The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-28
END HAS COME.
All Police Investigations Result in
Nothing.


The police committee concluded the
investigation Of the charges against
Police Judge Magaw last night and
found that there was small room for
complaint The investigation brought
out the fact that the judge was attend
ing to his work as well if not better,
than it had been attended to by prior
judges. The law was not followed
strictly in some minor matters, but it
could not be done without working
hardship and the committee decided
that it was satisfied with the manner
in which the judge was conducting his
court. He will not be compelled to re-
main at the station all day as he would
if the strict letter of the law was fol-
lowed.
The committee took up the investiga-
ton where it was dropped at the last
meeting and asked the judge to explain
the method of keeping the accounts of
his court The judge stated that all the
money collected was turned over to the
5ailers who. at the end of the month
turned 1t over to the city treasurer The
law requires that the judge handle the
money himself and turn it over to the
city daily. This was done because pris-
oners who had been released frequently
came in to pay fines and there was no
one at the station but the jailer. The
Jailer is under bond and is held respon-
sible The system OF keeping accounts
is not satisfactory and it is likely that
a change in that respect will be sug-
gested by the committee. They found
nothing wrong in that respect, but the
system employed is not a good one al
though it has been followed for years.
The matter of blank bonds was dis
cussed and the committee decided that
a supply should be kept on hand in the
police court.
The complaint that had been made
concerning the return of beer pumps was
referred by Councilman Miller who said
that he had heard time and again on
the street that wagon load of the
pumps had been taken from the station
at one time. He asked Judge Magaw IL
he had ever given an order for the re-,
turn of any number of beer pumps and
the judge said: Il never gave a written
order for the return of pumps. When
case is tried and the defendant found
not guilty I make the entry on the
docket and announce that the defendant
is not guilty and all property taken be
returned"
Well" said Mr. Miller "a wagon
came to this station and it was loaded
with beer pumps and drove away. I
have heard it a number of times and
am informed that a member of the po-
lice force saw it done and told it,"
r,, Whe was the ar+ mem6 . INQUIRED
to tell who he is so that we can call
him and get at the bottom of this mat
ter "a
Mr.. Miller said that Patrol Driver
Bundy was one. Mr.. Bundy was called
and in response to questions put by
Assistant City Attorney Gregg, stated
that he had seen an express wagon come
to the station and take away sack OF
pumps The wagon was in charge of
Otis Hungate who is attorney for some
of the Jointists-
The chief then said: ST can explain
that very easily Mr.. Hungate came
here and demanded the return of seven
pumps. I told him that he could only
have five as that was the number
thought had been taken from his clients.
The pumps had been taken to pieces and
as we were in the basement sorting out
the pumps I was called away and left
Sergeant Belts in charge of the matter
with instructions to let Hungate have
only five pumps Sergeant Belts was
statement. He said that the pumps
were put in two sacks and taken away
in the wagon. In the basement are a
great number of pumps as they have
never been destroyed. In regard to the
charge that liquor is kept in the base
ment after the cases were heard it was
shown that the beer was destroyed and
that there was no truth in the charge.
After the investigation was concluded
it was decided that the police commit
tee would meet once a month and that
the business of the department would be
gone over and the books examined. If
garding the department it will be heard
by the committee and Investigated the
night OF the meeting. This was decided
upon at the earnest solicitation of Mayor
Drew, Chief Ramsey and Judge Magaw.
The committee will meet next Satur-
day and will then decide upon the minor
changes that will be made in the method
of keeping accounts. They will make a
report which will be submitted to the
council meeting next night which will
clear both the police department and
Judge Magaw from all charges