Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-10-18
The Raid on the Intoxicating
Liquors in the Fowler
Depot.

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Having had perfect understanding
of-all these things from the very first
it seemed good also to write unto
thee, o most excellent editor.
On the day on which these liquors
were seized, Mr.. Albert Potter, a
prominent business man of Fowler;
came to Meade on Passenger No. 20
and at once consulted with Mr.. F.
S. Sullivan, County Attorney and
Mr.. Griggs, who advised him to
make complaint in legal form to
some magistrate.
Having that end in view, Mr..
Potter requested R. w. Griggs, who
had previously been employed for
such an event. by certain respectable
tax payers of Fowler and vicinity,
to make out the necessary legal
papers, which being done Mr.. Potter
went to Justice Stamper, of Meade
Center Township, and ma de afida-
Wit to the complaint whereupon Judge
Stamper issued to his constable, R.
c. Griggs, warrant for search and
seizure. The constable taking his
warrant, accompanied by R. W.
Griggs employed in the case returned
at once with Mr.. Potter to Fowler
on Passenger No. 80.
On arrival at the depot at Fowler
the constable proceeded instanter to
execute his warrant by entering and
searching the depot. The search
resulted in finding and seizing A
cases of whiskey and one case of
beer. The search and seizure had
only one incident to break the
monotony ordinary to reading and
execution of warrant. The express
agent after opening the door of the
room where the liquors were, said
that he felt that he ought make some
resistance, at which remark Mr..
Griggs produced "A Colts and
showed the agent aside, who seemed
that he had fully discharged his duty
to his employers, at least he did not
futher disturb the proceedings.
The liquors were at once taken to
Meade and by order of the court
were placed in the Jail in charge of
sheriff. Notice having been given
as by law required notifying any
person. claiming said liquors to ap-
pear in court on a day therein
named, and to show cause if any
they had why liquors so seized
should not be adjudged forfeited
and ordered destroyed, resulted in
the appearance of A. 7. Bodle Jr.
for the U. S. Express Co. as its
att orney. The court of after hear
ing the argument of the counsel de-
cided that the express company was
not an owner nor entitled to the
possession of the liquors County
Attorney Sullivan appeared for the
State at the opening of trial and
stated that he had other duties of an
urgent nature and official character
awaiting him in his Office, and asked
the court to excuse him at that time
from further attendance saying that
he left the case in the hands of Mr..
Griggs, who also appeared for the
State.
At this point evidence was heard
by court. After the presentation of
evidence the court adjudged the
liquors so seized, forfeited, and or
dered the sheriff to destroy same.
Whereupon, Mr.. Bodle for the U.
S. Express Company gave notice of
its purpose to appeal the case.
A great number of the citizens of
Fowler, who love to dwell in security
and in the peace of the State, as all
well disposed persons do. attended
the trial of the case The persons at
the request of the deputy sheriff in
attendance quite willingly assisted
in the execution of the order of the
court to destroy in public manner
all of the liquors siezed and the in
presence of the court.
There is one incident, previous to
the trial in connection with the seiz-
ure and obstruction of this liquor, to
be related here. A party by name
of Gamble came to the attorney for
the State, Sullivan and Gtiggs, be-
fore the day named for the trial and
through one Edwards he had ordered
a certain six quarts of of whiskey in
one of the packages, and that he
had ordered it en- the prescription OF
a physician for the use of his wife
who he said was an invalid and that
he wished to take it home foT. her
use. MIR. Griggs for the State con-
Esidering the statement to be true
said that he would consent to the
withdrawal of one quart for this
purpose, if he, Gamble, would make
/ L Il - H.