The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-02
DRAGGED into
POLICE COURT.
Topeka Young Men Arrested
Under Attachments.
Failed to Respond When Sum
mOned to Testify.
MADE TO GIVE BOND.
Tnsures Their Presence When
Case Is Again Called.
Judge Guys Processes Must
Not Be Ignored.

An unusual action was taken today by
Police Judge Guy which has spread
CONSERVATION among the ranks Of the
Topeka business men and well known
young men about town who are in the
habit of patronizing joints. It was the
issuance Of attachments for five of the
witnesses in the George Buford joint
case who failed to appear at the hearing
in police court Tuesday afternoon They
are George P. Ashton, Walter Burgess,
Sherman Grice, Sam Lakin and Henry
Weingartner.
The five witnesses were forced to give
bond for their appearance in police
court Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock,
at which time the postponed hearing of
the Buford case will take place.
Buford was arrested for running a
joint at 724 Kansas avenue, and his
hearing was set for Tuesday afternoon
at 4 o'clock. OF the eight witnesses
summoned in the case but three ap-
peared, Bert Overton, Emmett Rigby
and Ralph SquireS. Judge Guy was not
satisfied with this attendance, and post
pOning the case decided to inaugurate
a new feature in police court joint
cases. His decision became known to-
day when attachments were issued for
the five delinquent witnesses, all of
whom were compelled to give bond for
their appearance tomorrow afternoon.
That the new feature is to become a
permanent one while Judge Guy Occu-
pies the police bench was stated by As
sistant City Attorney Gregg today.
Those who are summoned as witnesses
in liquor cases must appear at the hear
ing" said he. 1T does not matter
whether or not they know anything
about the case. If they fail to appear
attachments will be issued for them"
The CONSERVATION among many of the
frequenters of Topeka joints is, there
fore, quite natural. Business men, be-
cause of business reasons, can not afford
to be known as patrons of joints, and
Fc 10 hot will
on continually stare them In the face
if they continue to frequent such places.
Well known young men, for various
reasons, are as least desirOus of being
known as Joint habitues as the bust
ness men.
Arrests of jointists are being made
from time to time by the police. The
man who only occasionally drops into
the upstairs or back room barroom for
a cool glass of beer on a hot day is just
as liable to be summoned as a witness
against the jOintist as the man who
makes himself a daily inhabitant of the
joint.
For this reason Topeka jointists may
look for a decrease in the better ele-
ment of their trade. Many of the men
who slip into the joints now and then
would look upon a general knowledge
of their actions as a disgrace. Others
who in discussion openly denounce pro-
hibition principles and favor high license
saloons do not care to pose as joint wit
nesses in police court.
Altogether Judge Guys new feature
is a severe blow at the jOintists of To-
peka. Those who find it impossible to
do without the beverage that has been
in the habit of drawing their trade to
the joints, will hereafter buy it in orig
inaI packages for personal use rather
than take the chance of being publicly
called into police court.
There is much feeling against Judge
Guy among the five witnesses who pur-
pOsely stayed away from his tribunal
10
forced to make provision for their ap-
pearance when the case will again be
up for hearing. They declare it to be
an unheard of and unjust action. The
legality of the step taken by Judge
Guy, however, can not be questioned.
The fact that witnesses will hereafter
be compelled to testify will probably in
sure more convictions in Joint cases
Occasional patrons, who may be forced
to tell what they know in police court,
will have no reason to quibble over their
answers and will be likely to state the
exact nature of their purchases.