The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-07
ATTORNEY

dren now live. i had been working a
long time in a cement plant at lola.
Last summer we had a flood at lola
and my house was surrounded by wa
ter 1 had to wade through it to go to
my work The work in the cement
plant and wading through this water
got me full of malaria.
Melvin Once Got Jagged"
Several of my friends told me that
If would drink more beer and whisky
would get well. went up town and
purchased four bottles of beer and a
pint CT whisky. L drank two bottles
of the beer and half of the whisky and
it came near killing me. I completely
collapsed. and it was thought for a
time that / would not recover.
when did get out began to feel
that wanted revenge on the men that
had advised me to drink the whisky.
l purchased two revoIvers and went to
some of my friends and to the news
paper offices at lola and announced
that was going toSkiil about a half
dozen fellows. They did not seem to
take the matter seriously. About the
time | was preparing to do some
shooting a policeman from lola came
to my home and arrested me and took
my revolvers from me. I then told
them that l had completely collapsed
and that they must send me to the
asylum until recovered and got over
that passion to get revenge. [ was
tried before Judge Smith and on Feb
rurary IA l was sent to the asylum at
Osawatomie. 1 had not been there
long until I knew 1 was well and 1 so
told the doctor.
About the time 1 got out of the
asylum, May IS, [ came to the con-
cluSiOn that my mission was to oppose
the whisky traffic 1 took the matter
up alone and did not advise with any
one as to how 1 should proceed to get
rid of the saloons Before 1 left the
asylum 1 concluded to try dynamiting
7 lxa nj hn tor 70
myself and worked on the plans.
Twenty-Five years ago 1 was interested
in the prohibition movement and
made speeches down here in Kansas.
I had been in the asylum twice before
out in Nebraska and at one time ran
a prohibition paper out there known
as the Prohibition Sentinel, printed at
Fall City, Neb. That was twenty years
ago.
Had Plenty of Dynamite.
''I am not going to say how 1 got
the dynamite to blow up the saloons
don't you forget. it. 1 placed two caps
and two fuses in each stick of dyna-
rite so as to be sure it would explode.
1 placed the dynamite in sacks end
piaoed the sacks in the rear of the
saloon buildings and touched off the
fuses. The balance was easy. After
I did the work 1 left lola. After I
left leila I assumed the name of Rob-
ert Brown.
Just to show you that am not
irssre 1 want to show you Il lrttec
wrote to my sister the day Derore
Sheriff Richardson arrested me. My
sisters name is Mrs. Carrie Scott, and
she lives on a ranch with her husband
friend on earth I have, and I always
took her advice on everything, al
though I have not seen her for twenty
years and did not hear from her I'M
til after I dynamited the saloons.
then wrote to her.
Melvin produced the letter. 1t was
long and somewhat rambling and
ended with the following sentence:
But here's to the dynamite that
raises the devil in Kansas"
Melvin Fears Violence.
Melvin asked if there was any dan
ger of violence in case he went 70
lola. He was assured there was not
and this fact seemed to give him great
satisfaction.
"I want the world to know the
straight of all this affair."" said Mel
vim as he was being led back to his
cell. 81 have not thing to hide. 1
want you to tell the people that I am
not insane. I do not need any lawyer
to defend me and when the time
comes if any charges are filed against
me l shall plead my own case. 1 am
not ashamed of what I have done
My passion for revenge has been salts
fed. I have no objections to saloons
where they are not run in violation of
the law. It is the wreckers of homes
and violators of the law in Kansas
that I am after. They ought to be
driven out of the state. 1 say down
with the jointsi"
The charge against Melvin at lola,
Kas., lis assault with intent to kill.
There was a man in one of the build
ings dynamited and this man filed the
charge against him. 1t is said this
charge will probably be Withdrawn
and another effort made to return
Melvin to the asylum. He says he
will resist this and if there is a GRIM
inal charge against him he will insist
On a trial and will mt Mead f0ser ifv