The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-17
Judge Hook OF the Il. 8. Court
Deals Out Surprises.
Men Who Sold Liquor Without
Authority. Heavily Fined.
ONE MUST PAY $4,000.
Charge Was Selling Whisky to
Haskell Indians.
Large Grist OF Offenders Receive
Their Sentences.

r. L D.
There might be some mysticism aboES
this combination of letters. They might
mean a great many things. It is rather
anodd combination not nearly SO familiar
as D. T. or r. S v. P. Everyone would
recognize either OF the two last mention
ed at sight OF hearing. But to know X.
J.. D. an introduction IS necessary
1t causes the uninitiated brief spell
OF wonderment to happen into the fed
eral court and get his first Introduction
TO the r. l. D.
This is an r. L D. case. your honor. %
recites United States District Attorney
a. f. Lambert calmly and glibly as tha
culprit is led in to plead before Uncle
Sans bar Of justice which just now
happens to be located in the senate
chamber.
Judge Hook mods He knows and tire
novice wonders
r. L. D. means retail liquor dealer. -
1t is not hard to attain to the emil
hence OF being an r. l.. D All that is
necessary is to sell bottle Of whisky 20
Mr. Lo and Uncle sam will speedily
fetch you up to his college in the senate
chamber and confer the degree on you.
After that society knows you no more
JAMS and prisons yaWa for r. u. D. s
Society manages to struggle along and
be content with NJ. DIS. Phi d s, D. D. :
and Ii. DIS that are better and more
favorably known.
There were a dozen federal prisonevs
to plead in the United States circuit
court Tuesday afternoon and all but one
or two OF them were r. l. DIS. They
were generally a disreputable looking
lot. and the majority Of them saved
time and trouble by pleading guilty and
throwing themselves unon the mercy Of
the court. It was easy to pick out the
cold offenders and those who have done
time"
Up would go the right hand. palm out
ward. to the level OF the shoulder, which
IS the cOnvict's sign Of a desire to speak
and serves as a preface to the request:
ledge. kin 1 say somethin' %
Fred Hook. from Sabetha, was one.
He is built like an OK. He has immense
shoulders clustered in a symmetrical
bunch, a short neck and massive bullet
head Freds eyebrows run together.
type was degenerate There were so
counts against him when he was given
the five year sentence at Seneca.
What's this case?' asked Judge HOOK.
''R. L D. His names Hook, you-
honor. That's all the recommendation
have answered Lambert, with a
smile that meant w-do-you-l ike-your-
namesake2
Judge Hook looked down on Fred
Hook. Fred Hook had his hands clasped
behind his back clutch.ng the wide b1iru
Of cheap leather-bound sofflbrero and
swinging the hat up and down with
gentle, nervous wave
fred Hook pleaded guilty.
What have you got to say2" asked
Judge Hook sternly.
Make it light. Jedge." said the culprit
The sombrerO still waved gently and
regularly up and down.
zone thousand one hundred dollars
fnes'
The nat was stilled The prisoner
looked banker than ever
-One year in the Shawnee county
Jail" the court went or in an even tone.
The hat resumed its rhythmic swing. The
prisoner was led away
There was a slip of a youth before the
court, too. He was a good looking lad
"A mop of long hair, with disposition
20 curl, stood out over his forehead Ed
ward Garrett was his name He was
not an r. L. D. He had robbed the
postohice in a country store at Aurora.
lit constituted a federal offenae because
he took a package of stamped envelopes
and three postage stamps. value all told
about 80 cents, along with his general
haul Of pocxet-knives and clothing
How old are your" asked the judge.
Eighteen
what have you got to say to the
charger
Guilty"
what did you do it for?"
e.Just for fun
Young Gannett was frank and open.
He was not abashed. He did not hest
tate He was not nervous and was
without better excuse.
zone hundred dollars fine and Is