The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-27
TO DESTROY THE BARS
Fixtures of Two Big Joints to Be
Smashed Into Kindling Wood

For the first time in several years two
fine bars were seized today by Sheriff
Cook and will be destroyed by an order
of Judge Hazen of the district court.
The two places are the Harry Croft
Joint at the rear of 40 Kansas avenue
and the Walt Richards joint on East
Seventh street.
Richards and Croft were the two men
who pleaded guilty Monday to main
tanning nuisances. They expected by
that means to get the minimum SEN
tence and they asked for time. That
time was utilized in securing men to
operate their places in their enforced
absence.
Great was the surprise of Richards
and Croft and their friends today when
Judge Hazen sentenced each to 60 days
in jail and imposed a fine of 800 be-
sides. In addition to that he ordered
Sheriff Cook to seize all the stock and
fixtures at the places where they had
been doing business and destroy them.
While Richards and Croft We're con-
Quoted to Jail by Undersheriff Williams
Ed Wright, who has been Croft's chief
lieutenant hurriedly left the court
house. Sheriff Cook was compelled to
wait until the papers could be made
out before he could make the raid and
meanwhile Wright improved the oppor-
tunity.
OnQ6rSneflII Williams was detained TO
watch Richards place to prevent the
removal of anything while Deputy
Helm and Lee Woodall We're detailed on
Croft's place. When Helm and Wood
all arrived at the Croft building the
doors were locked. There was a rat
Ting of glasses inside which indicated
that some one was working hard but
as they had no authority to break in
the deputies were compelled to wait.
1t was nearly half an hour before
Deputy Hanna arrived at the Croft
joint with the necessary papers. He
tried the doors but they were securely
locked. Then a pole was found and
Deputy Helm mounted to one of the
windows, tore the screen away and en-
tered by that means. He opened the
door and the officers stepped into as
complete a barroOm as can be found
anywhere but not drop of liquor or
glasses were seen.
A bar 20 feet long of massive oak
with a cherry top extended east and
west. 1t bore the mark &c. A Guell-
ner, Cabinet and Bar Fixture works
Kansas City, Mo-" Behind it was Sc
ries of oak cases but the large mirror
had been taken away. A box of settler
water was the only thing left in this
cabinet. A large ice chest stood at one
end of the bar equipped in up to date
style but the kegs of beer had been re-
moved There was cracked ice in a
reservoir under the counter and ice in
the box where the beer had been but
the liquor had disappeared.
door leading to an upstairs room
n1SAAeO d clue dS TO Wn6re the liquors
had been taken but the officers made no
attempt to force the door. Wright had
done his work well but the fixtures left
behind were easily worth $780, The
stock of liquors is said to have been one
of the best in the city and it was prob
ably worth as much as the fixtures
On the walls of the room were three
large crude paintings of nude figures
These were not taken by the sheriff's
force All the other furnishings were
loaded into express wagons and taken
to the county Jail.
When Sheriff Cook arrived at Walt
Richards place with the papers giving
him authority to "abate a nuisance
nothing had been taken out Two kegs
or peer, several jugs of whisky and sew
eral bottles of whisky and wine were
FOUND. The bar was not as preten-
tfouS or expensive that in the Croft
place but behind it was a handsome
sideboard and mirrors. All these were
taken. There were three express wag-
on loads.
Everything seized will be DESTROYED
py being broken up this week by Sher-
IN Cook together with the stock of Ii
quors conf1scated when the first raid
was made and the men were arrested
richards and Croft both operated
what would be called open saloons
They refused to discuss the action of
Judge Hazen but they were evidently
greatly surprised.
1t is said Judge Hazen is indignant
at the Joint Keepers for Dragging about
the streets that they had Judge Ha-
zen on their side" and he is going to
show them that he will not permit
by anybody.