The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-23
PASSING OF TIE RoYAL.


The Royal is a thing of the past.
A notice has been posted on the door
announcing that the place is closed
and that the fixtures are for sale. This
means more to the people of Topeka
than would at first appear. 1t means
the suppression of the most notorious
resort in the city of Topeka very
maelstrom of vice, crime and official
corruption.
For ten years this place has -four
ished in defiance of the law and be-
fore the eyes of the officers, some Of
whom have been blinded by the
money which was paid with a lavish
hand for official protection. 1t has
been the greatest source of official
corruption that has ever existed in the
city of Topeka. 1t has even been a
bulwark Of political strength, for the
following of Mike Thompson was not
to be scorned by those seeking Office.
It was no doubt through this very
power that Thompson and his partner
Fowler secured a partial immunity
from prosecution-the rest was pur-
chased in cold hard cash. Well these
men knew that their resort could not
exist except through the indifference
or connivance of the officers of the
law and they pulled every string to
accomplish this end and for ten years
they have been most successful.
By means of the Royal" Mike
Thompson rose to a position if not of
af1uence at least to one of comparative
ease. He owns several houses, horses
and carriages and has the appearance
of prosperous business man. His
partner, Wood Fowler, is the owner of
a handsome new residence and like
Thompson he has an easy and prosper
Gus air.
The other side of the picture shows
men whose fortunes have passed over
the table into the Golfers of the pro-
prietors of the Royal; it shows men
who have mortgaged and lost their
property to get money to place on the
numbers before the Royal roulette
wheel; it shows families which have
been wrecked because of the irresistible
longing of the head of the household
to attempt to recoup his losses in the
Thompson Fowler resort, a longing
which is never satisfied. It is a pic
ture in which the landscape is strewn
with human wrecks and shattered
hopes and ambitions.
The money which Thompson and
Fowler flched from the people will
stand as a disgraceful monument to
the inefficiency and venality of the
public officers of the city of Topeka
and Shawnee county. for however
criminal were the acts of these two
men the public officers who betrayed
the trust Of the people for private gain
have been much worse.
It will be humiliating for Thompson
and Fowler to go to Jail. They will
keenly appreciate the disgrace for they
feel that through their money they are
entitled to standing in the community
But these men ought to be satisfied
that they are to escape with a jail SEN
tence for they might be prosecuted for
a. felony and sent to the penitentiary,
even though through their money they
might have been able to delay the OPP
Grafton of the law for a year or more.
The people are not anxious that
these men should go to the peniten-
tiary but the city has good reason to
bel thankful that the Royal has been
closed apparently for all time and it
must be said to the credit of County
Attorney Hungate that he has been
the instrument to accomplish this
end. He is in a position to see that
the promise of Thompson and Fowler
to give I'D their business of Fleeing
the public is made in good faith for
there IS hanging over their heads
charge upon which, if they are con-
victed they may be sent to the peni-
tertiary. This is a. pledge of good be-
havior that will be more effective
than a cart load of promises.