The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-11
man IS IN DANCER
Angry Crowd Wait for E. O.
Barter, a Watchman.
Accused of Attempting Assault
on a Little Girl.
MOTHER MADE The DISCOVERY
Peeked Into Shanty and Saw
Man With Daughter.
Police and Sheriff Have Placed
Barter Under Guard.
MOTHER MADE THE DISCOVERY

County authorities and the police
late this afternoon were carefully
guarding the whereabouts of Edward
Oscar Barter. Al, a watchman at the
Santa Fe shops. charged with at
tempting to seduce Rosie Hoffman,
the 7-year-old daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. John P. Hoffman, III North Lo-
Gust street.
An angry crowd of more than 100
men, mostly Russians, were hanging
around the city Jail, county Jail and
court house all day with the presum-
able intent to get hold of Barter if
possible. There were no evidences of
any weapon in the crowd.
Barter was arrested by the police
Thursday night. He was stationed at
the watch shanty in the vicinity of
East First and Locust streets, at the
east edge of the shops. according to
Hoffman, father of the little girl. he
had been coaxing little girls in that
neighborhood into his watch shanty.
H is said to have gotten three of
them into the hut Thursday night.
asking them to go ana buy some
candy, according to officers. He kept
little Rosie with him while the other
two girls went to buy candy.
Mother Peeked in Shanty.
Becoming suspicious. Rosie's moth
er, it was said, went to the shanty
and peekeG thru a>crack in the wall.
What she saw led her to call the po-
lice. Barter became alarmed before
the arrival of the officers and fled.
An angry crowd of striking shopmen
gathered and began a search for him.
He was found a few hours later by the
police and taken to the city Jail.
Early this morning a crowd began
to gather, but they appeared to be
uncertain whether the man was con-
fined in the county or city Jail. Mr..
and Mrs. Hoffman and their children
Veale, who was gathering evidence
against Barter. Veale telephoned to
police headquarters asking that Bar
ter be brought over.
A large crowd was then gathered
around police headquarters. Another
crowd guarded the county Jail, while
a third watched the Fifth street and
Jackson street entrances of the court
house. The police took Barter from
his cell. Two officers entered the po-
lice car, which stood in front of the
station, and started the motor. Bar
ter was then allowed to walk alone to
the car, while officers on all sides kept
their eyes on him. He entered the
car, two policemen following. The
crowd paid little attention until the
car started away. At that moment
some of the men apparently recog-
nized Barter.
Escaped in Car.
There he is, That's him, now!"
exclaimed one. and twenty or thirty
of them started toward the car. By
that time Ed Nedeau, the driver, was
shifting into second gear and the car
was gone. The police drove around
the block, took Barter in the back
door of the court house and up to the
county attorneys office. A dozen
men were waiting in the lobby and |
them pass by, but it was not |
until the prisoner was inside the door |
that they appeared to realize what !
had happened: Even then they |
seemed uncertain of the mans |
identity. There appeared to be no at
tempt to communicate with other
parties and the policy of 'watchful |
was resumed.
Just what became of Barter after |
he entered the county attorneys office |
no one seems to know, except certain |
and they are not telling. 1t 1
was made plain, however, that he is |
still in the custody of the law and will |
remain there.
County Attorney veale issued a
state warrant for Barter, but he has
not been arraigned.
Issuance of Warrant Delayed.
Hoffman, the father of the little |
girl, complained today that County |
Veale refused to issue a
for Barter'S arrest Thursday |
night, saying lTlaI the court mouse was !
closed and that he would have to come |
to the county attorneys office this
morning.
The police arrested him without
the warrant, however, by having him
sent outside the Santa Fe yards, {
where he was picked up by the off
GERS and booked for investigation.
The warrant was issued about IL
o'clock this morning.
nIcnnIIur MIRO ncnIIncn