Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-03-08
THE WOUNDED BIRDS FLUTTER.
nnnoidara hln cnn ato rms fion haa ham

NOuDluOb oOAO OOuDtCA hottOh AAoo OSSo
caused among the ahti-prohibition
class of our citizens the past few days
by O court of inquisition set up by
county attorney G. d. Ashley and his
deputy Sam'l H. Smith before which
q number of Baxter citizens have been
called to testify with regard to their
knowledge of Intoxicating liquors be-
ing sold In this city. We understand
Mr.. Ashley has conducted similar ex-
aminations recently in Weir City and
Galena. The purpose is to indict vio-
lators Of the prohibitory law of Kan
sas for trial In the district court.
County Attorney Ashley is proceed
Ing under paragraph 2543 Of the gen.
eral statutes of 1889 which makes 1t
his duty, when notified of violation
of the law, 10 inquire into the facts by
issuing q subpoena for such persons as
he may believe have any knowledge
Of such violation to appear before him
to testify. The testimony shall be re-
duced to writing and signed by the
witness as in taking depositions In
civil cases. II the testimony shall
disclose the fact that an offense has
been committed the county attorney
shall file such statement and his COM
plant in Q court Of competent juris-
diction, whereupon warrant shall Is
sue for the arrest of the persons named
In snch information, and shall com.
mand the officer to seize any and all
intoxicating liquors, bottles, ETC., in
possession of such person and safely
keep the same subject to the order Of
the court; II the person be convicted
then the court shall order, besides the
other penalties prescribed, that the said
officers shall publicly destroy all such
property used and employed for such
illegal purpose. Upon conviction the
smallest penalty that can be assessed is
q fine OF 500 and thirty days i'm.
prisonment in the county Jail upon
each count.
Up to Thursday evening thirty-si
witnesses had been examined includ.
ing o number Of persons who come
under the head Of "leading citizens"
The testimony taken is of course not
to be made public yet, but we UNDER
stand from several of the parties "wh0
have been there" that some evidence
Of very damaging character was
given, in consequence of which there
bave been several sudden departures
Of ,petsUus doubtless more or less In
terested since Tuesday last.
The anti-prohibitioBisfs naturally
censure Mr.. Ashley quite strongly for
his action In the matter, but II they
will take the trouble to read the law
they will zee that it is his duty, and
the law says he shall do this whenever
violations of the law are brought to
his notice. The way to remedy the
trouble is not by blaming the proper
officers for enforcing the law, but by
removing the law If it be obnoxious.
So long % It remains in effect we say
enforce it the same as other laws, then
its obnoxious parts will be the more
apparent and q remedy more easily
suggested or secured.
The examinations cannot but result
in 0 large amount of bitterness and
Ill feeling between the temperance and
anti.pr0hibition classes here, whether
any convictions result or not, but by q
strict observance Of the law on the
part of everyone all Of 1t might have
been avoided.