her to the care of
the matron-
The chief was worried. There was
no place he could think of that the
woman could be sent where she would
be taken care of. But in the evening
a silver lining developed on the black
clouds when Straughn came in and
announced that he and Mrs Redfield
were to be married. Mrs. Redfield
spent the night in the matron's care.
This morning, true to his word.
Straughn,appeared and the couple went
to the probate court where they OBJ
tanned a license and were married by
Judge Ralph Cav. Mrs. Redfield
gave her name as Marie l. instead of
Lulu and protested against the charge
of SO for the license. One dollar was
sufficient. she said.
Records in the district court show
that Mrs Straughn was divorced from
Frank Lapont. her second husband.
November 1, 1913. Lapont then mar
ried the womsn's daughter by her
first husband, officials said Since
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
CRASH KILLS SIX
Twenty-Five More Hurt When
Passenger Trains Hit.
Four of Those Injured Are Not
Expected to Live.

Erie, Pa, Oct. 2o.-Six persons were
killed and twenty-five injured. four
probably fatally. in a passenger train
collision within a hundred yards of
the New York Central depot here to-
day.
Train No. so, eastbound. crashed
thru an open switch and careened into
the side of No. %, westbound.
The locomotive crumpled one end
of a Pullman car which it struck.
The car was knocked from its trucks,
tumbling on its side.
1t was necessary to cut hole in
the side of the smashed car so the
dead and injured could be removed.
The injured. whose names have
been taken, include: Mrs. c.. L. Secord,
Chicago, seriously: Idaho c. Meyers,
Chicago Beach. bruised: Mrs. Finley
Wood, Palatine. ILL.,. shock.
Bristol, Tenn, Oct. s0.-Three men
were killed and six others slightly in
jured in a headon collision between a
Norfolk & Western eastbound passen-
ger and a wcstbound train near Rural
Retreat. Va. today, according to re-
ports received here.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
NEW PLOT IS REVEALED
Gamblers Tried to Fix Another World
Series Besides One of 1919.

Chicago, Oct 20.-Gamblers plotted
to fix world series in addition to
one in 1919, between Cincinpati and
the White Sox, according to evidence
before the Cook county grand jury
investigating baseball scandals.
The evidence presented by witnesses
was that the plot failed. Hartley Rep
logic, assistant states attorney. in
charge of the investigation, refused to
say what world series was referred to.
Arnold Rothstein, New York gam
bier, was expected to be heard from
today. Word was received from Roth
STEMS attorney in New York that he
was writing Replogle in regard to the
summoning of Rothstein before the
grand jury. Rothstein, his attorney
said, was n t in New York.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20

Philadelphia, Oct. 20.-A man Civ
ing the name of Pete r. Mcmahon of
Yonkers. n. Y. with his wrists Scared
by a rope and his back bearing the
marks of a whip, left a northbound
Pennsylvania train here today and
sought the police for medical atten-
ton
He says he was seized and whipped
Monday night a few miles outside of
Trenton. S. c., after he had attempted
to assist Miss Florence Powell of
Aiken, S. c., in a settlement which in
vollved division of her fathers estate.
His underclothing was stiff with
blood and besides lash marks his body
and neck bore the marks of ropes with
which he said his tormentors had at
tempted to hang him. Police here are
investigating his story.
Mcmahon, who is so years old, said
he believed his assailants were adopt
ing methods of the Ku Klux Klan.
He said he was seized when he left the
train at Trenton, S. c., and was driven
into the country in a automobile.
where eight men wearing white hoods
gathered around and beat him.
They threw a rope around my neck
then tried to put the other end over
a tree, but it would not reach" Nc
Mahon said at the Hahnneman hos
pital today. After a severe beating
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
COX DETERMINED TO KNOW
To Force G. o. P. Nominee to Reveal
Identity of "Frenchmnn."

Providence, r. l., Oct. 20.-Gov-
ernor Cox declared today that he
would demand that Senator Harding
reveal the identity of the persons who
gave him the impression that France
would look with favor on the Repub-
lican candidates proposal for a new
association of nations.
Cox attacked the French spokes-
man. issue as vigorously as he went
after the "slush fund" issue early in
Il believe the American people and
he French government are entitled to
low who is consulting with Senator
Harding informally regarding our in
ternational relations, the governor
said.
Cox faced a busy day of speaking in
Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Con-
necticut. He had nine speeches sched-
uled.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
BURNED POLITICAL STUFF
Chicago Mail Carrier Declares Pos
tai Clerks Always "Got Rid" of
Too Heavy Mail Matter.

Chicago, Oct. 2o.-George Klatt,
aged 81, a mail carrier, was arrested
today and turned over to federal au-
thorities charged with burning politi--
cal matter sent thru the malls be
cause it made his pack too heavy"
Police had been notified that Klatt
was burning part of his mail each day
He was found in the basement of a
school house where he was stuffing
speeches of Congressman Rainey into
the furnace.
Klatt told police that when he
Joined the postoffice service three
months ago other clerks told him they
always burned political and advertis-
ing matter.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
BACK FROM RECORD FLIGHT.
Army Planes Again at Mineola After
Trip to Alaska.

Mineola, N. Y, Oct. 2o.-A record
breaking trip at 5000 miles ended at
1897 p. m. today when army plane No.
alighted here on its return from
Nome, Alaska. Three other planes
participating in the flight followed a
few minutes AFTER No. 4, which was
piloted by Lieut.. Ross Kirkpatrick.
The planes left Erie, Pa, on the last
leg of the flight at 1885 this morning.
The distance covered is approxi-
mately 5000. The purpose of the
flight, which began July 15, was to
test the planes and 10 make geological
surveys. The men, flying De Havi-
land machines, will have spent about
10 hours actual flying time.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
DENIES WHOLE PACT OR NONE
Franklin d. Roosevelt Declares Both
Demo Nominees Favor Reservations.

Cleveland. Ohio, Oct. 20.-Franklin
D. Roosevelt, Democratic vice presi-
Dental nominee, in an address before
students of Western Reserve univer-
sity this morning, denied the asser-
ton of Elihu Root that Governor
James NJ. Cox insisted on ratification
of the peace treaty and league cove
nant without change. Such a state
ment, he said, sis fully unwarranted by
the facts.
Governor Cox and I have been 60
ing up and down this country for two
months" Mr.. Roosevelt said, stating
that we are perfectly willing that there
should be incorporated in the. instru-
ment of ratification a statement that
nothing contained therein shall in any
way lessen or weaken our rights un-
der the constitution or take away the
right of congress to declare war and
send our boys overseas"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Is Man Sane IF
He Bets His Pile
On Pair ofMines?

Chicago. Oct 20.-Whether a man
who bets his stack on a pair of mines
and walks around his chair to change
his luck is sane, was a question the
jury in the trial of Carl Wanderer, ex-
army officer, accused of murder, was
to decide today.
Wanderer, charged with Staying his
wife and tramp he hired to stage
a. fake holdup is insane, witnesses
testified.
Bernard Roth, relative, declared
there wasn't any doubt in his mind
as to Wanderers insanity.
HE bet his stack of chips on pair
OF nines," said Roth. "and got up and
walked around his chair when playing
poker"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
BEATEN BY CONSCIENCE.
Escaped Convict Walks Into Police
Station ana Surrenders.

Amarillo. Tex, Oct. 20.-Conscience
and mortal dread of apprehension got
the better of Oscar Miller and he sur
rendered to the police.
Miller walked into police feadquar-
ters at the city hall last night and told
Sergt. B. F. Harper he was tired of
trying to escape. He said he was an
escaped convict from the Oklahoma
penitentiary at McAlester. He said he
was sent up two years for burglary
and had served out fifteen months of
his sentence and was a trusty when he
fled
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
HAULED BY FREIGHT ENGINE
Locomotive GOV. Cox Special Breaks
Down-Engineer Jumps.

En- Route With Governor Cox,
Blackstone, Mass, Oct. 20.-The engi-
neer of Governor Cox's train on the
New Haven lines, jumped from the
locomotive today to avoid being ourn-
ed when a valve broke and steam
rushed into the cab. Before jumping
the engineer set the brakes to prevent
the train from running way. He was
slightly burned.
The governors special was brought
here by Il freight engine which hap
pened to be on a side track near by.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
PASSENGER TRAINS IN CRASH.
Several Killed and Many Hurt Is First
Report on Wreck.

Bristol. Tenn, Oct. 2o-Several
persons are reported to have been
killed and many injured in a head-on
collision between two passenger trains
on the Norfolk & Western railroad to-
day at Rural Retreat, fifty miles from
here.
One of the trains was bound from
Bristol for New York while the other,
local, was coming from Roanoke to
Bristol. Aid has been sent from this
place.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
ENDS ALL DELAY
"Rufe" King Case Goes to Trial
After Many Postponements.
District Court of Usage County
Begins to Draw Jury.
WILL TAKE MUCH Time
Sixty Witnesses Summoned for
Tomorrow Morning.
Rumors That State Had With
drawn Are Dispelled.

Lyndon, Kan, Oct. 2o-That
"Rufe" King, former Maple Hill 1iv-
eryman, charged with murder, is ac-
tualiy going to trial after a year OF
continuances. was indicated this
morning when examination of a jury
in the district court OF Usage county
was begun.
The work today had not progressed
beyond the bare examinations. No
challenges had been made. 1t is ex-
pected, however, that considerable
time will be required to, get twelve
men satisfactory to both sides and
qualified to serve.
Sixty Witnesses Summoned.
The witnesses-about 60 in all
row morning, but it is not thought
that the taking of testimony will begin
at that time. 1t is probable that the
jury will not be sworn in until so late
in the week that the actual trial
cannot begin. before Monday. How
ever if the work progresses faster
than expected, the case will go to
trial at once, attorneys said.
Kings case was first called here last
spring, at which time it was continued
on motion of the defense. 1t was
stated that Mrs. Loretta Fowler, a
witness whose testimony was material,
was confined in the state hospital for
the insane at Topeka. The case was
continued until she could be discharg-
ed as cured. She was discharged
June 80, but the case, when called
again. was continued a second time
on the ground that there was man in
California who had seen one of Kings
alleged victims alive and we'll some
time after the date he was supposed
to have been killed. The witness
could not come to the trial, SO an at
torney was sent to California to take
his deposition.
Change of Venue.
A change of venue was granted the
defense when the case first came up
in Wabaunsee county because of the
small chance of getting a jury in that
part of the state that would be quail
fled, thru ignorance of the case, to
serve.
Rumors that the state had with
drawn from the prosecution of King
were dispelled today when it was an
nounced that Judge Edgar Foster, an
assistant attorney general, will repre-
sent the state at the trial. He will CO.
operate with the county attorney of
Usage county and Otis Hungate and
A. E. Crane, Topeka attorneys, retain
ed by relatives of Kings alleged vic
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20

The rainfall has been general over
the state and adjoining states, and will
probably continue. There is an area
of low pressure over New Mexico.
which means rain in Kansas, Rain
fall up to 2 O'Clock this afternoon in
Topeka amounted to .2S inch. Western
Kansas needed the rain badly. 1t is
also raining today in Iowa and Minne-
sofa to the north of Kansas, and in
Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. BY
tomorrow night the rain will become
general over the middle west.
The cool weather is delayed. but is
still moving toward Kansas. Tempera-
lures below freezing were reported
ff,onfinnptl on Page TWol
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
vACATToNIsTs ARE RETURNING.
Kansas Miners Reconsider Plan to De-
lay Coal Output.

Pittsburg. Kan, Oct 2o.-Miners
employed at Central mine No. 49. who
were idle Monday and yesterday. it
was asserted on a vacation walkout,
were back to work today.
The miners of Western No. Is.
which also was idle Monday, but ran
yesterday, were idle today. 1t was said
by the operators officials that this
idleness was not due to a vacation"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
MACswINEY is DELIRIoUs.
Fasting Lord Mayor Reported To Be
Sinking Rapidly.

London, Oct. 20.-Terence Mac
Swiney was delirious for two hours to-
day and all his relatives were sum-
moned to Brixton prison.
The lord mayor rallied shortly after
noon but was reported still below nor
NAL mentally.
At 6:15 MacSwiney appeared un-
conscious. a Sim Fein bulletin said.
The only sign of life was the twitch-
ing of his body and limbs. He talked
wildly in the delirium which attacked
him twice during the day.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
S. A. MEETING POSTPONED
Unsettled Weather Causes Committee
to Change Date.

The meeting of committees conduct
ing the Salvation Army drive in Shaw
nee county, scheduled for tonight in
the Chamber of Commerce. has been
postponed, on account of the condition
of the weather. and will be. held Fri
day night. it was announced this morn
ing.
On Friday night the committees will
all get together for their final report
At the same time the Inter-Service
club will make their final report on
the canvass of the business district.
More than $50 was raised at a meet
ing addressed by several officials of
the Salvation Army drive at Tecumseh
Tuesday night, and the precinct was
organized with the prospect of secur-
ing at least 500 more for the Saliva
ton Army fund. Other meetings will
be held during the week.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
sedItion Charge Against Pankhurst.

London. Oct. 20.-Sylvia Pankhurst
was to be arraigned today on cha rges
of writing seditious articles. The
article mentioned in the complaint ap-
peared in the Workers Dreadnaugflt.
a political publication. Miss Pank-
hurst has been identified with the
communist party.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Street Car Overturns-Nine Hurt.

Sioux City, Iowa, Oct. 19.-Nine per-
sons were seriously injured when a
Sioux City Traction company car over
turned here early today. The car was
heavily loaded and overturned while
rounding corner at high speed.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
ADMITS PART IN MURDER.
ST. Louis Electrician Confesscs Firing
One of Bullets Killing Union Agent

st. Louis, Oct. 20.--John Schradel.
an electrician, admitted. according to
the police. that he fired one of the
two shots that killed John T. Farrell.
business agent of the Electrical Work
ers' union. last night.
Schradel declared, police say, enmity
existed between the business agent and
himself and that he fired at Farrell
when he believed the latter was about
to fire at him. Farrell had Schradel
temporarily suspended from the union.
it was said
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
GENERAL SLACK IN BUYING.

The general stacking up of buying Is
reflected in the freight shipments. II
was stated at the Santa Fe today. tho
no definite figures for the reduction
were given out. There has. it was un-
officially said, been a decline in the
number and size of freight shipments
recently. Passenger traffic. on the
other hand. is standing up to more
than the average of past years at the
same season.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
WANT NEW WAGE SCALE
Employees of Electric Lines Ask Court
to Fix Contracts.

The court of industrial relations is
today considering two wage contro-
versies affecting employees of electric
lines. Both cases were brought be-
fore the court on motion of the en-
ployes.
Workers on the Joplin -Pittsburg
electric line have asked the court to
supervise fixing of a new wage con-
tract with the company. The court
will, this afternoon, take up the wage
demands of employees of the Hutchin-
SON -WichitaNewton electric lines.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
New French loan PepuIar.

Paris. Oct. 20.-Great success for
the new French loan which opened
today is forecast by newspapers here.
There has been a great rush of sub
scribers and announcement has been
made that 2.500,o0 900 francs has al
ready been received by the govern
ment-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Canned Vegetables Kin Three.

San Francisco Oct. 20.-Three per-
sons died here today from poisoning
said to have followed eating canned
vegetables. Another was said to be
in serious condition.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Benton City Bank Robbed.

Mexico. Mo. Oct. 20.-The bank at
Benton City. seven miles east Of here,
was robbed last night of all its Liberty
bonds. The exact amount of the theft
is not vet known.