The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-26
Jointists Don't Understand Mr
Nichols.
Summons Forty Witnesses t,
Inquire About Joints.
SURPRISED AT COUP.
Liquor Men Fear He VIII Close
Saloons.
Inquiry Is Being Conducted
With Great Secrecy.

C1alen NICHOLS the county attorney
IS moving in a mysterious way under
the prohibition inquisition law. Late
Saturday afternoon he placed 30 sub
poenas for witnesses to appear before
him Monday and tell what they know
about the violation Of the prohibitory
law.
Sheriff Lucas and his force of depu
ties at once began a dfigent and pains
taking search for the desired witnesses
and at nine o'clock this morning the
inquisition began.
The witnesses this morning were all
from the ranks of the newspaper re-
porters and as each one entered Mr..
Nichols private office by the south
door he was sworn. under penalty Of
imprisonment in jail and q fine, not to
divulge one incident that went on rec
ord during the examination.
Mr.. Nichols refused to be cross ques-
doned by the reporters. He would not
say why he began the inquisition nor
who furnished him the names Of the
witnesses. The sudden change of front
on the part of the county attorney is
mysterious.
The only persons in the inquisition
room st a time are Mr.. Nichols, the
official stenOgrapher and one witness.
This morning eight reporters were
questioned and the time of the ques-
tioning varied from 10 minutes to half
an hour.
1t is generally understood that the
inquisition viii be directed only at the
joints and that the drug stores and
gambling houses will not come. in for
consideration. The clubs and societies
where liquor is served viii not be con-
sidered.
Mrs. Ayra NIcHenry. the editor of the
Search Light, a prohibition paper pub
hshed at Howard, was an interested
spectator in the outer office and after
several witnesses had been examined She
was closeted with Mr.. Nichols for some
time
Mrs. AIcHenry was asked if she knew
why Mr.. Nichols was suddenly becom-
ing so active. She smiled as If she
knew g good deal about 1t but did not
volunteer any information. She admit
ted that she and Mrs. Nation had called
on Mr.. Nichols and that list Of wit
nesses for such an inquisition had been
submitted and that he was probably
acting on that list.
AL Hayslip. who is credited with being
proprietor of The Palms was also on
guard on the outside watching who went
into the inquisition room.
Under the 1nquisitiOn law, which was
passed by the last session of the legis-
lature, when a list of witnesses IS sub
mitted to a county attorney. he must
summon the witnesses and question them
regarding the violation of the prohib-
itory law. If he secures evidence suff-
cient to warrant him in proceeding
against any joints he may do so in the
district court. The county attorney dA
ctdes whether the evidence is sufficient
to Justify him in making arrests
About q week ago q Tip" was given
the jointists that it would be well for
them to remove their hard wood bars
and plate glass mirrors and they did So
Cheap. pine bars which can be DESTROY
ed and split into kindling wood without
any serious financial loss to the Joint
lists have been installed in places of the
expensive bars that were removed
Mr. Nichols was county attorney for
one term and he began his second term
this month He was reelected and
many who supported him for reelection
did so under the impression, - perhaps.
that the prohibition law would be en-
forced If he was reelected. There were
certain persons who felt forced to sup
port him for reelection because he was
on the Republican ticket and they gave
as an excuse that they were convinced
that Nichols would support the law. One
theory advanced for the present inquisi-
ton is that these persons prepared the
list and submitted it to Nichols to force
him to make a semblance of proceeding
against the jointists and thereby relieve
their conscience.
It is generally understood that the list
Of witnesses, from which Mr.. Nichols is
working, was prepared and submitted
BY Thomas II. Balm, member of the
law and order committee.