The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-03
VICE GAINING.
Joints and Gambling Places are
Again Running.
Persons Accused Claim the
Charge Is False.
is NOBODY'S BUSINESS
To Close Up Places Where Law
breaking Goes On.
Officers of the Law Waiting For
Somebody to Tell
Them to Perform Their Du-
ties-Ask For Warrants.

To the Editor Of The State Journal:
1 want to ask through your paper of
R. b. Kepley. John Gardiner the board
of police commissioners and county at
torney, what pull MI Blackman and
Al Hayslip has on the city that they
can run things as openly as they do2
1T is no secret that Blackman is run
ming a wholesale beer agency from un-
der his drug store. and he and AL Hay
slip are running a gambling room un-
der the Royal Billiard hall. Now this
is known to all the police force for
daily policemen are seen going in
there and getting their drinks. If
these men have any hold on the men
sworn to do their duty it is time the
people knew it, if not give all an equal
show Let US have some light on the
subject2
W. T. RAYMOND,
SO Walnut.
The above letter was received today.
1t gives an inkling of the true situation
Of affairs in Topeka so far as the con
duct Of drinking and gambling places
very eyes of the police and if the facts
given in the letter are true are even
patronized by policemen themselves.
A Journal reporter armed with the
above letter interviewed the people
named today The effect of the con
tents of the letter was somewhat var
led. Some begged that nothing should
be said about it and others promised
nifty
Chief of Police Gardiner was found
in his office He read the letter care
fully and then said:
Who is Baymond2"
Being told that the letter came by
mail Chief Gardiner said.
III know nothing about this. If Mr..
Raymond viii come here and swear out
rested"
rs there no other way to reach
them 2"
Yes. we might send spoilers in but
that raises such a howl that we do not
attempt it. A policeman cannot go in to
get the evidence because he is known
by his uniform"
But this man claims that policemen
are in the habit Of drinking at these
places"
Il may have my suspicious about
that but I know nothing about it for
certain. I know that there are two or
three policemen who would take
drink of beer or whisky I am on the
watch out for them"
Then there is no way of reaching
these places2"
No. we cannot break down doors
That was decided by the supreme court
some time ago. We must have q war
rant before we can break into a mans
place of business and make a search.
lit used to be different and then we had
no trouble in getting at these people
do you know anything about the
charge that gambling is going on2"
Il may have my suspicious but / do
not know There may be occasional
crap games but we cannot get them
without a warrant. If any one viii
swear out a warrant we will make the
arrests You may say that neither
Mr. Blackman nor any one else has
any pull With me.
Sheriff r. B. Aepley read the letter
carefully and then said
Il am ready to take this matter up at
any time. Mr.. Blackman has no pun
on this Office If some one viii swear
out warrant and put it in my hands
at o'clock tonight I viii guarantee to
make fhe arrests within an hour
HAS any complaint been made TO
NO sir. NO one has offered to furn-
ish the information FOR making arrests
If they would do so i would not waste
any time about serving the warrants
I stand ready to do my duty if any one
viii furnish the warrant
County Attorney "a c. Stafford was
called out Of the court room where he
was engaged in the trial Of a case.
IT know nothing about this. said he
mo one has made amy complaint to me
OF asked for a warrant
/. Blackman was found in the drug
store at the corner of Fourth and kan
sas avenues which is usually known as
Blackman's drug store He was very
busy and after he had disposed of three
or four men who seemed to have some
business with him he was shown the
letter.
Il don't know Raymond" said he
Il do not believe he amounts to any
thing There is not much truth in what
he says about me L do not own this
drug store. Tt belongs to Mr. Wallace
and he has wholesale beer license and
does sell beer to other druggists he
supplies Mckinley and Jones and
W0olverton and Funchess and others. I
have nothing to do with it-nothing
whatever
Neither have anything to do with
the Royal billiard hall That belongs
to Havslip. 1t is true that I have loan
cd money to other people too. No sir
I have no interest in this drug store
nor i'm the Royal billiard hall"
rs it true that you have a pull with
the officers as the author Of this letter
chsrges2 2
Mr. Blackman laughed No I have
no pun with anyone attend to my
business but it is not necessary to have
a pull with anyone to do that"
Al HaEslip was asked if Mr. Black
man had an interest ia his place. No
sir' said he. "NIr. Blackburn has no
interest iii my place. Tt belongs to me
and no one has anything TO do with it.
I have only the hail on the first floor
and have nothing to do with the base
meut-'
rs there drinking place in the base
ment2"
There IS a place down there where
hop tea is sold but nothing else"
'ts there any truth ia the statement
that there is also gambling place in
the basenent2
they play once in a while but it is no