The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-28
BLACK FOR GAINES.
Entirely Too Bloodthlrsty For the
Topeka Police Force.
THE RECORD OF DEAD AND DYING

with sucn Understanding vlgor on
men aud women alike in the Russian
settlement in North Topeka, has no bus
mess on the metropolitan police for ce.
Policeman Gaines has only been a
regular policeman two months, but in
that short time he has clearly exhibited
total lack of fitness for the position of
policeman. He should never have been
made patrolman.
The first time Patrolman Gaines came
into public notice was when he
for r B. Welch during the entire
administration of Mr.. Welch as coun-
ty attorney. His work was fairly well
done for that kind of work.
During the time that Gaines was act
ing as spotter for County Attorney WEIGH
he and ex-Justice of the Peace j. G. Sal
yer were also the Topeka correspondents
of the Kansas City Sunday Sun.
On account of an article sent to the
Sunday Sun by Gaines he was arrested
on charge of criminal libel on COM
plant of Fred Deppe. an old soldier, who
lives in North Topeka.
The article in question reflected on the
character of Mr. Deppe and he wanted
Gaines prosecuted County Attorney
WeIch would not prosecute the man who
was keeping him posted on the joints
and dives and Mr.. Deppe was compelled
to hiresan attorney to bring the case
against Gaines in the district court.
It was proven in the district court that
Gaines was the correspondent of the
Sunday Sun and that he was responsible
for the article rejecting on Mr. Deppe
and the jury returned verdict of Grim
inal libel.
For some not very clear reason Gaines
was never taken before Judge Guthrie
for sentence, and on that account he en-
tirely escaped punishment for his Of
Tense.
When the present police force
was organized there were SO
many political appointments made
that Chief of Police John NJ.
Wilkerson insisted having a few
men who were acquainted with the dives
he was expected to close and Gaines was
given work as a special detective. At
this work he was useful. About two
months ago when John Lowe resigned
the police commissioners elected Gaines
to place as a regular patrolman.
Chairman P /. Bonebrake ofthe board
of police comm issioners when asked
about the appointment of Gaines said:
"He is a regular appointed patroIman
and has been for about two months. The
reason he appears so prominent is that
he is the man the chief keeps about him
!
was in the Russian affair but was not the
officer who was there at the beginning of
the trouble.
1--WE always investigate these affairs.
We investigated the Russian affair last
Saturday night and next Saturday we
will investigate the shooting of Cruger.
think the policeman is all right and we
/ always presume that the officers are
right until it is shown otherwise"
The c0nditiOD of Mira CPOrro T EtzaI
the woman who was SO cruelty beaten by
| Officer Gaines is still serious and it is
thought she will not recover. She is a
mem Der of the German Catholic church
on Third street and the priest. Father
| Henry has administered the last rites of
the church. 81 could not do otherwise"
said he, seeing the serious condition of
the woman. She is terribly hurt and I
don't think she will get we'll"
Father Henry has received what he
| considers a true version of the story of
the fight with the police in which Mrs.
| EtzeI and her mothe n-law were hurt
"The officers, six of them, went to Geo.
EtzePs house to arrest a man named
Igges, and Etzel refused to let them in
! They forced their way H. The women
folks had already retired, and when the
officers came in old mother Etzel, who is
| 70 years DID, came into the room in her
night clothes. She was excited of
course, and her only thought was that
her son would be placed in jail and they
could not get him out. She cannot speak
English. but she ran up and tried to ex-
plain to the police. She was immedi-
| ately struck over the eye by one of the
policemen and knocked sprawling. I
saw her day or two afterwards and her
eye where she had been struck
was frightful. The old woman is very
feeble and totters when she walks. She
saws the policeman struck her with his
fist Young Mrs. Etzel then ran up and
| tried to prevent the officers taking her
husband and she was repeatedly struck
in the scramble. She is the woman who
| is so badly hurt
"The old decrepit grandmother who
was struck in the face by Officer Gaines
is the woman who he said fought like a
tiger.
There will be a big damage suit
against the city as the result of the cruel
treatment of these women
INVESTIGATE THE POLICE ROLLS.
Members of the Council Look the Matter
CouuciImen Skinner and Elliott this
| morning made an investigation of the
police rolls and they will ask the council
| to make an investigation of the manner
ia which the police are appointed.
Councilman Elliott says they found
that twenty-three patrolmen are en-
proved while the law allows but twenty.
"There are twenty regular policemen"
said he, land then they
apDoiut three specials. The
specials can ouIy hold for seven DAYS, but
the commissioners reappoint them when
their time is out, SO they are virtually
regular men, and the city has to pay
them.
Under the old regime I used to be on
the police committee, but since the
metropolitan law went into effect
we have had nothing to do but
paw the men, and the whole
matter is left with the commissioners.