The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-23
THE RUMHOLES SHUT.
Capt. Gish Can Close the Joints
and He Has,
FOR WHICH LET Us BIZ THANKFUL.
H He Will Keep Them Closed He rs
Entitled to the Moral support OF the
Good People OF Topeka.

Police Captain Peter Gish called at the
STATE JOURNAL office about 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and complained that
the STATE JOURNAL was without cause
making it very unpleasant for him, and
that he wanted to talk the matter over.
and find out why the JOURNAL continued
its attacks upon him. Mr.. Gish was
informed that this paper regarded the
manner of conducting the police depart
ment as too loose and careless. The
number of joints and disorderly houses
was on the increase, and certain quar-
tiers of town had already begun to be no
torious on account of it. The defense
was made that the county officials had
not been doing their duty, and this made
1t impossible for the police to suppress
lawbreakers. Later in the evening it was
reported about the streets that the joints
were all being closed on the orders of
Capt Gish- A reporter visiting him
found that the police captain had deter
mined to close up all the liquor law vio-
lators.
By this action Captain Gish proves to
be fact what has been denied again
and again, that they have the power to
control the immoral and criminal ele-
ment of the city.
Captain Gish knows the location of all
the clubs, and is familiar with their
methods as is shown by the fact that in
a few hours he visited eleven places and
ordered their keepers to close up, aud he
received assurance that they would obey
his instructions.
If Captain Gish can close the clubs in
one day he can surely keep them closed;
or at least make his enforcement of the
law so interesting for the clubmen and
Jointists that they would be glad to go
out of business.
To the JOURNAL reporter Capt Gish
said he ordered all the clubs closed ex-
cept the three which have been enioined
by the county attorney. These three be-
ing the places kept by Nick ChiIds, John
Collingsworth and Peter Schaffer.
The captain then gave the reporter the
list of clubs he ordered closed, which in
Guided the following:
Ben Jordans place on Railroad street,
North Topeka.
Guy Pier, over the Rock Island restau-
rant, on lower Kansas avenue.
Wilson. brick building on Kansas ave-
nue., between First and Crane street.
Chris Smith, east side of Kansas ave-
nue. between Second and Third streets.
Al Hayslip, east side of Kansas avenue
between Third and Fourth street.
Schlusher's place on Quincy street be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets.
Club on East Sixth street between
Quincy and Kansas avenue, over Klinga-
mans drug store.
Club on Fifth street near Santa Fe
depot.
Clements place in Booge's Flats
Big Jim McHenry's club on East First |
street
Captain Gish said he could not remem
Der the exact location of some of the |
places to describe them, but that he /
could go to them without difficulty. He /
also said he did not know the names of /
some of the club keepers.
In addition to the list given Captain |
Gish said be went to another club in the |
Heery building on Third street, but that |
it was closed when he was there and he |
did not see the proprietors.
Police Commissioner Whiting. when |
asked about the sudden reformatory
measures of Captain Gish said mo,
the commissioners have issued no recent |
order for the closing of the clubs, but
the pol ce have had orders since away
back to close up everything and keep all
the places closed to every possible de-
gree"
If they had orders from "away back"
why didn't the commissioners see that
that their orders were enforced before
this. Is it true that the police force
pays no attention to orders from the
police commissioners until it gets ready
TO?
1--WE have tried for several months"
continued Mr.. Whiting, ITO get the coun-
ty officials to unite with us and take
some concerted action in this matter of
closing the clubs, but until now we have
been unable to do anything. Several
weeks ago we consulted the sheriff and
he informed US that the county attorney
Harry Stafford, would not do ANYTHING
until after primaries, and now that the
primaries are over, we are trying to
do something. Captain Gish now has
made an agreement with the county at
torney and the two departments will
work together in the matter 1t was ON
account of his agreement with Harry
Stafford that Captain Gish ordered fha |
places closed at this time"
In whatever way they have fixed mn
The matter, the people of Topeka are to
be congratulated that the joints are shut
and in so far as Captain Gish is respon-
sible for it, he is entitled to credit But
f he can close them up one day. he can
close them up all the year round. and we
shall look to him to do il
There are longer but no better roads