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August 31, 1908

BUSY DAY AT FAIRMOUNT.

Biggest Sunday Crowd of the Season

There Yesterday.

There was a large attendance at Fairmount park yesterday, the largest since the Fourth of July. Everything at the park was busy. Graham, the "human fish," gave his last performances at the park yesterday afternoon, and last night. In his act, Graham ate, smoked and drank while under water, enclosed in a large glass-tank. He also gave an exhibition of the actions of a drowning person.

Wheeler's band played two interesting programmes. In the music was that of the "Girl Question" which opens the season at the Grand theater.

The bathing beach is a popular place with park visitors, and the fishing in the big lake is the very best.

Labels: daredevils, fairmount park, fishing, music

August 30, 1908

HAMILTON IS SOUGHT

IN WESTERN STATES.

REWARD OFFERED FOR ESCAPED

MURDERER.

May Have Been Aided, Is the Belief

of the Police, -- Good

Description Is

Given.

All the Western states are being flooded with cards containing a picture and full description of Ira Earl Hamilton, a deserter from the United States army, suspected of the murder here of George W. Pickle, a 17-year-old boy, June 20.

Hamilton is 28 years old, 5 feet 10 1/2 inches tall, and weighs 155 or 160 pounds. He has dark brown hair, blue eyes and fair complexion. A distinctive feature in identifying him would be his slightly stooped position when walking. His neck is slightly "duked," and to add to the intensity of the stooped position, he has an unusually broad and long chin.

As soon as Detectives J. L. Ghent and "Lum" Wilson were put on the case, July 4, they arrested Hamilton. He remained in jail here ten days, but had to be released because the body of Pickle had not at that time been found. He was turned over to the military authorities at Ft. Leavenworth as a deserter and succeeded in making his escape from there in about two weeks.

While in the prison there Hamilton wrote to his aunt, Mrs. Lizzie Brownell, 103 West Fourteenth street, and upbraided her for making a statement in the Pickle case which was clearly against him. His letters, two of them, were threatening and he stated in one of them: "Remember this -- I can get away from this place any day I want to. The police have reason to believe that he was aided in his escape. It was Mrs. Brownell's aged mother who recently identified the piece of iron pipe found near where Pickle's body was discovered as having once been the property of Hamilton. He was a structural iron worker, and she said she saw it in his tool chest.

Labels: detectives, Fourteenth street, Leavenworth, murder, prison

August 30, 1908

HISGEN AND HEARST SEPT. 19.

Convention Hall Engaged for Joint

Meeting of Independence Party.

Thomas L. Hisgen, presidential candidate on the Independence party ticket, and William R. Hearst will be the principle speakers at the joint meeting of Western Missouri and Kansas adherents to be held at Convention hall September 19. J. L. Woods Merrill, national committeeman and chairman of the state committee of the Independence party, received a telegram yesterday assuring him that both Mr. Hearst and Mr. Hisgen will be here.

It is expected that many hundreds of persons inclined to the views of Mr. Hearst will come here for the occasion. Elaborate preparations have been made for the occasion.

Labels: Convention Hall, politics

August 30, 1908

MRS. D. B. KIRK JR.

WRECKS POOL HALL

HER FATHER-IN-LAW IS FORE-

MAN OF GRAND JURY.

CATCHES HUSBAND GAMBLING

THROWS BALLS THROUGH MIR-

RORS AND WINDOWS.

David B. Kirk, Sr., Captures Cards

and Chips, and She Sweeps Up

$5 Bill -- All Held as Evidence.

Wondering what attraction her husband found to keep him down town until the wee small hours of the morning, Mrs. David Kirk, Jr., 3120 Euclid avenue, daughter-in-law of David B. Kirk, foreman of the grand jury, started an investigation which culminated last Thursday night in her wrecking a pool hall located at 715 Central street after she discovered her husband in a rear room playing poker.

For some time Mrs. Kirk had been disturbed in mind because her husband had begun to keep late hours and could not give to her any satisfactory reasons for his so doing. A week ago five men were arrested by Detectives Robert Phelan and Scott Godley, who charged them with gambling. In some mysterious way Mrs. Kirk heard that her husband was one of the men, as did also his father in law, David B. Kirk, foreman of the grand jury. When taxed with being arrested Kirk, Jr., denied it to his wife, and she asked the assistance of her father-in-law.

The son was called into the father's office and denied that he had been arrested, but admitted that a friend had been caught gambling in a raid that detectives made on the pool hall and that he had gone to the station and deposited $17 bond for his friend.

David B. Kirk, 3217 Montgall avenue, foreman of the grand jury, was at his desk in his office in the M. K. & T. building about 7 o'clock last evening when he received a telephone call from his daughter-in-law. She said that her husband was not at home and that she was worried about him. She finally left her home, 3120 Euclid avenue, and went to Mr. Kirk's office. He talked to her and endeavored to pacify her and then they started home. She suggested that they stroll down to the suspected pool hall and see if David, Jr., was there. Mr. Kirk said last night that the pool hall was brilliantly lighted, the billiard balls racked, but the room was empty.

SHE CAUGHT THEM AT IT.

Mrs. Kirk refused to be satisfied. She opened the door and walked in. A door at one end of the room led to another beyond. The glass panels were painted white and it was impossible to see what was behind them. Mr. Kirk and his daughter-in-law could hear men's voices, the clicking of chips and the shuffling of cards. She knocked on the inside door as it was locked. A man partly opened it, probably expecting to see another poker player to join the crowd, and that act led to the wrecking of the hall later on.

Mr. Kirk succeeded in getting her foot between the door and the jamb, and, assisted by Mr. Kirk, Sr., she pushed the door open. Inside was her husband and four or five other men. They had attempted to conceal all evidence of the gambling that was going on in the room, but overlooked one $5 bill A man remarked that the money belonged to him, but was surprised as the rest when Mrs. Kirk picked up the bill and said he had evidently made a mistake. She placed the money in her chatelaine bag. Mr. Kirk got some poker chips and cards as evidence.

SHE SMASHES THINGS.

Fearing that the commotion would attract a crowd, Mr. Kirk took his son's wife and started to leave the building. As the two went through the pool hall Mrs. Kirk's anger arose beyond control, and the red and white ivory balls seemed to drive her frantic. Rushing to one of the tables she picked up the balls and began throwing them through the mirrors in the room. Exhausting the supply of balls on the first table she quickly gathered up those on the table next to it and finished all the mirrors in the hall.

Going from one table to another the now enraged woman scooped up the little ivories and pasted them through the plate glass windows and out into the street. After she had thrown every everything she could handle she consented to leave. Mr. Kirk, her father-in-law, says they went to Eighth street and endeavored to find a policeman, but not a sight of one they could catch. Down one block and up another street the two people walked, hunting, searching and looking for a minion of the law, but in vain.

TELL IT TO THE GRAND JURY.

Just as Mr. Kirk, Sr., was calling the grand jury into session Friday morning he was informed that there was an urgent telephone call for him. He answered it and, last night, he said that his son was at the other end of the wire. Young Kirk told his father that Charles W. Prince, owner of the pool hall, was in his office and desired to know what reparation he intended to make for the damage of furniture and building resulting from his wife's actions. The young man wanted his father to tell him what to do. "Mr. Prince wants to talk to you," said the son. The father stated last night that he answered by saying: "If Mr. Prince wants to talk to me, he'll have to do the talking before the grand jury. That was the last Kirk, Sr. heard of Prince. It is not likely that that will be the last Prince will hear of Kirk, Sr., or of the grand jury, either.

When asked what action would be taken by him, Mr. Kirk, Sr., stated that he had called the prosecuting attorney into the grand jury room and told the whole story, shielding no one, asking no mercy for anyone.

Asked if an indictment would be returned by the grand jury against anyone for either gambling or keeping a gambling house, Mr. Kirk stated that the prosecuting attorney had informed the grand jury that Mr. Kirk had not secured enough evidence against anyone to make a conviction in the criminal court. The money, the cards, the chips, the table with its green cloth and white covering were not sufficient evidence, the prosecuting attorney told them. According to Mr. Kirk, to secure a conviction the state would have to have witnesses who could testify that they had seen the men gambling.

David B. Kirk, Jr., is 32 years of age. He is a millers' agent.

Labels: billiards, Central street, detectives, Eighth street, Euclid avenue, gambling, grand jury, Montgall avenue, women

August 29, 1908

SAYS ASSAILANT

USED CLOROFORM.

MRS. W. A. JOHNSON TELLS OF

ATTEMPT ON HER LIFE.

WOKE WITH PAPER OVER FACE.

THEN SHE WAS STRUCK AND

KNEW NO MORE.

Weapon Used by Her Assailant Is

Found -- The Woman Is Dying,

but May Make Fur-

ther Statement.

Mrs. William A. Johnson, Buckner, Mo., who was struck in her bedchamber on the night of August 20 by an unknown person, became conscious yesterday morning. In the afternoon she made a statement which throws much light upon the attempted assasination. Several discoveries were also made during the day which will aid the authorities in their search.

"When I awoke," said Mrs. Johnson, "I had a drowsy sensation. At the same time I was conscious of a newspaper over my face. A strange smell was in the room. I tried to get up, and succeeded far enough to see that t here was a light in the room. Then all became blank.

"I do not know who struck me, but I have my suspicions."

The attending physician said last night that Mrs. Johnson's rally was only a temporary one and that she might die at any moment.

The weapon with which Mrs. Johnson is supposed to have been struck has been found. It is a piece of lead weighing about three and a half pounds, shaped like a cartridge, three and a half inches long and one and a half inches wide. Its size corresponds with the shape of the wound on Mrs. Johnson's head.

A bottle of chloroform, two-thirds empty, was found in the drawer of a dresser which those familiar with the house say was used only by Johnson himself.

"I did not know that there was a bottle of chloroform in the house," said Mrs. Johnson.

Additional proof that the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson was unhappy was furnished yesterday when it was discovered that about six months ago Mrs. Johnson consulted an attorney in this city with a view of getting a divorce from her husband. After talking to the lawyer she decided not do to so.

Johnson spent most of the day in Kansas City yesterday, accompanied by Whig Keshlear, a speciall officer, who had been detailed to guard him. In case Mrs. Johnson should die papers charging Johnson with murder in the first degree have been prepared and will be served at once. In that case the preliminary hearing will be held the day fter the funeral before Justice James Adams in Buckner.

County Prosecutor I. B. Kimbrell is holding himself in readiness to go to Buckner and take the dying statement of Mrs. Johnson.

Labels: Buckner, Prosecutor Kimbrell, violence, women

August 29, 1908

STATE OFFERS REWARD FOR

EARL HAMILTON.

Deserter Is Believed to Have Mur-

dered George Pickle, Whose Body

Was Found in River.

Governor Joseph W. Folk yesterday offered a reward of $200 for the arrest and conviction of Ira Earl Hamilton, the deserter from the United States army, who is believed to have killed George W. Pickle in a swampy place near the mouth of the Blue river on June 20. The reward stands good for one year from the date.

On June 20, Pickle, who was only 17 years old, left his home at 1429 Summit street with Hamilton, 28 years old, ostensibly in a search of work. Five days later a body was found in the underbrush near the mouth of the Blue. Hamilton, who at that time was not suspected, was sent a few days later to see if he could identify the body. He reported that it was the body of a negro, 35 years old.

At the point where the body lay had been several feet of backwater during the flood. Trees and brush grew thick and neither the body nor the clothing could have floated away. Near there detectives found a piece of gas pipe about one foot long. It had been cut with a machine which crushed the ends together. The pipe was yesterday identified by a woman who lives at the home of Hamilton's aunt. She said she had often seen it among his tools. He is a constructural iron worker.

Hamilton was arrested shortly after the boy disappeared, but at that time Pickle's body had not been found. Hamilton was turned over to the military prison at Fort Leavenworth to serve time as a deserter. He succeeded in making his escape from there in less than a month. Prosecutor I. B. Kimbrell says he has a strong case against Hamilton.

Labels: Blue river, flood, Governor Folk, Leavenworth, military, murder, Prosecutor Kimbrell, Summit street

August 29, 1908

LABORERS WANT MORE MONEY.

Fire and Water Board Will Hear

Their Demand.

"Why didn't you come to the board thirty days ago and ask for a raise in wages and not wait until a new commission is to take over the control of the waterworks a week hence?" asked R. L. Gregory, president of the board of public works, yesterday of a delegation of waterworks laborers that asked that their pay be raised from $1.75 to $2 a day.

"We didn't suppose there was any hurry, that the campaign promises of both Crittenden and Gregory to raise our wages stood good for any old time," replied the spokesman of the party.

"I have no recollection of making any such declarations in the campaign," said Mr. Gregory, "but if I did you can bet I'll stand by them if there is any merit to your demands."

The proposal was passed up to the fire and water board, which will formally organize under the new charter next Thursday.

Labels: Mayor Crittenden, politics, public works, Robert Lee Gregory

August 29, 1908

IS MISSING NEW YORKER HERE?

Detectives Are Looking For F. D. S.

Bethune, Believed to Be Demented.

Faneuil D. S. Bethune, a prominent New York lawyer, who has been missing from his residence since last Saturday, is believed to have come to Kansas City and local detectives are looking for him.

Mrs. Bethune is prostrated at the Auditorium in Chicago, where she has been ill since she ended a fruitless search for her husband in that city. A reward of $1,000 has been offered for information which will lead to the finding of Mr. Bethune, dead or alive.

Bethune left New York last Saturday to go to Buffalo on legal business. He had been engaged in arduous legal work for nearly three years without taking a vacation and when he called his wife over the long distance telephone from Buffalo Sunday night, she noticed something strange in his manner of speaking to her and spent a restless night. The next day she asked aid in her search for her husband. Information to the effect that Bethune had talked from a telephone station in New York instead of at Buffalo led to the discovery that he had not gone there. It is thought he first went to Chicago and later started for Kansas City.

Labels: attorney, Chicago, detectives, missing, telephone

August 28, 1908

JOHNSON WITH HIS WIFE.

Attending Physician Believes Woman

Can't Live Much Longer.

Guarded by detectives William A. Johnson was taken from the county jail yesterday morning to his home near Buckner, where his wife, who was assaulted several weeks ago, is in a precarious condition. Word was received yesterday that Mrs. Johnson was expected to live but a few hours and the authorities decided to allow Johnson, who had been arrested and charged with making the felonious assault, to be at his wife's bedside. He is being watched by Detectives Whig Keshlear, W. E. Brown and Candless. When he arrived at his home Johnson did not show any outward signs of nervousness and did not break down as was expected he would do.

Dr. N. D. Ravenscraft stated last night that while he believed Mrs. Johnson would live throughout the night he did not hope for her recovery.

Labels: Buckner, doctors, violence

August 28, 1908

BRYAN SAYS HE'LL

CARRY MISSOURI.

TOLD IT TO W. S. COWHERD, CAN-

DIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

The Secret Was Imparted During the

Stimulus of an Appetizing

Breakfast at Hotel Bal-

timore Yesterday.

William Jennings Bryan thinks he is going to carry Missouri. He told W. S. Cowherd, Democratic candidate for governor, so yesterday morning at breakfast, at the Hotel Baltimore. He breakfasted with Mr. Cowherd and Mayor T. T. Crittenden, Jr., and then went his way to Topeka, where he had a speaking engagement.

Many Missouri politicians wished to get a talk with Mr. Bryan, but the presidential candidate didn't have much time to spare and all the politicians got was a handshake and a promise to "see you later" -- for Mr. Bryan was in a hurry to catch his train and make his speech at Topeka.

The presidential candidate told Mr. Cowherd that he believes more in Missouri than he ever did, and expects the state to go for h im this fall by a bigger vote than ever. Mr. Bryan didn't say anything about trying to aid in pacifying Dave Ball and did not delve into national politics at all, his only political suggestion being that Missouri will be for him stronger than ever.

Mr. Bryan came in yesterday morning at 7:30 o'clock from St. Louis. With him were a regiment of newspaper correspondents and Theodore M. Bell of California, who was temporary chairman of the Denver convention.

Mr. Cowherd and Mayor Crittenden had been notified the night before that the presidential candidate would spend a few hours here and they met him at the Union depot and took him to the Hotel Baltimore for breakfast.

Mr. Bryan, who had lost his purse, negotiated a loan frfom the mayhor of Kansas City, that he might get to Topeka, but the Pullman porter returned his purse of yellow-backed $20 at the depot and the loan was cancelled.

Labels: Hotel Baltimore, Mayor Crittenden, politics, railroad, Topeka, union station

August 28, 1908

IT'S NOW A LAW.

Police Will Arrest All Who Make

Unnecessary Noise.

The ordinance of Alderman J. E. Logan preventing the making of unnecessary noises was signed by Mayor Crittenden, Jr., yesterday. The provisions apply to vehicles, operated by electricity and horses only, and provide a penalty for the use of siren whistles on automobiles and bicycles, and loud, piercing bells on street cars. It also provides that the only time of year when strings of bells can be attached to sleighs or vehicles is when there is snow on the ground.

Contrary to general belief the ordinance does not apply to barking dogs and loud lunged hucksters. There are already laws in force covering these two nuisances, but not enforced by the police.

Labels: animals, automobiles, Kansas City council, Mayor Crittenden, streetcar