Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-13
TAXPAYERS ARE P~ETITIONING To
HAVE ONE CALLED.
TO ENFORCE PRoHIBIT0RY LAW
ONE HUNDRED SIGNATURES MUST BE
SECURED.
1t Is Claimed That There Is Plenty of
Evidence ObtainabIe to Warrant
Numerous Indictments for
whisky Selling and
Gambling.

Unless something unexpected arises to
prevent, a grand jury will be called in this
city to investigate gamblers and joint
keepers. 1t was stated upon good authority
yesterday that a petition was being circu-
lated among the taxpayers of this county
requesting that a grand jury be called in
this city to investigate gambling and
whisky selling. A well known citizen stat
ed to a reporter for The Journal that the
petition had already been signed by twelve
taxpayers, and the party who is back of
the investigation is reported as having
said that he had assurance from over 100
taxpayers that they would sign. The petit
ton has been in circulation only one day,
and the man who is seeking signers is con-
Quoting the work with the greatest caution.
This secrecy is INDUCED in for fear that
the gamblers, and possibly the j~ointists.
would take to the woods or block the
proposed investigation in some manner or
another.
When IL became known last night that
such a move was on foot the news was
quickly carried to the gamblers and joint
keepers. and much excitement prevailed.
There is no doubt that, If a grand jury
Should be called in Kansas City, Kas..
some startling facts would be unearthed.
That indictments could be found against
many citizens is an in~disputable fact. The
prohibitory law is violated in this city
daily by about 80 persons, or, in other
words, lneFe are ABOUT SeNEnlS-uNe JOINTS
in the city, a day and night bartender
working at each place.
BY the aid Of a grand jury those who are
opposed to gambling hope to run some of
this class of citizens out Of the city or send
them 10 the penitentiary. one or two of
the principal gambling houses have closed
Temporarily, but there are several thriving
poker games being run in various parts of
The city, and crap games too numerous to
mention. The police have raided several
places, but have always returned empty
handed. The police department claims that
no gambling shall exist here il this part of
the city government can prevent il. The
whist game Of George Naltby and Harry
Truesdale upstairs at 52 Minnesota avenue
continues TO run, and the parties who are
pushing the official investigation hope to
convince the grand jury, that the kind of
whist played there and the game known as
draw" and stud" poker are identical.
There are also several places along Kan
slS avenue on the South side where craps
and poker are played.
Another class Of gamblers that might
get into trouble If a grand jury is called
are proprietors Of dynamite shops. Judge
Pfost. of the city court, has held that
running a dynamite shop did not con-
stitute a violation of the a"nti-gambling
law, but a grand jury might look at 1t
in a different light and in this manner the
question can be raised,i in a higher court.
According TO the laws of Kansas a grand
Jury can be called in any organized Coun-
" in the state by presenting a petition,
signed by 100 taxpayers. 70 the judge OF
the district court. Il Is the duty of the
court 10 call a grand jury If properly pc
titioned. The law also provides that the
Judge or the court can reluSe 10 call q
grand jury If he is. satisfied in his owl
mind that the grounds are not sufficient
TO warrant the calling of the same. 1t is
not thought that either Judge Alden, OF
the district court. or Judge Holt. of the
common pleas court. would refuse TO cal
the grand jury If properly petitioned.
other cities IN the state have called
grand iuries several times for the purpose
Of enforcing the prohibitory law. but the
metropolis OF the state has not had 4
grand Jury since 1851. At that time a
grand Jury was called at the instigatior
of Attorney General Bradford. who at
tempted 10 enforce the prohibitory law
Many indictments were found against
whisky dealers. but by smooth manipula'
tiou on the part of local attorneys wht
interested themselves in behalf of tbs
~joiutists the attorney general was balket
when he attempted to convict some Of tn,
guilty parties. The states witnesses were
given comfortable places of abode on tn
Missouri side and were furnished Will
plenty Of pin money. He failed to secur,
a single conviction and he gave up II
disgust. This Is the last experience THU
city has had with n grand jury.
The law provides that the petition 70
tha calling OF n jury Of this kind must b.
fled with the Judge OF the district cour
within twelve DAYS prior TO the beginninl
OF a regular sitting. As both courts ar,
now in session at present the petition can
no. be filed until the next term Of court
which will be in September.