The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-22
JUST LIKE THE
OLD SALOON.
Joints Full of Fights and Gen.
eral DisOrderlineSs.
Two Police Officers i'm Danger
Gus Looking Row.
ONE DRAWS REVOLVER
The Men Separated Before Amy :
body is Badly Hurt.
Another ARRAY Over Politics in
Another Resort.

win d1SheVeIled hair and eyes DIaZ-
ing Police Detective James Kesson
made mad effort to shoot Patrolman
]. A. Davis in AL HaysHp's joint on
Wednesday evening. He was prevent
ed from carrying out his purpose by
bystanders but he continued to rave
and charge around until the lights were
turned out and the men were forced
out the street. Even then it is
claimed that Kesson laid in wait for
his fellow officer with the intention of
continuing the battle but Davis went
home and nothing more was heard
about it,
It was about 10 O'Clock at night and
PatrOlman Davis was in Hayslip'S bill
lard parlOr which is on the first floor,
playing billiards He was supposed to
be on duty at the time and was in full
uniform. Suddenly a noise was heard
in the room over head where drinking
goes on. Davis continued playing for
a short time and then concluded that
he would go up stairs and investigate.
When he entered the bar room there
were no people there except one man
and he was at a door leading to an
other room pounding it viciOusly with
his fist and shouting for admission.
Davis stopped and looked the man over
and he was startled to see that he was
Police Detective KessOn. Then he
walked up to him and laid his hand on
his arm.
For heavens sake, jim" said he,
forget who you are
Detective Kesson quit pounding the
door and turned on Davis.
What is it to yOu?" he grOWled.
TT isn't much to me" replied Davis,
"but don't you know that there are a
lot of fellows watching you who want
your job: They are just waiting for
chance like this
The mention that some one was try
ing to take his place away from him
seemed to intensity the anger of the
n a
he sprung at PatrOlman Davis. When
KessOn left the door the men in the
other room rushed in to witness the
encounter between the officers.
Davis lodged and as he Strengthened
up fioored Detective KessOn with a
blow of his fist.
made for Davis and again went to the
floor by a we'll directed blow
When he got to his feet again he put
his hand inside his vest and drew out
a long revolver. AS he threw the
weapon back he struck one of the men
behind him, in the mouth and the re-
vOIver was knocked from his hand and
fell upon the floor. The men instantly
closed around Kesson and over-power-
ed him.
VainIy the men tried to quiet the de-
tective but he was infUriated. Davis
was finally induced to leave the build
ing and then the lights were turned out
and Kesson was hustled out. There
was no more drinking that night there.
This is the version of the trouble as
told by witness of the affray.
According to the story Kesson had
been drinking heavily and he became
offended at Thomas Ross, the bar keep
er. The men exchanged a few words
when Ross and the rest of the men in
the room ran to a door leading to an
other apartment and succeeded in get
ting through and locking it before Kes-
son reached the place. Then Kesson
began to batter at the door and it was
this noise that attracted the attention
of Davis.
While this version of the story places
most of the blame upon Kesson others
say that Davis was also to blame and
that it was he who started the as
sault.
Both men were supposed to be on du-
ty and neither had any business where |
he was at the time the trouble occurr-
ed Patrolman Davis was appointed as
a Silver Republican He has been on
the force from the time the POpulists |
took charge of police affairs. Davis |
lives in North Topeka.Kess was ap-
patrolman for awhile and was promo |
ted to the position of police detective |
and has since then been on duty in cit |
izen's clothes.
Chief Steele was informed of the
trouble. but both men are still du- |
ty. He is waiting to see the result of |
public sentiment
James Wilson, a Smoky Row charac-
ter is the man who was struck by KeS-
sons revolver. His lips were badly /
cut and several lower teeth loosened.
IN TOWNSEND's PLACE.