The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-28
OUT FOR SCALPS.
Alien County Attorney PrOds
the Cities Officials.
Insists on the Enforcement Of
PrOhibitory Law.
CRUSADE.
Threatens to Make Wholesale
Vacancies fin Offices.
Lectures Municipal Authorities
on Their Duties.

lola, Kan, March 2S.-Unless the
mayors. police judges. policemen and
other city officials of the municipalities
of Allen county soon furnish the coun-
ty attorney with information that will
enable him to stop the sale of liquor
he says he will create vacancies in
their Offices. He says this in a letter.
over his own signature, to these off,
GERS. He sent them all communica-
tions last night, putting on each spe-
cial delivery stamp so that each would
nave 10 receipt for the letter and he
would know that it was received.
The letter to Mayor Dresbach of this
city recited that section 2462 of the
compiled laws of Kansas, statutes of
1901. provides that it shall be the duty
OF all sheriffs, deputy sheriffs consta-
bles, mayors, marshals, police judges,
and police officers to notify the county
attorney of any violations of the pro-
htbitory law. and give him the names
of such witnesses as they have knowl-
edge of who can prove the violation.
After reciting this section in full, the
letter proceeds to give him a lecture
on his duties. During the two years
of your office it is currently reported
that you have belonged to lodges that
maintain club rooms" he tells Iola's
executive. Then asks him If he is ig-
norant of the provisions of the law re-
ferred to and that to belong to such
lodge is in itself a violation of law.
"It is reported to me-" the letter
proceeds, that you have given orders
places unless called in by the pro-
prietor. Is this true? shall be pleased
to have you call and talk over the
matter with me and to have your CO.
operation in suppressing the traffic in
this city. In case you do not, there
may be some vacancies to ILL.,
The vacancies to which he refers
are custer suits. In addition to custer
a rlh IN of a n
ciaI convicted can be fined not less
than $10o nor more than $500.
The letters to the policemen of the
city are in similar strain, although
they do not charge the officers with
belonging to lodges that maintain club
rooms. They call on the officers to help
him enforce the law. He needs their
co-opera ton, he tells them.
About the same letter was sent to
the police of lola. Humboldt, Gas
City and LaHarpe mayors received
similar letters, but none was sent to
any other officer in those towns.
In the letter to the lola policemen
they are asked especially to watch
the club rooms, the fremont hotel,
Felix Thompson's. George Eastwood's.
Jim Mills, Maggie Shea's residence
and many other suspected places.
The letters were mailed at Sis
O'Clock yesterday afternoon with a
special delivery stamp attached to
each one. That insured that they
would receive Immediate delivery,
besides getting receipt for the let
ter. Within an hour former Jig
ger man came to the office with one
of the letters addressed to the police.
The address was torn out but the
county attorney thinks he has a clue
to the identity of the policeman who
gave the letter to the man. The for
mer jigger man gave the county attor-
ney assurance that he had quit the
business and in proof of it showed that
his government stamp has been sur
rendered.
None of the men to whom letters
were sent would consent to discuss
the case for publication. Each ad-
mitted getting the letter. but said IL
was not a matter that demanded any
reply. One official stated that there
was nothing for him to say. 1.-The law
quoted is apparently correctly stated"
he said. :'I had information that the
statutes contained such a provision be-
fore the county attorney gave added
proof of it. do not see that there is
anything I can say in answer to it. In
case 1 do know of any violations Of the
myself 1 always have and always will
do it. I shall then do my duty and In
form the county attorney of any facts
In my possession. ] am glad to know
that any information 1 might come in
TO possession of will be cheerfully re-
ceived. But as l haven't any infor-
nation in my possession now there
isn't anything for me to do but wait
until some comes to me-"
Mayor Dresbach refused to discuss
the matter except to say that he had
ed to him before.