The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-25
in COURT
The Ex-COngressman Appears
Before Judge HaZen
To Tell What He Knows About
the Basement Joint
IN THE PIGG HOTEL,
Witnesses Fail to Connect Glow
er's Employer
With the Liquor Department
and He is Acquitted.

Ex-Congressman Ben Glover was in
the district court Monday afternoon as
a witness. He was there to defend the
honor of A. T. Pigg who employs him
as night clerk at his little hotel. Pigg
was charged with running a joint and
Mr.. Clover was one of his witnesses.
For six months the eX-congressman
has held the position as night clerk in
the hotel. His salary is not large but
it enables him to live comfortably.
Mrs. Glover has a place as attendant at
the asylum so that he is discharged
from the responsibility of her support
Mr.. Clover looked a trifie older when
he appeared in the court room than he
did when he was riding the crest of the
Farmers Alliance wave his mar IS
siiVered but his form is still robust and
his face is indicative of a man who
takes things as they come. As rep
resentative OF the people of the Third
congressional district Mr. Glover made
no special stir in congress and he at
tracted less attention in the court
room. The idlerS who spend their time
in listening to tedious trials because
they have nothing better to do had
probably never heard of Congressman
Glover and when Attorney ]. r. Nc
Nary called his name he took his place
on the witness stand and there was no
stir nor craning of necks to see him
Ben Glover, the night clerk and man Of
the people was before them and not
the man who drew an annual stipend
of s. 200 while serving his state faith
fully in the congress of the nation.
Following is the line of questioning
which the ex-congressman was put
through:
DO you hold a position with A. 7.
Pigg?
Q.-Were you there during the Fall
Festival?
Ayes.
.Q.-was Mr.. Pigg engaged in run
ming a joint during the Fall Festival?
A.-NOt to nv knowledge.
Q.-WOuld you have known it if he
had?
Al think would.
Odd you ever see an agreement
that was drawn up between Mr.. Pigg
and & man named Black?
A.-Tes, saw something which I I'M
derStOOd was a contract.
Odd this contract provide for the
lease of the basement to this man?
Att did.
Cross examination by County Attor-
Q.-What kind of business was car
ried on in the basement?
Al do not know of my own personal
Q.-WeIi, do you know from general
hearsay?
Ayes, it was said to be a joint
Q.-Black might have been running
the place for Mr.. Pigg, might he not?
Att is possible.
Odd you ever talk to Pigg about
the place?
Ayes
Q.-What did he say?
Ale was put out about the place
being down there and said that he
would like to find a way to get rid of
it. He said it was a damage to the
hotel business.
Q.-Then he knew what was going
on?
A-Oh yes
At the end of Mr.. CIover's examina-
ton it was plain that Pigg could not
be convicted of running a joint He
had fulfilled his mission and saved his
employer.
a. T. Pigg is the man who invented
the Is cent meal. That is what he said
upon the stand but the jury evidently
did not cherish this up against him
when they retired for they were out
turned a verdict of not guilty
The joint was operated in the base
ment of the hotel and the patrons en-
it came to the point none Of the wit
was seen in the place.
Pigg testified that on one day of the
Fall Festival he served 2,3OO meals. He
scriptiOn to the Festival fund because
he said, that things were not allowed
to run without the interference of the
officers"
The witnesses against Pigg were NJ
Y. Cunningham and w. H. McCauley
Of Auburn. They both bought beer in
the basement of the hotel but the
purchases were not made of Pigg.