100 Year Old Weblog: May 2008

BLACK HAND IN POLICE FORCE. ~ MOVES MEN LIKE PIECES IN A GAME OF CHESS.

May 30, 1908

BLACK HAND IN

POLICE FORCE.

MOVES MEN LIKE PIECES IN A

GAME OF CHESS.

SHADOW OF MICKEY O'HEARN.

COMPELS TERROR AND SILENCE

WHEREVER IT FALLS.

"I Get My Orders From the Boss

Down Town," Boasts an Insub-

ordinate Sergeant --

What Happened to James.

"You'll only be here a few days."

"To hell with the captain. I get my orders from the boss down town."

Could it be that his avowed friendship for Alderman Mickey O'Hearn, and the fact that Mickey was for him when he made sergeant, inspired these remarks from Sergeant Charles Beattie? They were made some time ago in No 3 police station on the Southwest boulevard to Sergeant R. L. James, who, at that time, was in command of the station nights. There was more truth than poetry in the remarks, for James was moved at the next monthly meeting. It is said five persons heard the remarks of Sergeant Beattie.

It is a well known fact to all who understand police duty that the sergeant in charge of a station has full charge of the men in the entire district. On the night that the remarks were made it is reported that Beattie, who was serving as outside sergeant, changed a patrolman whom Sergeant James had ordered to walk the Southwest boulevard until the saloons closed. It was Saturday night and things were doing on the boulevard.

When the patrolman was told to go another beat he went to the station after his lunch, so report says. There this dialogue is said to have taken place:

"It's only 11 o'clock, officer. I thought I told you to stay on the boulevard until the saloons were closed," said James.

"Sergeant Beattie has ordered me back on my beat," was the reply.

ORDERS FROM THE BOSS.

Just at that juncture Beattie entered and an explanation was asked for. He said that he had ordered the officer back and intended that he should go there, too. He was asked if he didn't know that the sergeant in charge of the station was his superior officer and t5hat he is said to have replied: "Oh you'll only be here a few days."

James, according to the witnesses, must have felt the influence of the unseen power which has for nearly a year been guiding the affairs of the police, still he fought for his authority.

"I don't want to quarrel with my men, and won't," he is reported as saying, "but, Beattie, if you will be here tomorrow at 9 o'clock we will put this whole matter up to the captain and see who is right."

"To hell with the captain. I get my orders from the boss down town," is the reported remark of Beattie. Then the officer was ordered by Beattie to go hence and he went.

A full report of this affair was made to Captain John Branham, who has charge at No. 3 police station. The captain made his report and the correspondence was sent to Chief of Police Daniel Ahern. There the matter has apparently rested, for Beattie has never called "on the carpet" to explain his remark, and James "got his" at the first of the month. It is also said that the matter of James's removal was taken up with the commissioners later and that they knew nothing of it. Yet the board unanimously adopted a resolution in July last year, saying that only the commissioners should have to do with the shifting of men.

WHAT UNSEEN FORCE?

Who moved Sergeant James? What for? He is rated as one of the best officers on the force and there is not a black mark against him. What force was brought to bear? How did Beattie know that James would be moved? Beattie is said to be a close friend of "Mickey."

A reporter attempted to interview Sergeant James last night in regard to the affair. Here is all he got: "Yes, I was once at No. 3. I was moved from there and made relief sergeant. If there was any trouble down there, a full report was made on it, and that is all I have got to say unless called on by my superior officers or the board."

Before Beattie was made a sergeant, he walked a beat on West Twelfth street, by the Century hotel and theater. There he came daily in contact with Joseph Donegan, manager, a close friend of O'Hearn. He also saw O'Hearn many times a week for the Century was a hang out of his when not at his saloon. Many reports came to headquarters of a poker game in that neighborhood, but it was reported "impossible to get at it."

THEY'RE AFRAID TO TALK.

Good men on the police force who got "in bad" by doing their full duty are now living in deadly fear that their names will be published.

"What do you care?" one was asked yesterday. "You did your duty and got the worst of it, didn't you?"

"Yes," he replied mournfully, "and I know just why I got it and who gave it to me. But I have a family to support and I need my job. If you run my name I'm afraid the man who had me moved will have me fired."

All through the whole department that unseen power is felt. All seem to know what and who it is, but they fear to say so, unless called on to do so by the board of police commissioners.

A new man said yesterday that O'Hearn moved to the Century hotel in the Second ward just to run for Alderman there. The January Home telephone book gives his residence as 3427 Euclid avenue.

The police board seems to be resting fairly content while the force is being manipulated to suit a saloonkeeper-politician and his friends. Or is the board "wise" to what is going on -- and willing to stand for it?

PEACENESS DIDN'T SAVE HIM. ~ And in Spite of Truthness Charles Sovern is Convicted.

May 30, 1908

PEACENESS DIDN'T SAVE HIM.

And in Spite of Truthness Charles

Sovern is Convicted.

It was but a few minutes after the attorney for Charles Sovern, who has been on trial in Judge E. E. Porterfield's court for the shooting of Frank W. Lander, had asked a witness: "Were Mr. and Mrs. Sovern in their store, or were they not?" then he asked this of another:

"What is Sovern's reputation for truthness, peaceness and quietness, good or bad, eh?"

That convulsed the courtroom and the jury, but when Assistant Prosecutor Bert S. Kimbrell came back with, "Have you any personal knowledge of his reputation for truthness, etc.," Judge Porterfield had to rap to bring the stenographer and clerk to order.

The jury gave Sovern three years in the penitentiary. The evidence was that he shot Lander over a business quarrel. Sovern owns a store at 4315 East Fifteenth street and Lander has one at 4317 the same street. Lander had the bullets picked out and recovered.

DUG UP HIS NITROGLYCERIN. ~ Safeblower Hart Led Police to Spot Where It Was Buried.

May 29, 1908

DUG UP HIS NITROGLYCERIN.

Safeblower Hart Led Police to Spot

Where It Was Buried.

A nitroglycerin hunt is an unusual feature to a detective's duty, but it was part of the day's programme yesterday morning when W. G. Hart, a safeblower of no small record, led the police to the runway of the Hannibal bridge where he had buried over a pint of the explosive.

Hart was captured Tuesday night by Sergeant Patrick Clark, Desk Sergeant, Holly Jarboe and Officer Joe Enright after having blown a safe in the Metzner Stove Supply and Repair House, 304 West Sixth street. At the time of the capture, Hart attempted to hurl a bottle of the explosive at the police officers, but was kept from doing so by one of the occupants of the house.

Hart had made his nitroglycerin at the foot of the Hannibal bridge and then buried it in the roadside. It was feared that a passing wagon might cause an explosion and so it was taken up yesterday. Hart emptied the bottle upon the ground.

RECORDS PROVE MEN WERE MOVED. ~ AFTER BEING THREATENED BY MEN WITH A "PULL."

May 29, 1908

RECORDS PROVE

MEN WERE MOVED.

AFTER BEING THREATENED BY

MEN WITH A "PULL."

ONE ARRESTED

WRONG WOMAN.

SHE HAD BEEN FINED 106 TIMES,

BUT WAS EXEMPT.

"Ain't You Next?" Said O'Hearn's

Friend; "You're to Let Her

Alone." -- More of the Pow-

er of Mickey O'Hearn.

After the order of the board of police commissioners Wednesday a reporter for The Journal had no trouble in seeing the books at No. 4 police station yesterday. And a view of these books proved the charges that every man since the first of the year, who has been active in arresting women "night hawks" has been taken out of plain clothes and removed from the district. One man was left in the district but he was taken from that special duty and put back into uniform.

The records showed that officers had been taken from that duty even before January 1 -- in fact, any man who has been too active since the reorganized police department took charge of affairs after Governor Joseph W. Folk's "rigid investigation" has been shifted. This is not only true of No. 4 district by even in No. 1 district, headquarters. This does not pertain alone to the arresting of dissolute women but to interference with certain saloons which were selling liquor on Sunday. That charge is made in regard to No. 1 district more than any other. Of course, some saloons have been caught; but they are not the influential ones; those run by "our political friends."

While the records at No. 4 station practically prove all the assertions made in regard to that district it is said that no blame can be laid at the door of Captain Thomas P. Flahive. It is not he who has had the men taken out of citizens clothes and transferred Those who know say he has been handicapped by having only a few men to do the work in his district and by an unseen power which has been able to have men removed when they did their full duty.

ARRESTED MANY WOMEN.

The records show that Daniel Doran, who worked there for years, arrested thirty-five women just before January 1. He was threatened by well dressed vagrants and told that he would be moved. And by the grace of the unseen power he was moved January 1, last, going in uniform to No. 9 -- the "sage brush" district.

The commanding officers and sergeants under whom Edward Prewett worked in No. 4 precinct speak well of him. He was there nearly eight years, and it was never said that Prewett did not do his full duty. In fat, it has been said that "Prewett would bring in his grandmother if ordered to do so."

In December, Prewett was detailed alone to bring in women of the streets. In eighteen days he brought in thirty-five of them. But from all sides, even from the women and especially the dude vagrants, he heard, "You won't last beyond January 1." One night Prewett arrested a woman named Kate Kingston. Last year this woman was fined $500 by Police Judge Harry G. Kyle, and at that time the records showed that she had been fined 106 times in police court.

"YOU AIN'T NEXT, ARE YOU?"

As he started away with the woman, "Ted" Noland appeared on the scene. "Turn that woman loose," he said; "you ain't next are you? She's to be let alone." Prewett was not "next," for he was also arrested Noland, and that was his undoing. Noland threatened the officer and told him he would personally see to it that he was moved. And Prewett was moved January 1, going in uniform to No. 6. Noland was fined $50 in police court the day following his arrest.

Noland is well known to the police, and in January, 1907, was fined $500 on a charge of vagrancy. That same Kate Kingston, over whom he threatened the officer, testified then that he and a man named Deerwester had beaten her at Thirteenth and Main streets. Deerwester got a similar fine. Their cases were appealed and the men were soon out out on bond.

Noland is a friend of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn, and, until recently, could be seen almost any day about his saloon at 1205 Walnut street; also about the saloon of Dan Leary at Fourteenth and Walnut streets. The records show that Leary has gone the bonds of scores of street women. At one time Judge Kyle objected to the n umber of personal bonds that Leary was signing and required that they be made in cash.

JUST SEE MICKEY.

The influence of Alderman "Mickey" O'Hearn may be better understood when it is known how he is reverenced by many members of the police department. When the Folk "investigation" was begun in May last year the commissions of probably half the department were held up. This conversation was overheard one day between two of the officers out of commissions.

"I'll tell you these are ticklish times," one said. "I have all my friends to work and am assured that I am all right."

"I'm up a tree," the other replied. "I don't know what to do. I have always tried to do my duty and can't imagine why I am held up."

"Why don't you see 'Mickey'?" his friend said with astonishment. "I thought you were wise. You know 'Mickey,' don't you You do; then go and see him and the whole things squared. That's what I did."

From that day to this the word has gone out through the whole department, "See 'Mickey' if you are in bad. He'll fix it."

RAIN INTERFERES WITH LIGHTS. ~ Insulation on Electric Wires Is Becoming Saturated.

May 29, 1908

RAIN INTERFERES WITH LIGHTS.

Insulation on Electric Wires Is Be-

coming Saturated.

Prevailing rains are interfering with the electric light wires. Insulation is becoming saturated and the result is that electricity is "cutting around" instead of going out on spurs to lamps.

"There is nothing that can be done to prevent these new troubles," said an official of the electric light company yesterday. "Weatherproof insulation does not mean waterproof insulation. Ordinarily it is waterproof, but that is where it gets a chance to dry out after one rain before another falls. The last two weeks there has been rain so often and the sun so seldom that the insulation is becoming saturated. Dim lights are the result in some places. Only sunshine can cure that sort of defect."

WILL DEDICATE LONG CHAPEL. ~ Erected by John Long for $40,000.

May 29, 1908

WILL DEDICATE LONG CHAPEL.

Erected by John Long for $40,000.

Tomorrow afternoon the Mrs. John Long Memorial Chapel in Mount Washington cemetery will be dedicated. The late John Long, a retired wholesale grocer, erected the $40,000 chapel as a tribute to the memory of his wife, Mrs. Emma Stuttle Long, who died October 1, 1906. Mr. Long died in February this year and his own funeral was the first to be held in the chapel he built.

The dedication will be at 2:30 in the afternoon. Edward L. Scarritt, president of the cemetery association, will preside. There will be addresses by the Rev. J. A. Schaad, the Rev. S. M. Neel and the Rev. William J. Dalton. Mrs. Gilure and Mrs. McDonald will sing solo selections and a quartette will furnish the balance of the programme.

Mrs. Long was known for her charities among the poor and the chapel her husband built to her memory is for the poor, the rich, the religious and those of all the world who have not professed faith. Al, who are eligible to be buried in the cemetery, are to have the free use of the chapel.

HAS NITROGLYCERIN BURIED IN A ROAD. ~ SAFEBLOWER WILL LEAD THE POLICE TO IT.

May 28, 1908

HAS NITROGLYCERIN

BURIED IN A ROAD.

SAFEBLOWER WILL LEAD

THE POLICE TO IT.

That Is, if Some Wagon Wheel

Don't Set It Off Before This

Morning -- One Sends Money

to His Mother.

Safe blowing is not a lucrative business, according to G. W. Hart and William Riley, the two yeggmen who were arrested Tuesday night after having blown a safe in the Metzner Stove Supply and Repair house, 304 West Sixth street. The two burglars made a complete confession before Captain Walter Whitsett and other police officers last night, telling somewhat of their past and present record, also giving an interesting account of how they pulled off their jobs.

The two men met each other on the streets several days ago and their acquaintance grew steadily. Both lived in a low rooming house at 507 Grand avenue and it was there that they perfected their plans for the safe robbery which they perpetrated Tuesday night.

For several days past Hart has made a hiding place of the Hannibal bridge. In that locality he kept his tools and prepared the nitroglycerin which he used to blow the safes. He said that had he been successful in his robberies here he intended taking his loot to that place and burying it at the roadside, where he has now over a pint of nitroglycerin stored away.

The only other safe blowing job which Hart has tried in Kansas City was Sunday night when he attempted to blow open the safe in the Ernst Coal and Feed barns at Twentieth and Grand avenue. At that time, however, he was interrupted by police officers and barely escaped arrest. He was not successful in this attempt. Two or there days previous to this Hart entered and robbed a wholesale house located near Fifth and Delaware streets. He got only a few dollars in currency.

WHERE HE HAS WORKED.

In tell of his work at the safe-blowing, Hart said: "I have been at this business for the past year or two, and in that time I have robbed safes in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Nebraska and Missouri. The biggest haul I ever made was from a bank in some town in Oklahoma. I had to get through four large front doors which were loaded with concrete, but was successful, and sent the money I made in that deal to my mother. I often sent her the biggest part of my makings. She thought I got it honestly. No, I won't tell you her name or where she lives," he replied to a question from the police captain.

"Sometimes I would bank the money I got from the safes," he continued, "but it never got me anything. I am worse broke now than I was when I was living honestly. The job we pulled off last night was to get me money to pay my board.

"When I got the safe all soaped and ready to blow," he said in reply to a question of where he went when the explosion took place, "I usually stand just on top of the safe. There is no danger of any hurt up there, for the explosion always blows out, not up. If it has made too much noise, I most always have time to jump down and pull out the money boxes before anyone gets there, and then make my getaway."

Hart is a man of thirty or more names. He refused to tell his right name to police officers, saying that G. W. Hart was just as good as any. Among the names given were Maycliffe, Miller, Pope, Brown and Simpson. Hart has served a term of years in the Ohio state penitentiary, having been sent there on the charge of assault with intent to kill. He shot a brakeman who tried to eject him from a freight train on which he was stealing a ride. The brakeman was not seriously injured. With this exception he has had no other prison record, being only 26 years of age.

HE'S GREEN AT IT.

William Riley, the other yeggman, was more reticent about his part in the affair of Tuesday night. He claimed that it was his first attempt at safe blowing and admitted that he was rather amateurish about the business. Though he has not done much along the yegging line, he has a much longer prison record than his partner. Most of his matured life has been spent behind prison bars. He is now 47 years old. He was first convicted of highway robbery in Jackson county and sentenced to five years in the state prison. He had not been released from that term many months before he received a sentence at Springfield, Mo., for a term of two years, charged with grand larceny. Besides this he served four years more in the Missouri penitentiary for grand larceny, having been convicted at Sedalia.

When the two men were arrested Tuesday night the woman who keeps the rooming house in which they lived, and Ernest Vega, a Mexican roomer, were also arrested. Hart and Riley have both testified that these two were entirely innocent of the affair, and have asked for their release. It is probable t hat they will be released this morning, as the time limit for investigation of prisoners is over.

Hart will accompany a squad of police officers to his hiding ground at the runway of the Hannibal bridge this morning, when the nitroglycerin, which he has buried there, will be removed. It is lying on the roadside, just under the surface, and it is feared that the wheels of some farm wagon might accidental cause an explosion if it is not removed at once.

ORDERS POLICE TO SHOW BOOKS. ~ BOARD DECIDES RECORDS ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC .

May 28, 1908

ORDERS POLICE

TO SHOW BOOKS.

BOARD DECIDES RECORDS ARE

OPEN TO PUBLIC .

ALD. O'HEARN'S ACTIVITY.

ACCUSED OF CAUSING REMOVAL

OF VIGILANT OFFICER.

Remarkable Case of Lisiecki Broth-

er's Saloon, Where a Politician

Is Said to Have Called

Off Besieging Police.

After twenty-four hours deliberation the board of police commissioner came to the conclusion yesterday that records of arrests at the different stations in the city should be declared public, so long as the information desired was of past transactions. May Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr. declared that information of past transactions should be given to any citizen asking it, and the other members of the board concurred, after some discussion.

The board was told that a reporter for The Journal had asked on Tuesday to see the records and had been refused by the captain of No. 4 station and Chief of Police Daniel Ahern.

"What do you want to see the books for?" Mayor Crittenden asked.

"It has been charged that every man since the first of the year who has been active in arresting women who infest the streets in that district has been taken out of plain clothes, and all but the two who are now detailed for that duty, put into uniform and removed from the precinct," the mayor was told. "It is said that the records at the station will show this state of affairs. It is also charged that the removal of the men came after threats from well dressed vagrants and a certain saloonkeeper-politician in that district."

No comment was made upon this statement. Chief Daniel Ahern, who was present, was simply ordered to let the books be examined "in the presence of the officer in charge of the station," and that was all. No hint at an investigation by this board was made.

SIX HAVE BEEN MOVED.

The records show that since January 1 eight men have been detailed in plain clothes in No. 4 district. Their principal duty is to keep the streets clean of undesirable women at night. Six of those men have been removed already, and the two now there have been told that they are to go. One of the men who is said to have threatened policemen who did their duty is Alderman Michael J. O'Hearn, known in a political way as "Mickey" O'Hearn.

The records will show that Frank N. Hoover was removed from No. 4 precinct on March 1. It is well known that this district harbors criminals of all classes and a horde of women who support well dressed vagrants in idleness. The records show that during Hoover's short stay in plain clothes his "cases" included the capture of land fraud sharks, a murderer, one woman who attempted murder, shoplifters working Jones Bros.' department store, clothing thieves, typewriter thieves, "hop" fiends, opium jointists, vagrants -- and a long list of "lavender ladies" who called to men from their windows, and others who walked the streets by night. Scores of these lawbreakers were fined from $5 to $150 in police court on Patrolman Hoover's testimony.

It is alleged that one night when Hoover had arrested a well known vagrant, who for years has lived off the wages of sinful women, he was accosted by O'Hearn, who demanded to know why Hoover was aresting his "friends." One who heard the conversaion said that Hoover told the saloonkeeper that he knew nothing about his "friends"; in fact, that he was doing police duty. O'Hearn, according to report, then told Hoover with a snap of the finger: "We'll see about you later." And he was "seen to" March 1, when he was put into uniform and transferred to a beat in No. 6 district.

TEACHERS FEARED A TORNADO. ~ Dismissed Pupils Yesterday When Black Clouds Appeared.

May 28, 1908

TEACHERS FEARED A TORNADO.

Dismissed Pupils Yesterday When

Black Clouds Appeared.

Fearing that the black cloud which approached Kansas City from the northwest yesterday morning was bring a tornado, Miss Emma J. Lockett, principal of the Linwood school, Linwood and Woodland avenues, dismissed the 735 children under her care, and sent them scampering to their homes.

But she first called up P. Connor, the weather forecaster. After being assured that the coming storm was not a twister, she remembered how many times she had failed to take an umbrella when he said "Fair today," and had come home dripping, so she was not satisfied, but tried to call the school board. After several ineffectual attempts, the board's telephone being in use at each time, she noticed that the cloud was much nearer. At the rate it was coming, the children could barely have time to get to their own roofs before trees began to be uprooted. She rang the dismissal bell, telling her charges to go home at once.

But Mr. Connor was right, and Miss Lockett very sweetly admitted it after the cloud had passed. School was resumed at the afternoon hour.

The Catholic sisters in charge of St. Vincent's academy, Thirty-first street and Flora avenue, also dismissed their 250 pupils when the threatening clouds appeared.

In 1886 the Lathrop school, Eight and May streets, was partly wrecked by a storm. Several children were killed.

POLICE REFUSE TO SHOW BOOKS. ~ CONTAIN NAMES OF OFFICERS WHO WERE TRANSFERRED.

May 27, 1908

POLICE REFUSE

TO SHOW BOOKS.

CONTAIN NAMES OF OFFICERS

WHO WERE TRANSFERRED.

THEY ARE PUBLIC PROPERTY.

BUT CONTAIN PROOF OF

PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE.

Matter of Changing Active Officers

Is to Come Before Board Today.

Farce Follows Chief Dan-

iel Ahern's Order.

Not until yesterday was it made known that the records of arrests at police stations in Kansas City, ordinarily believed to be open to public view, are secret, perhaps sacred, reports, wont to be seen by any one not connected with the department until so ordered by the board of police commissioners, or, perhaps, some higher tribunal -- mayhap the mysterious influence behind the present police force.

While the charge has been made that officers who did their full duty in bringing in objectionable women of the streets, in whom well dressed vagrants were interested, had recently been taken out of plain clothes, put back into uniform and transferred to remote districts, it was additionally charged that the records of No. 4 police station for several months would show that every officer who had been active in that work had been removed to another district.

Believing that the records at a police station were as public as those of police court or any other court, a reporter for The Journal called at No. 4 (Walnut street) station yesterday and made this request of Captain Thomas P. Flahive:

"I want to see the record of arrests since January. I want to get the names of the officers working in plain clothes since that time. I want to see how many women each man arrested and find out if those same officers are still in this district, or if they have been removed."

"While our books may be regarded as public records," said Captain Flahive, "I must refuse you access to them unless you bring me an order from Chief Ahern of the board."

"The books are in Captain Flahive's district," said Chief Daniel Ahern later, "if he wants to show them to you he can. He won't, you say? Then I will not let you see them without an order from the board."

GALLAGHER SAYS "NO."

"Not by any means," was the reply of Commissioner A. E. Gallagher. "The matter will be brought to the attention of the board tomorrow."

Commissioner Elliot H. Jones, last night said, when asked whether the records of arrests were public property, "I don't know; I've never thought about it."

"It is my personal opinion, off hand, that such records are open to the public," came from Mayor Crittenden. "However, I am new in the business here and would not like to give a positive opinion. Ask the board tomorrow."

City Counselor E. C. Meservey was called up at his home last night after all of these refusals by public officers to screen police acts and asked whether he regarded the records of a police station as public records. He said promptly: "I see no reason why they should not be just as public as the records of the police court, especially those of past transactions. There is only one reason in my mind why they should be refused and that is where the police saw that the giving of the record would interfere with their duty in arresting law breakers." When told the record that was wanted he said, "that certainly is of past transactions and I think the records should have been produced."

THEY WERE NOT REMOVED.

The records under the Hayes administration will show that for one year previous to his removal by the board, July 31, 1907, only a few men were detailed in plain clothes in No. 4 district to bring in objectionable women and vagrants supported by them, and they were not removed for doing so. They remained at that duty a long time.

On the best information that can be gained without seeing the books, the records since July 31 last year will show that no fewer than from eight to ten different men have been assigned to duty in that district. From memory it can be truthfully said that since January 1 these officers have been detailed there: Edward Prewett, Daniel Doran, Frank M. Hoover, Thomas L. McDonough, Lucius Downey, J. C. Dyson, John Rooth and A. B. Cummings. All of them were active in doint their duty.

Prewett was put back in uniform and sent to No. 6.

Doran got into "harness" and was sent to No. 9, "the woods."

Hoover is now wearing blue at No. 6.

McDonough was taken from that duty, put into uniform but left in the district.

Downey, who had been in plain clothes for nearly three years, was put into a suit of blue he had nearly outgrown and sent to a tough beat in the North end.

Dyson in in blue and brass and is taking a chance at being sunstruck in the tall grass of No. 9.

Rooth and Cummings are still there, but the rumor is that they are slated to go June 1.

THREATENED BY VAGRANTS.

It is known that Downey and Dyson were threatened by thugs, vagrants and a saloonkeeper-politician and told they would be moved May 1. And on that date they were removed. Rooth and Cummings were so often threatened by the same men that they have appealed to the chief for protection. They were told by vagrants they would be moved June 1. Will they?

IT'S ON THE MAP, ALL RIGHT. ~ Coates House Guests Interrogate Guest from Coatesville.

May 27, 1908

IT'S ON THE MAP, ALL RIGHT.

Coates House Guests Interrogate

Guest from Coatesville.

When George Gillespie of Pennsylvania wrote "Coatesville" after his name on the register at the Coates house last night, old residents of the house crowded around to question him. Mr. Gillespie said he did not know of the existence of the Coates house when he left his home in Coatesville, and was only attracted to the hostelry by the sign. It developed that Coatesville, Pa., was named after the father of Kersey Coates, founder of the hotel.

WHEN WALLACE IS GOVERNOR. ~ The "Blue Law" Candidate Will Lift the Lid on Sunday Smokes.

May 27, 1908

WHEN WALLACE IS GOVERNOR.

The "Blue Law" Candidate Will Lift

the Lid on Sunday Smokes.

ST. LOUIS, MO., May 26. -- (Special.) Judge William H. Wallace of Kansas City, a Democrat aspirant for governor, said here today:

"I am neither Sabbatarian nor a political prohibitionist. I am a temperance Democrat. I neither smoke nor partake of intoxicants or coffee. While I am a Presbyterian elder, I do not believe it is a sin to use tobacco, and if I am made governor, I will recommend that the Sunday laws be amended so that there may be no inhibition on tobacco.

"At Kansas City I have enforced the law as I found it, and have put the Sunday closing lid on cigar stores, as well as saloons."

'IT MAY BE TRUE,' SAYS THE CHIEF ~ IN FACT "I'M INCLINED TO BELIEVE IT IS."

May 26, 1908

'IT MAY BE TRUE,'

SAYS THE CHIEF

IN FACT "I'M INCLINED TO BE-

LIEVE IT IS."

CITY FULL OF VICIOUS VAGS.

SALOONKEEPER ISSUES POLICE

ORDERS FROM SALOON.

Men Who Dare Do Their Duty Are

Moved and Threatened With

Discharge -- What the

Records Prove.

Chief of Police Daniel Ahern said yesterday in reference to the charges that the city was infested to an unprecedented extent with vagrants of a certain class: "While that may be only a rumor, I am inclined to believe that it is true."

The chief denied yesterday that he knew of any of his officers being threatened or intimidated by thieves and vagrants whose only support for years has been some unfortunate woman, and also by a certain saloonkeeper politician. Yet on Saturday the chief admitted that two of his officers now working in No. 4 district in plain clothes, John Rooth and A. B. Cummings had been to see him about that very matter.

On their first visit the men were told to do their duty at all hazards. But it is said that they were sent for by the chief a couple of days later and told: "Now you may be removed the first of the month, but if you are, don't think it is because you have been arresting women of the streets in whom these vagrants are interested. I may adopt that plan of switching men about each month."

The chief was told that Lucius Downey, who had been in citizen's clothes over three years, a man against whom there was not a black mark, and J. C. Dyson, his partner in plain clothes, had been threatened repeatedly by thugs and saloonkeepers in No. 4 district, and in April were told: "We will have you both moved the first of the month." The records show that Downey and Dyson were moved May 1, as per threats, both being ordered back in uniform. Downey has a tough beat in the North End and Dyson was sent to the "tall uncut" No. 9 district. Chief Ahern was told that neither of these men would deny that they had been threatened, and that the threats were carried out.

THE CHIEF IS EVASIVE.

"In light of those threats, and the fact that both men were moved, as they were told they would be, I have been requested to ask you for your specific reasons for changing Downey and Dyson," the chief was asked by a Journal reporter.

"Lots of men are moved for their own good," the chief said.

"Were Downey and Dyson?"

"I didn't say so. Again, a man may be too long on one beat. He may become stale."

"Were these men stale?"

"No. And again complaints come in against them. Often their captain asks that they be moved."

"Were these men complained against; did the captain ask that they be moved?"

"No; oh, no."

"Then why were they moved?"

"Oh, there's lots of things that might cause the removal of a man from one beat to another."

The chief did not and would not give his reasons for removing Downey and Dyson. Neither man was told that there was a complaint against him, that he had been too long on the beat, that he was stale or anything else. They were just moved as it had been threatened by a saloonkeeper.

WHERE THEY GET ORDERS.

One of the men who is said to have threatened Rooth and Cummings is a saloonkeeper, who is now an Alderman and on the police committee in the lower house. It was he who went to No. 4 police station, asked for Rooth and Cummings, and when told that they were not in, said: "Send them up to my saloon. I want to see them." Then followed something about "seeing where they get their orders," but that was in an undertone.

The chief was asked to issue a special order which would designate a certain gang of vagrants, men who are known to the police and who would be arrested and arraigned in police court if the patrolmen knew absolutely that their chief, their captain, lieutenant and sergeants all would stand by them. The order would have been specific. Cornelius Dolan, recently appointed by the board to the office of "chief clerk to the chief," suggested that it "would not be wise," and Daniel Ahern, chief of police, let "Cornie" have his way.

"Issue a vagrancy order," he said.

AND HERE IT IS.

Then this order, simply a copy of one issued September 9, last, was issued in time for roll call last night:

SPECIAL ORDER.
Kansas City, Mo., May 5, 1908.
To Commanding Officers.
See my order of September 9, 1907, reading as follows: "Your attention is called to Chapter xxi., Article 1, defining vagrants, revised ordinance, on pages 613 and 614, Sections 1208-1209-1210-1211-1212 and 1213. You will read these sections to the officers under your command so that they will more fully understand the meaning of the sections mentioned."

Complaints have come to me that men without visible means of support are numerous, and I want you to see that this order is strictly enforced.
DANIEL AHERN,
Chief of Police

"READ EVERY DURNED SECTION."

It can readily be seen how much good this order will do when few stations have a copy of the revised city ordinances and, if they had, the chances are that the commanding officer would not go to the trouble of reading six sections to his men. At stations Nos. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 it was said that the order had not been received, also that if they had a copy of the ordinances they did not know it. At No. 4, the principal district referred to, it was said that the order was read, but that the copy of the ordinances was locked up. At No. 6 Lieutenant Wofford said he got the order and read "every durned section."

In an effort to better conditions, and to aid the police, Judge Kyle yesterday fined six women and two men $500 each, one man and one woman $100 each and two men and two women $50 each. All were charged with vagrancy.

"All of the women given big fines have been before me time and again for the same offense," said Judge Kyle. "I have often requested the police to bring in the men who cause these women to parade the streets at night. Little has been done toward getting the, however. If they come before me I will give them the limit if it can be proved that they frequent disreputable resorts -- even if they do work spasmodically or 'tend bar extra' for some saloonkeeper. Police have testified in my court that they were threatened."

THAT WAS A SHOCKING RIDE. ~ Taken by William Becker and His Wife on a Northeast Car.

May 26, 1908

THAT WAS A SHOCKING RIDE.

Taken by William Becker and His

Wife on a Northeast Car.

William Becker and wife, 413 Prospect avenue, were suffering yesterday from a most unusual injury received Sunday night on an eastbound Northeast-Rockhill car. The accident occurred on one of the new cars, and in one of the long seats running parallel at the rear of the car. Just as the car rounded the curve into Maple avenue, Becker and his wife, from some source unseen by them, received such a terrific shock of electricity that they were thrown across the car to the opposite seats.

Becker was at work in the city market yesterday for C. L. Reeder, a fish merchant, but his right arm was practically useless and his right let was also in bad shape. He said his wife was shocked on the right side below the waist.

"I can't imagine where the shock came from," said Becker, "but I know that it was so strong that it almost blinded me for a moment. The conductor told me afterwards that his shoulder was almost dislocated when he grabbed me as I was thrown from the seat. I have heard of cars being charged with electricity on damp nights, and as it was very damp Sunday it may be that this car was in that state.

MIDLAND'S GUESTS SEEK OTHER HOMES. ~ MANY OF THEM HAVE LIVED THERE FOR YEARS.

May 26, 1908

MIDLAND'S GUESTS

SEEK OTHER HOMES.

MANY OF THEM HAVE LIVED

THERE FOR YEARS.

Thomas R. Morrow and Alexander

Butts, Who Have Grown Gray

Under Its Roof, Among the

Homeless Now.

The A. J. Dean family moved out of the Midland yesterday, and the house isn't officially a hotel any more. Mr. Dean, one of the owners of the Baltimore Hotel Company properties, which included the Midland, took his family to the Hotel Baltimore. Mr. Dean took along another asset of the company -- Mrs. Lillian Harris, the cashier.

Miss Harris has been cashier in the front office of the hotel ever since the Deans took the property She goes to the Baltimore as cashier, after a three months' vacation. Mrs. Harris's home is Cameron. She will go there, and, later, visit in Colorado.

When the Dean family got out everybody made ready to move. The old hotel had guests who have lived there for many years and all have been forced out into the cr-o-o-l world. They are all lamenting the closing and some even have been moved to verse. Here's what Dr. J. W. McClure of Sedalia, a frequent guest for years, left with the cashier when he paid his account yesterday:

Dear old hotel, farewell, farewell;
I leave you now to bat and owl,
And the rodents' night and lonely prowl,
To festive board and gilded hall
Adieu, adieu, farewell to all.

The accompanying $10 note was graciously accepted by the cashier, who charged off the doctor's account and pasted the near-poetry in her scrapbook.

Big Jim Adams of Ardmore, Ok., pays his board and room, of course, but has been looked upon as official entertainer in the lobby of the old hostelry. Adams, who is so great physically that no man dare deny him, declared last night that he would not move until thrown out, and Chief Clerk Randolph graciously invited him to stay as long as he pleased.

But the other regular guests will be seeking homes. For instance, there is Judge Thomas R. Morrow, of the law firm of Lathrop, Morow, Fox & Moore. He has been in the hotel fourteen years. He announced yesterday that his effects would be moved today to the Lorraine.

F. R. Gregg, one of the best-known characters about the lobby of the hotel, hasn't yet found a place to cache his grip. Gregg is a Rock Island engineer, and has lived in the Midland in the same room for ten years.

H. B. Prentice, banker, goes to the Densmore to live, and the other regular guests yesterday followed his lead by seeking new homes. Alexander Butts, a newspaper writer, whose face has been familiar in the lobby, hasn't found a stopping place. Neither has Charlie Lantry nor T. H. Gilroy.

J. A. Fleming of Uncle Sam oil fame, sat dejected at his dinner last night, thinking over the list of possible apartments, and Max Hoffman, the spiritualist, looked just as dejected in another corner of the cafe. He hadn't located either.

L. B. Lamson, the man who invented dairy lunches, and Dr. P. T. Bowen and R. T. Campbell of the "Katy" will go out at daybreak this morning looking for new quarters. The transient guests got cold feet and began to pull out yesterday.

The hotel company has taken care of most of the employes. Thomas B. Bishop goes to the Densmore and T. E. Randolph to the Hotel Baltimore. Miss Barbara Stuber, who has been assistant cashier in the private office, goes to the Royal hotel at Omaha, and John Clemons, A. J. Dean's private cashier, goes to take a similar place at the Hotel Baltimore.

DROWN IN SWOLLEN CREEK. ~ Kansas City Girl and Little Brother Are Among Victims.

May 26, 1908

DROWN IN SWOLLEN CREEK.

Kansas City Girl and Little Brother

Are Among Victims.

TRENTON, MO., May 25. -- (Special.) Mrs. Benjamin King of Brimson, Mo., Miss Anna Coakley, aged 18, and her 5 year old brother, the latter two of Kansas City, were drowned while attempting to cross Sugar creek near Brimson, about 6 o'clock last night. In the carriage were three other persons who escaped, Benjamin King, husband of the drowned woman, and his daughter and grand-daughter. They were attempting to cross the stream, which was swollen by heavy rains, on a low wagon bridge, which was covered with water. Mr. King, who was driving, miscalculated the distance and drove off the bridge. The buggy was washed down stream.

The bodies of Miss Coakley and her brother were recovered with the vehicle. Mrs. King's body has not been recovered.

Mr. King, who is about 60 years old, made a heroic rescue of his daughter and grand-daughter while his wife sank before his eyes. Mr. King is an agent at Brimson for the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City railroad.

Miss Coakley and brother were visiting Mr. and Mrs. King.

FOUNTAIN MAY BE USED. ~ Costly Blunder May Yet Be Turned to Some Account.

May 26, 1908

FOUNTAIN MAY BE USED.

Costly Blunder May Yet Be Turned

to Some Account.

It is the intention of the board of parks commissioners to install a pumping engine in the Paseo bath house, and pump the water into the fountain at Paseo and Fifteenth streets. The excess water will be returned to the bath house, purified and aerated. At yesterday's meeing of the park board an extensively signed communication was received from the women residents of the vicinity of the fountain demanding that the water be turned into it. They said that in the present idle shape the "fountain, instead of being an ornament, is an eyesore."

The estimated cost of the pump is $1,500, and the board will decide at its next meeting if the scheme is practical.

BULGER TAGGED OUT SLIDING TO THIRD. ~ Shinnick's Bunt Put the Father of the "Ladies' Days" Ordinance Out.

May 26, 1908

BULGER TAGGED OUT

SLIDING TO THIRD.

Shinnick's Bunt Put the Father of

the "Ladies' Days" Ordi-

nance Out.

Alderman Miles Bulger never reached the home plate with his resolution, introduced in the lower house, to compel the management of Association ball park to admit women, when accompanied by an escort, free to ball games one afternoon each week. He got as far as third base with his resolution, and there he was tagged out when Alderman Shinnick bunted toward that base. Shinnick's bunt was in the shape of an amendment to compel the management to admit women free to all games, when with a male escort.

"I accept Alderman Shinnick's knock," consented Bulger.

"These whole proceedings look a good deal like a huge joke to me," observed Alderman Pendergast. "Bulger's effort was an amusing skit, but Shinnick has made a farce of it."

Aldermen Pendergast, O'Hearn, Smith and Gilman voted against the passage of the resolution. Alderman Brown would not vote either way, "because he is a married man," and only nine other aldermen voted for it. As it lacked one vote of enough to pass, the resolution was referred to the finance committee.

In the upper house the "ladies' day" resolution fell upon rough roads. In the first place, City Clerk Clough couldnot read it, owing to the irregular way in which the lower house amendments had been interlined. He was not able to decide whether the draft asked for one day a week for women to be admitted free to the ball park, or every day in the week Both ways were in the draft.

"It is a little confusing," said Alderman Steele, following with the usual question: "Has it ben approved as to form by the city counselor?"

"From appearances, I think it must have been approved as to form by the city engineer," responded Alderman Isaac Taylor.

Alderman Bulger came over from the lower house and tried to explain his resolution.

Alderman Edwards asked to have the resolution buried in the box of the insurance patrol. Alderman Eaton fought for a vote. In the end the resolution was saved from the hostile insurance patrol and was sent to the finance committee.

FIREMEN WANT SOME FLOWERS. ~ To Strew on Their Comrades' Graves Decoration Day.

May 26, 1908

FIREMEN WANT SOME FLOWERS.

To Strew on Their Comrades' Graves

Decoration Day.

If there are roses or other flowers blooming in your yard, the firemen ask that you spare some of the blossoms that they may decorate their dead comrades' graves Memorial day. Telephone the operator at fire headquarters, or notify any of the engine houses that you are willing to give flowers and the firemen will gladly come to get them.

The firemen have appointed a committee to gather the blossoms and decorate the graves, and it is urged that those that will help notify some firemen as soon as possible. Memorial day is next Saturday.

MIDLAND CLOSES TO GUESTS. ~ Affairs of This Hostelry Were Practically Wound Up Last Night.

May 25, 1908

MIDLAND CLOSES TO GUESTS.

Affairs of This Hostelry Were Prac-

tically Wound Up Last Night.

The Midland hotel register was officially closed last night at 11 o'clock, but the doors will not be closed until Wednesday and guests now in the house will be allowed to remain until then but no arrivals will be registered. The hotel will be closed to be remodeled into an office building.

T. E. Randolph, chief clerk, will be transferred by the Deans to the Hotel Baltimore, and T. B. Bishop, room clerk, goes to the Densmore as chief clerk. Other employes of the Midland will be taken to the Baltimore hotel and some will be sent to the Connor House at Joplin, a property of the Baltimore Hotel Company.

BOY'S HEAD CUT OFF BY TRAIN OF CARS. ~ Either Rolled Onto Tracks or Fell While Catching Ride in the Burlington Yards.

May 25, 1908

BOY'S HEAD CUT OFF

BY TRAIN OF CARS.

Either Rolled Onto Tracks or Fell

While Catching Ride in the

Burlington Yards.

Mangled beyond recognition, and the head missing, the body of Martin Pretzel, aged 17 years, a son of Joseph Pretzel, and employee of the C. H. Conklin Ice Company, residing at 1657 Washington avenue, was found on the Burlington tracks, directly under the Fourth street viaduct, at 4:30 o'clock yesterday morning by Louis Hommold, a laborer. He reported the discovery to the No. 2 police station. Patrolman James McGraw was sent to make an investigation but could find nothing by which to base the identity of the body and ordered it removed to the Eylar Bros. undertaking establishment.

At noon yesterday the parents of young Pretzel became uneasy about their son's absence, and hearing of the finding of the body investigated. Harvey E. Bailey, a son-in-law residing with the Pretzels, identified the pantaloons as the ones which he had given the boy a short time ago, and the father thought the coat and vest were the same as worn by his son when he left home. Beside the body as it lay on the track, was found a hat which belonged to Lee Ganders of 413 Landis court, the dead boy's companion. The two boys, who worked at neighboring grocery stores, left home after work Saturday night, saying they might go to St. Joseph on a fishing trip.

Lee Ganders reached his home at 4 o'clock yesterday morning, and explained to his mother that he had gone to the Fourth street viaduct with young Pretzel, that from there they had intended catching a train for St. Joseph. While waiting for the train the boys stretched themselves on the ground beside the track and fell asleep.

"About 3:30 o'clock in the morning," continued young Ganders, "I was awakened by the noise made by a passing passenger train. As the cars passed by I missed Pretzel, who had substituted the hat he wore for the one worn by myself. Thinking that he had either caught the train or gone home, I started for my own home."

The inference is that while asleep young Pretzel may have rolled on to the tracks and was run over or he might have attempted to mount one of the platforms of the moving cars and fell under the wheels. No part of the $1 given the deceased by his mother was found in his clothing.

MINISTERS SOAKED DURING AUTO RIDE. ~ Not Enough Cars to Carry All the Presbyterians.

May 24, 1908

MINISTERS SOAKED

DURING AUTO RIDE.

Not Enough Cars to Carry

All the Presbyterians.

Three hundred ministers and commissioners to the 120th general assembly of the Presbyterian church got a soaking yesterday afternoon that was unorthodox to say the least. In less than an hour after they has started on a two-hour automobile ride over the boulevards and through the parks of Kansas City, the rain suddenly fell in torrents and it continued falling for nearly an hour.

This feature of the ride was not according to schedule and neither was that contingency looked for when the start was made from Convention hall. The ministers and commissioners started out without umbrellas or raincoats and many of the automobiles were without hoods so they got a genuine soaking. When the rain first began falling, many of the automobiles deserted the line and made straightway for Convention hall or for the hotel of the commissioners. Others stayed in the line and completed the ride.

On the whole, the plans and arrangements for the automobile ride did not work out as well as the committee had expected. While more than 100 automobiles had been promised, not more than fifty showed up at Convention hall at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. These were speedily filled by the waiting commissioners. Enough tickets had been distributed to fill the number of automobiles expected and consequently there were many disappointed commissioners. Those who were unable to secure seats returned to their hotels.

THESE KEPT DRY.

The "Seeing Kansas City" cars took care of a great number of the commissioners and their wives. Some preferred this ride to the automobiles because of the fact that they were allowed to take the women with them. The cars were sent over the usual route. The automobiles were sent over the most advantageous route in the city. They were headed by guides on motor cycles.

The start was made from Convention hall promptly at 2:30 o'clock. E. M. Clendening was master of ceremonies.

"Are you all ready?" he called down the line.

Shouts assured him they were. The sharp pop-pop of starting motors and the pungent smell of burning gasoline next greeted the ears and nostrils of the ministers and commissioners. Then slowly the line started down Thirteenth street to Grand avenue. The ministers joked each other and the good natured taunts of those left behind were directed at those in automobiles.

"You needn't hold your head so high just because it is your first ride in an automobile," yelled one as a friend disappeared down the street in one of the six cylinder cars.

"Did you never see an automobile before?" asked one commissioner of another who was examining the steering gear of one of the machines.

"I see plenty of them now, if I have never seen them before," returned the friend.

Altogether, it was a good natured and happy bunch of ministers, elders and commissioners that took that ride. They had had two days of strenuous work in the sessions of the assembly, and the afternoon gave opportunity for a general laxity from those arduous duties. William Henry Roberts, the former moderator and now stated clerk; the Rev. B. P. Fullerton and E. M. Clendening occupied the first automobiles.

PICTURE CARDS AND BOOKS.

Post card souvenirs and souvenir books illustrating the parks and boulevards of Kansas City were handed to the commissioners before they stepped into the automobiles. The booklets were given by the park board and besides the illustrations of the parks and boulevards contained some facts and figures concerning the city. These facts and figures were prepared by the Manufacturer's and Merchants' Association. This is the first opportunity that the park board has had of giving these booklets away. The post cards contained this printed message which the recipients were directed to send to their home folks:

Dear Home Folks: Having an enjoyable visit here. Am an honorary member of the Commercial Club's Prosperity Club. The motto is "Look Pleasant, Be Cheerful, Talk Prosperity. Yours --"

FROM LONDON IN ONE WEEK. ~ Letters Posted There on May 16 Received Here Last Night.

May 24, 1908

FROM LONDON IN ONE WEEK.

Letters Posted There on May 16 Re-

ceived Here Last Night.

All previous mail records between the British Isles, the Continent and Kansas City have been broken. Letters bearing the London postmark of Saturday, May 16, were received in the postoffice here last night at 10:30 o'clock. In the same consignment were letters bearing the stamp of Lucerne, Switzerland, of May 14; of Glasgow, Scotland, May 15, and other points in England, Ireland and Scotland of May 16, last Saturday, or just one week from the time they were posted.

This quick time is due to the swift run of the great steamer Lusitania, which made the port of New York Friday morning after a run of four days and twenty hours from the last point of land in the British Isles. The letters received here last night came over on her. There was no doubt at all about that, because many of them were stamped: "Via S. S. Lusitania." One week from London to Kansas City, and Foreman B. F. Kingery, in the distributing department of the postoffice, said last night the letters would have reached here a few hours earlier if they had not been "worked over," that is, sorted out and remailed, in New York.

MATHIAS IS GUARDIAN OF MANY SMALL DOES. ~ PROBATION OFFICER HAS ANOTHER ADDED TO HIS FAMILY.

May 23, 1908

MATHIAS IS GUARDIAN

OF MANY SMALL DOES.

PROBATION OFFICER HAS AN-

OTHER ADDED TO HIS FAMILY.

Girl Who Played Piano for a Ghost

Show Is Also in the Juvenile

Court Because She's

So Nervous.

It would take Dr. E. L Mathias several hours to figure how many miniature John Does and Mary Roes he is the guardian of. And he won't figure the total, but merely tells reports to "cut it out."

Every time a woman brings a foundling into the children's court Judge H. L. McCune, after making some disposition of the child, either leaving it with the foster mother or sending it to the county nursery, appoints Dr Mathias guardian. He got another one yesterday.

An attendant at the McKenzie nursery at 1607 East Ninth street brought the baby into court. It slept serenely, while Judge McCune looked it over and remarked judicially:

"Very pretty baby. Where did you get it?"

"She was left at the nursery along with this letter," replied the attendant, handing the judge a note.

"Andrew, eh? A miss, did you say it was? All right" -- turning to the clerk -- "change the young lady's name from Doe to Andrews. Make her a ward of the court. Dr. Mathias is appointed the guardian. The nursery may keep the -- Miss Andrews as long as the attendants are kind to her."

Then Dr. Mathias did a gallant thing. He gave the baby Christian names in honor of the women of the court: "Helen Agnes Andrews" -- Helen for Mrs. Helen Smith, and Agnes for Mrs. Agnes O'Dell.

"I wonder if that means that Mrs. O'Dell and I will have to buy the Doe baby its clothes," Mrs. Smith whispered.

Mrs. O'Dell followed the nurse and child to the door and gave the baby a farewell pat.

"What color are its eyes?" she asked. "I ought to know, now that she's named after me."

"They're blue yet," replied the nurse.

SHE PLAYED PIANO IN THE GHOST SHOW.

It looked like a story when a girl's mother said she ran away from home rather than take music lessons, and once had climbed on the roof of the house to hide from the music teacher. The reporters had the name and address written down, when "Mother" O'Dell, probation officer, sent this note:

"Ina is a good girl. You must not print her name or address."

There is a touch of sadness in the girl's story, too. Her father left home recently, and as there were five littler ones for her mother to support, Ina remembered her music lessons and went to work as a piano player at the ghost show at Fairmount park. She didn't come home one night, and her mother had her brought into court. She is 16 years old.

"She's a good girl, only she gets nervous," said the mother.

"I'd get nervous myself if I played a piano in a ghost show. Stay away from the park, my girl, and we'll get you a better place to work."

FELL PARALYZED ON THE STREET. ~ Miss Nellie Burns Had No Warning of Coming Affliction.

May 23, 1908

FELL PARALYZED ON THE STREET.

Miss Nellie Burns Had No Warning

of Coming Affliction.

When a young woman fell on Tracy avenue between Eight and Ninth streets about 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, it was at first believed that she had fainted. The ambulance from police headquarters was called, and Dr. W. L. Gist examined her. She had been suddenly paralyzed on her left side. She gave the name of Nellie Burns, 21 years old, and said she lived at 21 South Mill street, Kansas City, Kas. She has been employed at the Swan laundry, 556 Walnut street. She said she felt weak and fell. That was her first intimation of trouble. Miss Burns refused to go to the emergency hospital, and was taken home by a man who had stopped in an automobile.

"It is a most unusual case," said Dr. Gist. "It is not unusual that persons should become suddenly paralyzed, but it is extremely unuual that a young woman 21 years old should be so afflicted.

MAIL FROM BRITISH ISLES IN ONE WEEK. ~ LUSITANIA'S FAST TIME MAKES THIS RECORD POSSIBLE.

May 23, 1908

MAIL FROM BRITISH

ISLES IN ONE WEEK.

LUSITANIA'S FAST TIME MAKES

THIS RECORD POSSIBLE.

Pouches Which Left London Last

Saturday Are Due Here

at 6 o'clock Today --

A New Record.

Considerable interest is manifested in the postoffice over the chances of getting the Lusitania's mails in at 5:30 tonight. If this is done, it will be the first time one Saturday's British post has got this far West by the following Saturday.

"I think it will be managed," said Postmaster J. H. Harris yesterday, after consulting his schedules. "The Lusitania made the port of New York at 3 o'clock this morning, giving her five hours to transfer her mails. Those mails left for the West at 8 o'clock this morning. They are due in this postoffice at 5:50 Saturday afternoon. It will be a record for trans-Atlantic pouches."

American mails from England, Scotland, and Wales have an exciting time of it. They may not start from the big centers, such as London, Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham, Nottingham, where the curtains are made; Edinburgh or Glasgow till the very hour that the steamers are sailing from Liverpool, yet they catch the boat. While the ship is making her way down the Irish channel leisurely, so as to get off Cork harbor, for the Queenstown passengers, in daylight, as those passengers go out to the liner on board a small tender, the mails are rushed to Liverpool by fast trains, hurried directly over the comparatively narrow channel to Dublin, and then sent South as fast as trains can rush them.

In this manner they get to Queenstown before the tender shoves off to steam out to the big liner. On arriving at this side fast tugs meet the liner about ten miles down the bay from New York. The mails are thrown overboard to the tugs and these little vessels, able to make short cuts over shallow places and dodge in and about shipping, have the mails either in the general postoffice at New York or on the Western bound trains long before the liner is docked. In that way it is expected that mails which left London last Saturday at 6 o'clock in the evening may reach here tonight at about the same hour.

SARAH MORASCH IS GUILTY OF MURDER. ~ CONVICTED OF POISONING A 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

May 22, 1908

SARAH MORASCH IS

GUILTY OF MURDER.

CONVICTED OF POISONING A

4-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

Sent Poisoned Candy by Mail to Ella

Miller, Who Did Not Eat It Be-

cause It Was Bitter -- Her

Sister Was Killed.

Mrs. Sarah Morasch must spend the remainder of her life in the Kansas penitentiary for the murder of her 4-year-old niece, Ruth Miller. The jury which heard the evidence in Mrs. Morasch's second trial reached a verdict of guilty at 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The case had been on trial since May 4. There was no verdict in the first trial.

When the verdict was read Mrs. Morasch held her usual composure, and merely laughed.

The case went to the jury at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, and from the first ballot to the one which settled the fate of Mrs. Morasch the jurors stood eleven to one for conviction. At noon yesterday George E. Horn, foreman of the jury, asked for the testimony of Charles Miller, father of the dead girl. A few minutes later a knock was heard on the door of the jury room. "We have agreed," said Foreman Horn, and the twelve jurors filed in the court room and took their seats.

On the afternoon of February 13, the Miller children were in their home, 634 Cheyenne avenue, Armourdale. A knock was heard on the door and the postman, Henry T. Keener, handed Ella Van Meter, better known as Ella Miller, a package weighing about a pound. It was wrapped in white paper and bore the inscription: "Ella Miller, 634 Cheyenne avenue, Armourdale. A knock was heard on the door and the postman, Henry T. Keener, handed Ella Van Meter, better known as Ella Miller, a package weighing about a pound. It was wrapped in white paper and bore the inscription: "Ella Miller, 634 Cheyenne avenue, corner of Cheyenne & Packard avenues. From the S. & S. girls."

The box was opened, and found to contain a pound of chocolate candy, which she says tasted bitter, and gave some to the other children who gathered around her.

A few minutes later Ruth, who had eaten more of the candy than the rest, was seized with cramps while playing in the back yard, and was taken into the house. She died before the nearest physician, Dr. Zacharia Nason, who lived a block distant, could be summoned. He pronounced the death as due to strychnine poisoning.

The fact that Mrs. Sarah Morasch bore a grudge against Ella Miller, who had once laughed at he, and that immediately after the little girl's death, she had gone to Harrisonville, Mo., caused suspicion to be directed to her. She was arrested at the Missouri town.

The testimony of handwriting experts was a strong factor in the conviction.

ALDERMAN BULGER'S LATEST. ~ Will Try to Force a Ladies' Day at the Ball Park.

May 22, 1908

ALDERMAN BULGER'S LATEST.

Will Try to Force a Ladies' Day at

the Ball Park.

Sing, hey! for the gallant alderman, Miles Bulger. He's going to force George Tebeau to set aside one day a week at Association park when women baseball "bugs" shall be admitted free. Alderman Miles is nothing if not gallant. Besides, a good many wives of the Fourth ward voters are followers of the great national pastime and their husbands are growing weary of putting up 50 cents for them to see the home team beaten. Hence, Bulger to the rescue. The alderman will introduce an ordinance in the lower house of the council next Monday night requiring that at least one day a week be set aside for free admission for women at the ball park.

Whether the council has authority to compel Tebeau to grant this boon to the women fans is not known in the Fourth ward. If it hasn't Alderman Bulger may take his measure to the state legislature position. He's going to get the women past the turnstiles one day a week free or know the reason why. Incidentally, he will try to force the ball park license tax up to $250 a year. It is $50 a year now.

CLUB WOMEN PLAN OUTING FOR THE POOR CHILDREN.~ Fifteen Organizations to Give Them a Day in the Woods at Swope Park.

May 22, 1908

CLUB WOMEN PLAN OUTING

FOR THE POOR CHILDREN.

Fifteen Organizations to Give Them

a Day in the Woods at

Swope Park.

Mrs. Henry N. Ess, state chairman of the philanthropy committee of the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs, has received the indorsement of the Second district executive committee to give the children of the poor of Kansas City an outing of one day at Swope park.

Mrs. Ess presented her plans at the recent meeting in this city of the Second District Federation, composed of the counties of Platte, Carroll, Clay, Jackson, Ray, Lafayette, Cass and Johnson. Jackson is represented by the following fifteen federated clubs, all of which are enthusiastic over the plan for a children's club day at Swope: Anthenaeum, Central Study, South Prospect, Every Other Week, Bancroft, Ruskin, Tuesday Morning Study Class, Women's Reading Club, History and Literature, Alternate Tuesday Club, Council of Jewish Women, Magazine, Portia, Clionian and Keramic.

Nor is the movement confined to only federated clubs, but all women's clubs of the city are invited to join in celebrating and making a success of the big picnic for the juvenile poor of this city on Saturday, June 13.

Th membership of these clubs will aggregate 1,000 members and each woman has been asked to pledge herself to take at least two children from the poorer districts of the city, out to Kansas City's open country show place, Swope park, and give them an outing in the green fields. Each woman is to provide the lunch and entertainment for her little charges and is to give them her personal attention all day, and plan for their enjoyment. It will mean that several thousand children will make merry June 13 at their first attendance of a real "open" session of a woman's club.

All children ranging in ages from 6 to 12 years old will be eligible to this treat until the proper number has been reached, the assignment of two children to each club woman.

The event promises to be not only an exceptional treat for unfortunate children of this city, but will demonstrate the practical possibilities of the woman club movement, which reaches out and beyond the mere delving into Isben, Browning or Shakespeare, and shows the real good which can be accomplished by Kansas City's bright women when they take a notion to do a thing.

TOOK MORE THAN A TOOTHFUL. ~ Schoolboy Disregarded Mother's Directions in Use of Carbolic Acid.

May 22, 1908

TOOK MORE THAN A TOOTHFUL.

Schoolboy Disregarded Mother's Di-

rections in Use of Carbolic Acid.

Lloyd Thomas, 11 years old, 2035 East Thirty-fifth street, was told by his mother to put some carbolic acid in the cavity of an aching tooth. That was about 8:30 a. m Tuesday. Lloyd had never used that drug before and knew nothing of its potency.

Lloyd, instead of trying to put a drop into the cavity, turned up the bottle and filled his mouth with the acid. It burned so that he swallowed it. Presently he became unconscious and the family became alarmed. Dr. W. A. Shelton, who lives lose by at 3435 Brooklyn avenue, was summoned and gave the boy a powerful antidote, not before his throat and esophagus had been badly burned by the acid, however. Yesterday the boy was better, but is not yet out of danger. He is the son of Robert Thomas, a real estate man. Lloyd is a school boy.

THEY WHITTLE THEIR DESKS. ~ Boys With Knives Have Defaced 3,000 in Public Schools.

May 22, 1908

THEY WHITTLE THEIR DESKS.

Boys With Knives Have Defaced

3,000 in Public Schools.

Even in these days of scientific school discipline the boy with the jack knife is still active, and as a consequence the shool board last night instructed the secretary to ask for bids for 3,000 new desks to replace the old ones which have been defaced by the enthusiastic small boy with his new Christmas knife.

Bids for teachers' tables, chairs and stools will be asked at the same time.

GAME LEG SPOILED HIS FUN. ~ Fireman Says He Can't Dance in Time With It.

May 22, 1908

GAME LEG SPOILED HIS FUN.

Fireman Says He Can't Dance in

Time With It.

"I used to go to all the dances, but I can't hit a lick with my game leg. The last dance I attended was in Lamar in the winter of 1907. I was so awkward that I couldn't get a partner. So I quit for good."

J. B. McQuillen told this to a jury in Judge E. E. Porterfield's division of the circuit court yesterday afternoon. McQuillen was a locomotive fireman for the Kansas City Southern until February 24, 1906, when his hip was crushed while he was at work. He is suing for $10,000.

TO BUILD NEW OFFICE BLOCK. ~ Will Be Seven Story Structure at Twelfth and Main.

May 21, 1908

TO BUILD NEW OFFICE BLOCK.

Will Be Seven Story Structure at

Twelfth and Main.

A real estate transaction involving the building of a new seven-story modern store and office building at the north-west corner of Twelfth and Main streets was consummated yesterday afternoon. James W. Pennock of Syuracuse, N. Y., owner of the Pennock building at Twelfth and Main streets, leased the property to James O'Reilly, president of the Owl Drug Company, for a period of ninety-nine years at a net rental of $26,000 per year. The property has a frontage of twenty-four feet ten inches on Main street and 130 feet on the north side of Twelfth street.

As a part of the consideration, O'Reilly agrees to replace the four-story building now occupying the property with a modern seven-story office building. Six small stores on the first floor and in the basement will front on Main and Twelfth streets. The second will be devoted to business offices, while the four upper floors will be especially equipped for doctors and dentists. The architect is Lewis Curtis, who was architect for the Baltimore hotel.

Until recently Pennock and Curtis engaged to plan the building with the idea of retaining it himself, but the negotiations for a long lease were closed late yesterday afternoon.