The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-23
IN HANDS OF JURY
Mrs. Leila Maxwell Charged
With ShOplifting Here.
Watch, Furs, RaincOats and
Dresses Were Taken.

The liberty of Mrs. Leila Maxwell, of
kansas City, rested in the hands of a
Jury in Judge James McClure's divi-
ssion of the district court late today
THE woman, arrested a month ago
with a man giving his name as j.
Frank Hanley, is charged with grand
larceny in connection with the theft of
"a wrist watch, some furs, raincoats
land dresses from four Topeka stores.
When she was arrested, Mrs. Max
well gave her name as Leila Wells. she
Explained later that she did not want
her friends and family to know OF her
strouble. she and Hanley were both
hound over to the district court for
trial after their preliminary hearings
jim the city court. Hanley Is still in
.5at. awaiting trial
Tells Touching story.
+ There was a touch of pathos in the
STORY related by Mrs. Maxwell when
she took the witness stand today IN
her own defense She stated that she
and her husband, Louis Maxwell, had
lived in Kansas City about four years
and that he worked for the Cadillac
Automobile agency there. She had
mine months in which to finish train
ling course and become a graduate
nurse, she said. She was suffering
with tuberculosis of the bone and a
goiter was forming on her neck. She
said she decided if she could get into
IA hospital and finish her training
course that she could then have her
AILMENTS treated.
She said she came to Topeka with
the belief that she could get into st.
Francis hospital and said it was ar
ranged that her husband would then
follow and try to get a job here. If he
was successful, they were to reside
here. She had tried unsuccessfully to
get into Mercy hospital at Kansas City,
she stated.
81 Arriving in Topeka on a late morn
ing train, Mrs. Maxwell said she no
yticed a picture at the Cozy theater
she wanted to see and went in. When
she came out, she says, she met Han
ley, who addressed her and partially
made her think that she had known
him when she was a waitress in the
Harvey house at Fort Worth, Tex.
She said he accompanied her to Pelle-
tiers from where the bracelet-watch
is alleged to have been stolen. Then
they walked down to Crosby Brothers,
where she said she tried to purchase a
hat, but could not find the kind she
wanted. When they left, Hanley, who
had been separated from her in the
store, offered her fur which he was
carrying unwrapped.
He told me he had bought 1t in
the store for me-" said Mrs. Maxwell.
81 told him L didn't want it, as
hold it and wait minute, as he was
going to get a drink"
Decided To glitch" Him.
She said by this time she was be-
coming suspicious of Hanley and tired
of his attentions, so decided to ditch
him. Instead of waiting, she said, she
walked down to the Warren NJ. Crosby
store, when Han1ey appeared again
She said she looked at hats here, but
mot finding anything that suited her
left. Here It was, she declares, thai
she told. Hanley he must leave her
But as they walked out of the store
they were arrested by the police, who
had received a call from Pelletier's
that a watch and some other article:
had been stolen there, and that this
couple was suspected. She declared
Hanley had given her the wrist watch
saying he had bought it for her. He
told her he had made big money II
oil, she said.
Mrs Maxwelrs husband and her sis
ter from Dallas. Tex, sat at her side
of the table during the trial. Because
she seemed able to talk scarcely loud
GER than a whisper. Mrs Maxwell wa:
allowed to sit in a chair in front Of
the witness chair, in order that the
photographer and the attorneys coul6
hear her. Several times she appeared