The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-21
CASE PUT OFF
Hearing Of the Charge of Black :
mail Made by Druggist Keith
Against James KessOn and
Richard Hurst
is CONTINUED TODAY
Until September 4 Before JUS
tice CheSney.
Is CONTINUED TODAY
Something About the Affair
Told by Those Involved.

| CneSney at O'Clock this morning and
was continued at the request of the
| state until September 4.
Both men are out on $500 bail. KEEP
| ley & Lucas signed the bond for Kes-
son and Charles Holcraft for Hurst.
The charge made by the state is that
Kesson and Hurst on the night of Sep
! TENDER 10 took, under protest of Drug
| gist Keith's clerk, Al Smith, a book
of liquor statements and demanded and
| secured $50 before returning the same
and that Druggist Keith has not yet
| secured his money back.
The statements of Keith and Hurst
| in regard to the trouble are practically
the same. That of Detective Kesson
differs very materially.
No witnesses have as yet been sub
poenaed in the case although Henry
Smith and Harry Lindsay each can
| throw light on the matter.
Druggist Keith says he is not push
| ing the matter now as the case is in
| the hands of the state, but that he is
ready and anxious to testify whenever
the prosecution is ready.
Druggist Keith's version Of the trouble
is as follows:
"Hurst and Kesson came to my place
of business at 428 Kansas avenue on
Thursday night last to buy a bottle of
beer. I was not present at the time
but AL Smith, my clerk, waited on
them. They were willing to pay for
the beer but objected to signing the
statement book. Smith had long
wrangle over the matter with them dur
ing which time some violent and heat
ed language was INDUCED in by both
KeSSOn and Hurst. KeSSOn declared
that he would fix me unless they were
allowed to drink the beer in the back
part of the store and that they didn't
propose to sign the book for 1T either
Hurst, who is a 'rounder,' finally con-
scented to sign the book. Immediately
after doing so KeSsOn seized the book
and stuck it in his pocket with the
,o5e, 1I1,ff on q
I'll fix you; you'll be sorry that you
didn't let US drink in your place Both
men then passed from the store.
This scared Smith pretty badly"
continued Keith, land he came running
over to my room about midnight and
woke me up. I Immediately went down
to the store and found Hurst sitting
out in front but Kesson had d1sap-
peared.
Il asked Hurst what they were doing
with my book and raising so much
trouble in the store, anyway.
Hurst had hardly started to telling
me about the fuss when Kesson Joined
US, coming from the direction of the
police station and mOtioning to Hurst,
passed on down Kansas avenue with
out stopping to talk to me.
q knew at once that it was case
of doodle and I hurried after them,
catching them at Fourth street. ask
ed them how much it would take to get
my book back. Kesson ripped out a
long string of oaths and replied: 1t
will take a lot of it. I have got 1t In
for several of you fellows and now pro
pose to get even I am a deputy sheriff
and propose to make you all dance
IT then returned to the store and
shortly after Hurst came up ana
said that Kesson would be willing
to return the book and square
the matter for sixty dollars. In the
presence of the clerk I paid him the
money and he returned the book.
He then left the store remarking as
he passed out that the money was for
Kesson and not for him.
ct stepped to the door and saw him |
Join Kesson and also saw him pass the |
money over to Kesson. At least l saw
Kessoh reach out and take hold of
Hurst's hand and then withdraw his i
hand and slip the contents to his own
pocket All this I will swear to-" con- |
cluded Keith. my clerk also saw the |
transaction"
a joke and that he never seriously in |
tended to keep the book of statements |
belonging to Keith
81 knew that Hurst was crook and |
gambler but as my business is that of |
a detective go around with these kind |
of gentry occasionally" he said.
ION the night in question 1 dropped |
in Keith's place with Hurst for a bot |
tie of beer I had been in there before |
drinking beer and was very much sur
prised and angered at not being allowed |
to 90 in the back part of the store and /
drink where there was a seat and less
exposed to passers by. 1t still further
an2GTeQ me WnGU 1 saw SOlAlC 1LlGAlQS
back there and so concluded would
take the book to get even. never
thought of wanting any money for its
return.
down to the police station and showed
the book to Jailer Hopkins He told
me that I had better take it back and
I said that I would.
st then went up to the store whereof
found Hurst and walked down towards
the river. told Hurst that did not
intend to keep the book and that he
must take it back to Keith, and with
that I gave him the book and went on
II got none of Keith's money and did
not see Hurst after he got the money |
from Keith that the latter says he
got''
Sheriff Porter Cook says that Detec-
tive Kesson is not a deputy sheriff and
never has been any more than he be-
come one by virtue of being on the po-
lice force at one time but that with his
retirement from the police force his
Dick Hurst runs a little restaurant at
230 Kansas avenue. When a reporter
called last evening a man sitting idly
rocking in a chair and waiting for Gus
tom told him that Hurst was up stairs
asleep and as he was sick could see no
one. But a precocious little flaxen
haired girl Quickly announced uncle |
her fierceIy exclaiming: shut up, you
brat, you're always talking when you
should keep still"
Hurst was found lying on bed and
really looked as if he had passed
through a severe sick spell.
q have known Kesson since last fall
and have been around with him several |
times since then. On that night we had
been to the Santa Fe depot on some |
business and stopped in at the drug /
store on our way back for a bottle of