The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-16
HARD FOR SEMPEL
Well Known Politician Arrested
by Police.
Charged With Violating Liquor
Nuisance Ordinance.
PRESIDENT OF A CLUB
"SOeial and Literary" Organi-
cation Called Amity Club.
Injunction Against Police is Sc
cured Today.
PRESIDENT OF A CLUB

"Robt. semDIe, maintaining a nut
sanee."
This is the entry made on the police
court docket at o'clock last evening
and it means that the Anity club. of
which R H. Semple. deputy state bank
commissioner. is president, has been
raided by the police under the nuisance
ordinance, and a test case viii be made
to see if the city can close drinking
clubs the same as it can ordinary
joints If this suit is successful the
Turner's and Arions viii be treated in
ike manner, and certain features OF the
Elks and the Topeka club may follow.
Officers Mccoy, Lucas and Hendricks
raided the rooms Of the Amity club
about o'clock Tuesday afternoon. on
a warrant sworn to by Charles Botham,
a special policeman. The warrant
charges the officers of the club with
selling liquor and maintaining a nui-
sance. Ben HoItwick, the steward Of
the club. was arrested, and also Louis
Hoschicl1. but the latter was not en-
tered on the police docket.
There was only small quantity OF
liquor in the rooms, and nothing was
disturbed, but a guard was left in
charge of the place
Mr.. SempIe heard of the raid and he
went down Immediately after supper.
The warrant was served on him and he
went down TO the police station 10 give
the customary bond Of $500, the same as
is required in ordinary joint cases. Mr..
Semple waited at the station until
Judge Magaw could be found to ap-
prove the bond.
I have been expecting something of
the sort" Mr.. Semple said today, as
I heard it intimated on Monday that
- H. = 10.
so I was not surprised. From what I
have gathered understand that a test
case IS to be made out Of it. It VIII
be harder TO convict IN the case OF a
club ike the Amity than it would be
the Turner'S or AriOns. because it IS
an entirely different kind Of a club,
and If the nuisance ordinance can be
made to stick against US it viii be easy
4 enough to catch the others The city
Z officers did not want TO commence on
the Topeka club or the Elks. because
! they are too heightened, SO they started
on US. We are not ariStocratic5 but
/ If the charge can be made to stick
] against US. these others viii go also.
The full name Of the Amity club is
I The Amity Literary and Social Club.
We have three rooms at 81 Kansas
/ avenue One is nicely furnished as a
: parlOr. and in It We have a piano. In
with a gas stove and the necessary
/ utensils for getting up meals. and the
/ third room is the card room and reading
/ room.
The Anity club is entirely different
from these drinking clubs Not a mar
/ on earth could buy a drop of anything
to drink in il and never could We have
no government license to sell liquor a
/ the AriOns and Turner'S have. The mem
berhsip is limited to 70 and we have
I about 20 members. We take our wives
and families there for a social time and
everything is quiet and orderly. NJ
%r,7- 07= y
I who is resident of Shawnee county.
Whenever any of the members wan
beer those who want it sign a paper and
the cost Of the key is pro rated among
/ them. Not drop is sold to anyone, ant
/ IN this the Amity club differs from SOM
/ Of the others. The only other one tina
/ is just like the Amity is the Democratic
/ Flambeau club. Some of our member
never drink
THE Amity club was organized il
/ 1887, when the AriOns took a notion on
night TO shut out all OF the American
members, and they were all put on
bodily. They are the ones who forme'
the Amity club
Bright and early this morning an in
junction suit was filed in the distrlc
court by ". F. Schoch in behalf of tn
club against Mayor Drew, Chief Ram
sey and Police Judge A1agaw TO RESTRAIN
them from interfering with the club o
confiscating any OF its property IN
petition sets forth that the Amity Liter
airy and Social club. of Topeka is a socia
and literary organization That it
/ meetings have been attended by tn
mem bers of the club only and the fam
lies Of said members. That said meet
ings have been attended with decOrur
and have at all times been quiet an
orderly Plaintiff alleges the fact tha
/ no spirituous. fermented or other int0xi
eating liquors were ever sold at tn
rooms Of said club in violation of law 0
that Robert Semple, Ben Holtwick an
Louie Hoschick either alone or wit
others has or does now keep and main
tain q place or club for the meeting @
mem hers where Intoxicating liquors ar
received. kept and sold as a beverage Q
/ in violation Of any law Of this state 0
any ordinance Of the city of Topeka
Judge Hazen allowed the temp0rar
restraining order and the hearing 70
/ morning That hearing viii decide tn
merits OF the case The police court cas-
I is set for hearing tomorrow, but It
/ quite probable that It viii be continue
/ 10 await the decision on the injunction
[ in which the nuisance ordinance, SO ia
as it relates to clubs. viii be attacked
I don't know what VIII be the out
come of the suit" said Mayor Drew &c
= / dav I'VE must do something with tn
club question. OF every jointist in tow
will be starting a club to evade the Law
There is a line between the legitinat
. ( and the Legitimate club, but the ques
7 ton is where IS the line That is wha
/ We want TO find out"