The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-02-12
To the Public.

| if you will allow me space.
When l was appointed Deputy
Sheriff of Cape Girardeau county |
was informed by Judge Burrough
that the Common Pleas Court room
was entirely in charge of the sheriff
and his deputies. and it was their
duty to look after and protect the
property in the court room. On
Friday afternoon of January 2Sth |
saw two men carrying banners bear
ing the following inscriptions:
Hurrah for klondike. God bless
the Colder Shores. Meeting at Court
House tonight. I:3p.
made inquiry as to the purpose of
the meeting and was informed that
one Mr.. Pardesky. a railroad con-
tractor was appointed to organize five
klondike Clubs in Southeast Missouri
and Southern Illinois. but tho parties
failed to state who appointed him to
organize the said clubs. but said the
purpose of the meeting was 70 sell
shares and raise money to send a
Representative 20 Klondil.e 70 prospect
for ~Old. | could see very readily
that it wa. 4 scheme for some uuc to
yet their way paid TO Klondike by
those that were blind enough "a put
money in clab OF this kind. | also
believed it to be private money
making concern. then asked Mr..
John y. Lyons. as he appeared TO be
assisting in the affair. who had given
them the privilege to meet in the court
room: Mr.. Lyons said he had spoke
to Mr.. George Chappell about it
and Mr.. Chappell had told him to see
Judge Burrough about the room. but
said he had not seen the Judge.
COGrt was in session all that day and
Judge Burrough could have easily
been seen. About tive o'clock p. III. |
told Mr.. Lyons the court room was in
my charge and | could not let them
meet in the room unless Judge Bur-
rough would give his consent. and the
best thing to do was to send Il note
to Judge BurroUgh explaining the
purpose of the meeting and if the
judge said they could meet there |
would have the janitor light up and
make fires. Mr.. Lyons said | guess
We will do that. told him | would
see him in half an hour and By that
time they could have word from Judge
Burrough. But they did not send ny
one or ask any permission fro..t the
Judge but went to the Hon. syor
Coerver who. unthoughtfUlly and
through some miscOnStruction pre-
sumo, gave them permission to use
the court room.
1t appeared so strange to me that
they so disliked to ask Judge Bur |
rough for the room and sought all |
other ways to get the room without
going TO his honorable Judgship. |
Knowing in my own mind that the
purpose of the meeting was for Il |
personal and private benefit and not |
for the benefit OF this city or county / |
did not thing it proper to let them f..
meet in the court room. Consequently /
| turned out the lights. for which | /
cheerfGlly appologized to Mr.. Coerver /
as Mayor. After considering the /
official position of mayor Ccerver and
knowing that gentleman would not do
the wrong thing if he knew it. | |
through courtesy to the honorable
mayor consented for them to use
the room. But | am still of the
opinion that the sO-called klOndike
Club had no right to meet in the court
room. That court was furnished by
the taxpayers of Cape Girardeau
County at an expense of about eleven
dollars for the purpose of
holding courts. political meetings.
mass meetings. public speakings and
or any meeting that is
;or the benefit of the citizens of this
county. but not for the benefit of few
who came hereto organize
/ money making scheme fora few. and
wen brings a lawyer from St..LOuis
o organize the club, and presume to
lraw up articles of agreement.
JOHN W. TAYLOR.