The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-31
'sCOP AND THE HORSEMEN. ;,
One Act Piece Put on at Judge Atchi-
sons Play House.
Scene-Topeka Police court.


Scene-Topeka Police court
Dramats personae-George Wolff, attor-
ney pro TEN, and horseman; John Krauss,
horseman, held for trial on the charge Of
| fast driving within the city limits; Pa
| trolman Rucker. who made the arrest;
| DR.. Ellinger Simon Hogue, Sam GaydeE
| witnesses; w a. S. Bird, city attorney;
| Judge Atchison, Chief Steele, police Of
| icers and spectators.
| Judge Atchison-Let US take UP the case
Of John Krauss for fast driving. Mr..
Krauss. if you are ready for trial we win
] proceed.
George Wolff (advancing)-Your honor,
/ as an American citizen, wish to defend
/ Mr.. Krauss as attorney.
! Judge Atchison-Proceed.
City Attorney Bird-AIr. Rucker, you
made this arrest?
Rucker-Yes, sir. Sunday morning
Krauss came up Kansas avenue at a
three or four minute gait. Also last Fri
day he drove too fast on Kansas avenue.
Mr.. Bird-You may cross-examine.
George Woln-NIr. Rucker, you live in
Topeka?
Rucker-I do.
Wolff (seVerely)-You are the man who
killed that dog up here on Kansas ave-
nue.. aren't you?
Rucker-That has nothing to do with
this case.
Bird object to the question.
Wolff want to show that this man is
not judge of anything. I want to show
that he is Incompetent
Judge Atchison-Objection is sustained.
spectators become noisy. at which Tim
Donovan raps on the judges table and
shakes his head threateningly.)
Wolf-Was he driving very fast?
Rucker-He was going at speed that
was dangerous. He was right behind DR..
Euinger and after he crossed First street
he drove very fast.
Wolff Qeaning forward)-Can you tell
the speed of horse?
Rucker-Yes sir. I have owned a race
hOrse-I own one now.
Wolf-If two women were in a buggy
and the horse would run away, would you
try to stop it?
Rucker-I might.
Woln-Why, steam engine couldn't /
knock you down. Mr.. Krauss, how fast
We're you driving?
Krauss-I was just going at a good road |
gait. making a five or six minute
gait.
Woln-ExactIy. You weren't trying to
pass DR.. Ellinger?
Krauss-No, because I could have done !
it.
Bird-Do you want to argue this case,
Mr.. Wolff?
Judge Atchison-Have you read the or /
dinance, Mr.. Wolff?
Wolf-No. Here, you read it, Mr.. Bird. /
Bird (reads)-It shall be unlawful for /
anyone to ride or drive within the city /
limits to exceed six miles an hour.
Woln-Judge. there is no case here.
Why, those horses weren't going as fast
as geese. The trouble with this business
is that the places are filed with men who
are incompetent. (Becomes oratorical)
That man Rucker! What did he do? He
killed a dog up here and was laid Off
Then he got back. And why2 Because
the commissioners didn't have will OF
their own Rucker is not fit to be a po-
liceman. The taxpayers are going to kick
about this. CTo Chief Steele You ought
to shut up some of these fellows in a
room and teach them something. RuckeH
says that if a horse was running away
with women in the buggy he would not
run out and try to stop it because it is
dangerous.
Chief Steele advancing to the judges
desk and in low tope)-Judge, don't let
this fellow talk that way. He has no
right TO.
Wolff (resuming)-That is the trouble.
The places are filed with the wrong men
What did Henry Ward Beecher say2 He
said that, rather than the dollar, he
wanted God and Jesus But when he
came here he charged a dollar apiece, ana
went to hear him. He said that it wasnt
he money that was the trouble, but that
he places were filled with the wrong peo-
Die. Krauss was just driving along at a
good road gait. Dr. EIlinger says he was
lot going faster than the law. 1 know
hat. for his horse couldn't go fast enough
% break the law. Dramatically If we
ire beaten here we will take up the case
o higher court
Judge Atchison-I will give my decision
omorrow morning. From the defend
lnt's own statement he seems to have
-iolated the ordinance
GExeunt Wolff Krauss, DR.. Ellinger and
I,lar- :