The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-11
ARREST FUNSTON.
The Father Of General Fred
Taken to Jail at lola.
Made Some Strong Statements
and Was Arrested.
FIGHT WITH POLICE.
Officers Say Ex-COngressman
Had Rifle and Ball.
An Outcome of the Dynamiting
Saloons at lola.
FIGHT WITH POLICE.

lola, Kan, July lie H. Funston,
Representative in congress and father
Of General Frederick Funston, was ar
rested here late Monday by PatroIman
Cannon. Funston in talking to Cannon
Of the explosion, said that if the off
GERS had done their duty in Allen coun-
ty the trouble would have been avoided.
Cannon arrested him for making inf1am-
matory utterances. A fight followed. in
which the oDliceman struck Funston,
strapped him to his buggy and took him
to jail.
Funston was released from Jail later.
He proceeded to justice court, where
he had warrant sworn out for the po-
Hceman's arrest. Cannon charges that
Funston came to town from his farm
81 in the morning with a Winchester re-
volver and rifle. He charges that he
had some cartridges in his buggy when
the arrest was made. Cannon said he
was afraid some harm might be done by
Funston in a rash moment. Funston
is radical law enforcement man. His
hearing was set for Saturday.
Z. H. Funston is 50 years old, but
more than six feet tall and still as
straight as an arrow. His son, the gen.
eral, has always been credited with
having come by his fighting abilities
honestly. The elder Funston went to
Kansas in 1867. He served four terms
in the legislature, beginning in 1873,
and was elected to congress in 1884. He
was reelected in 1886, 1888, 1890 and 1892.
He was defeated for denomination in
1894 and retired, the last of the orig
inal old crowd in the Republican
party in Kansas
lola is calm again after a, day of the
most intense excitement the town has
ever experienced as the result of the
blowing up of three saloons. Conserva-
tive estimate of the damage resulting
from the explosion which wrecked the
Eagle, the Bluefront and the Redlight
saloons, and damaged other buildings in
the immediate vicinity place it at $780,
900. The mayor has sworn in a large
number of deputies who patrolled the
streets last night to preserve order.
That the outrage was committed by an
irresponsible person was made clear
when a number of letters were received
by local newspapers from a man signing
the name &C. L. Melvine," who is in
hiding in this vicinity. The tenor of
the letter indicates that the writer is in
sane and that he blew up the saloons
here.
An effort was made late Monday to
induce the mayor to ask the governor
for an emergency order to use the local
company of the Kansas National guard
if necessary. This was due to the en-
nifty which has arisen between the sa-
loon men and the law enforcement ele-
ment as a result of Sunday nights dis
aster. 1t was feared that an attempt
might be made to retaliate. The mayor
refused to make the request.
That the diseaster was caused by an
irresponsible crank" was made clear,
when number of letters were received
at the lola Register office from G. L
Melvin, who is in hiding in this vicinity,
making it perfectly clear that he per-
. letters
addressed to Mayor Dresbach, 1.-THE
People of Kansas" The Saloon Men
and Bootleggers of Kansas" Governor
Hoch and the Kansas Senate and
House" The letters were placed in a
mail box at the extreme edge of town.
In the letter to THE People of Kansas
the writer says:
Down with the serpent tooth of rum.
Until that time the fair land of Kansas
Will be rent with red eye rampant an
archy. What an explosion there will be.
my countrymen, and there'u be hot
time sometime. We have given you
but a touch of what we propose to do
If the Joints" of this town are not
closed We will apply the bomb and the
torch without stint and without
mercy"
In his letter to THE Saloon Men and
Bootleggers of Kansas" he said:
LAS there seems to be no redemption
for you, you just as well go to hell first
as last and we are going to send you
there If you don't quit business and that
for good, for we are in business to stay.
Perhaps you will laugh at us. Just
come to lola and see yourselves what
we propose to do. Our organization is
complete in every part of the state
where whisky is sold openly. At a
given signal over the wires your bust
ness will go skyward and you will go
with it if you don't look out, or get out.
A word to the bootlegger: If you per-
sist in plying your nefariouS trade we're
going to shoot you on sight. A word to
the wise is suf1cient-we will wait a
little while-a little while to see-and
then"
Russian Brand of Anarchy
The letter to the governor follows, in
part:
1--WE wish to inform you that hell has
broke loose in Kansas and the first shot
has been fired. Who are we and what
is our mission? Our band consists of an
organization of men for the purpose of
assisting cowardly, dishonest officials
to enforce the laws. We believe the
people of Kansas have had enough of
this state OF affairs. We have had
enough of it and by the eternal we are
going to blow them into Kingdom come
If they don't Joe Folk themselves and
get busy. The regulation of the VIOLA
ton of law is anarchy pure and sim
pie, so if you want anarchy we will give
you enough of it, and the real Rus
sian brand. It's war to the knife and
knife to the hilt. Put your ear to the
ground and listen to the rumble of the
oncoming hosts, for God is not Knocked
What an explosion there will be, my
countrymen!'
Melvin is being searched for and mes