The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-13
IS HIDING OUT.
lola Thinks ProhibitiOnists Are
Guarding Melvin.
The Alleged Dynamiter Has
Help, Say Business People.
A FIGHT OVERSALOONS
Long Conflict Between Wet and
Dry Elements.
Are Eighteen Jointists in the
Town OF lola.

lola, Kan, July 13.-sIt will probably
be long time before Melvin, the saloon
smasher,' is taken into custody" said
H. A. Richardson, sheriff of Allen coun-
ty, after an exhaustive search of the
territory about town Wednesday. Our
search reveals that wherever he is. he is
well hidden. It is the opinion of many
that Melvin is being sheltered wherever
he appears and, like John Brown of
old, is being furnished with an I'M
foreground railway by people that be-
lieve as he does and are helping him
to go on with the big task that he has
undertaken. The next heard from the
crusader, he may have struck blow at
the saloons of some other town"
There were many rumors in the at
ternoon of Melvin having been seen in
different places. Two negroes living on
the outskirts of town promised to de-
liver the much-sought man at o'clock
last night for $500 apiece. They could
show no trace Of Melvin. Melvin had
help" said the wife of a business man,
expressing the opinion of many. THE
weight of the dynamite was too much
for one man to handle. Everything
was planned too carefully and too sue
cessfully for one man.
Electric Fans in Cells.
There has been long conflict here, as
elsewhere, between the wet and the
OAJ S1SIuStllS III Tie LOWH SONC1A
After a period of drought the present
administration came into office on the
wet ticket. Mayor H. v. DreSbach
said before his election: "Since the
joints will run anyhow, 1 propose to
make them pay tribute So the admin
istration started with the town wide
open" Public Indignation caused the
mayor to put on the lid ostensibly.
The county attorney was aroused and
several ''jointists'' were sent to Jail.
Jack" Kuntz and L. D. Montgomery,
two well-to-do and old-time offenders,
refurnished the jail to make it more
comfortable in hot weather. They in
stalled electric fans in their cells and a
third one for the jaiIer. This, to the
w-abiding public, sweltering outside,
seemed like turning law into farce.
Montgomery came to this town fifteen
years ago Il day laborer. He got tent
and a key of beer He owned a s15, GOO
farms today. There are eighteen joint
lists in the town and shameless to their
law breaking they slap their legs and sing:
IT amt been fined for quite while. -
All joints pay the city $50 month for
the right to laugh at the law The people
the booze money. goes :. the public is
unaware. The failure. Of two dynamite
fuses alone prevented, damage amounting q
destroy without mercy every saloon in the
town. = -s= sec = .y5t,5 e.sr .sg. srYfz+e.
-a Expect More Explosions. ..-
G. L. Melvin the inspired crusader, is
the agent at large of all those who would
smash saloons. If the people continue TO
shelter him as they seem now to be doing,
he may be spirited about the country to
strike terror to the hearts of dealers in
rum. 1t is the opinion here that this will
be done and the sound of some new ex-
plosion is expected on every wind. Prey
ing upon the terror of the iointists or
''jiggers," as they are termed here, a
practical joker carried dynamite box
containing a giant firecracker into sa-
loon at Gas City, near this town. The ex-
plosion caused terror among the 'jiggers"
of the hamlet, who are declared to be
running yet"
Melvin may become the demi-god of pro-
hibition that prohibits. By such methods
others have achieved in other causes
deathleSS fame.