The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-14
FOR A GRAND JURY
Gambling and Legislative
Frauds Cause a Stir.
Those Interested in Decency
Behind the Movement.
MANY ARE FLEECED.
Local Gamblers Have Become
lns0lently Bold.
Stories of Large Losses Are
Being Circulated.
Large Sums of Money Lost Over
Gambling Tables.

County Attorney Hungate is investi-
eating the complaints made by a num-
Der of persons against the gambling
houses in Topeka. The county attorney
has been urged to proceed against the
gambling house keepers under the Cub
bison anti-gambling law.
The sentiment in favor of calling a
grand jury to investigate the legisla-
ture pay roll frauds and the vioIators
! OF the Cubbison anti-gambling law is
gaining ground and the result may be
( that the petition necessary for the call
ing of grand jury in Shawnee county
may be circulated and presented to
Judge Hazen.
There IS plenty of work for a grand
jury and if one is called many true
bills could be returned which would re-
suit in bringing parties to trial, in
the district court, who are guilty OF
forgery on the legislature pay roll and
of violating the gambling laws.
Several men who have been deeced
out of large sums of money by local
gamblers have been cited to Mr.. Hun
gate by their parents and friends and
in conference with Mr.. Hungate.
The complaints are made most
against the gambling rooms operated
in connection with the Royal billiard
hail. and cover a period of more than
a Yaar.
Half a dozen prominent business
men and sons of well known persons
have lost large sums of money at the
gaming tables. The efforts of the
county attorney are at present being
directed toward the securing of testi-
mony from some or all of these per-
sons.
UFsltr the Cubbison law they can not
be S-erced to testify. as they can re-
would incriminate them. Two of the
young men are willing to testify but
fear the nOtOriety.
One business man is reported to have
lost several thousand dollars at rou-
lette. Another young man who start
ed in business not long ago has been
playing night after night, and has been
heeced out of several hundred dollars.
A contractor who has plunged for over
a year has lost about all the property
he owned, and the son of a very prorni-
nent merchant and church member is
on the list that has been reported to
the county attorney.
The prOprletorS of gambling estab-
hshments can not be proceeded against
by means of the inquisition used to
secure evidence against illegal LIQUOR
Sellers.
County Attorney Hungate has nothing
to say about the complaints made to
him regarding the wholesale fleeing of
Topeka men by local gamblers except
to admit that such complaints We're
made to him and that he is investigat-
ing them with the intent of issuing
complaints for the gamblers who are
responsible.
Il have nothing to say about the mat
ter for publication said Mr. Hungate
Il can not say what has been done or
what will be done Complaints have
n a n md 7 1a7x
investigation and further investigation
is underway. Further than that 1 have
nothing to say"
If grand jury is to be in session
during the January term of the district
court the jury must be drawn within
short time as the law provides that the
petition shall be presented to the judge
of the district court at least 40 days
before the beginning of the term at
which the jury shall be in session.
The law relating to grand juries is as
follows:
"a grand jury shall hereafter be or
dered drawn and summoned to attend
a term of the district court of any coun-
ty as hereinafter provided. In each or
ganized county a grand jury shall be
ordered drawn and summoned to attend
at 2 term of the district court of any
county when petition praying for said
grand jury, and signed by, taxpayers of
said county as herein provided, shall be
court of said county at least forty days
before the commencement of the term
of court at which the said grand jury
be desired by said petitioners. The
number of taxpayers Of the county
wherein a grand jury is desired who
must sign a petition praying for such
grand jury is hereby fixed as follows:
In a county having a population of less
than five thousand, the number must
be at least one hundred; in county
having a population of five thousand or
more and less than ten thousand, the
number must be at least two hundred:
and in a county having a population of
ten thousand or more, the number must
be at least four hundred. For the pur-
pose of this act, the population of any
shall be determined by the
made by the township and
city assessors of such county during the
year next preceding the year when such
petition for a grand jury may be pre-
sented.
Upon the presentation to the district
Judge of the proper county of a petition
praying for a grand jury, as provided
in this act. said judge shall order a
grand jury to be drawn and summoned
in the same manner as petit jurors for
the district court, to attend at the term
of court for which said grand jury is
desired by petitioners"
The jury shall number Is men whose
names are drawn from the Jury box
A foreman shall be named from among
the jurors