The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-05
UP ON The CARPET
TOpekaDruggists Before County
Attorney Schenck.
Twenty-Six Receive Summons
to Give Evidence.
WHOLESALERS.
Purpose Is to Break Up the
Beer Business.
Those Examin ed Refuse to Talk
About Proceedings.

An inquisition of the "star cham
Der" order into the traffic In beer
and liquors by the druggists of this
city under the permits they have to
do so within the terms of the prohibit
tory law was held in the office of the
probate court today by J. J. Schenck,
the county attorney. The star cham
Der characteristics of the inquiry
We're that 1t was held behind closed
doors. and each druggist, who was
summoned to the probate court for
the purposes of this proceeding, was
examined by himself, without counsel
TO represent him and in the presence
OF no one but Mr.. Schenck, J.. NJ.
Wilkerson, the sheriff. and a steno-
grapher.
or the twenty-six druggists who
were summoned to appear in court, a
haiI dozen of them were examined
up to the noon hour and it is likely
that the inquisition will last for sew
eral days as 1t is Mr.. Schenck's inten-
ton to examine all of the druggists
cited for the proceeding and he may
E. more or those doing business
IN the city before the inquiry Is ended.
Although none of the OFFICIALS who
nave a hand in the proceeding, which
is a trifie unique in the efforts of
county officers to enforce the pro-
hloltory law, would disclose the real
purposes and nature or the inquiry.
and although the druggists examined
maintained most dignified reserves
when questioned as to the nature of
the proceedings, 1t was learned that
the main object in view is the break
ing up of the wholesale traffic in
beer and liquors by agents of brewer
les and distilleries in the city. 1t is
hoped by the county officers. and
their hope is almost a certain belief
that information will be secured
through the inquiry which will per-
NIT Mr.. Schenck and Mr.. Wilkerson
TO enectuaily stop the unlawful sale
of liquor in the city and county.
Not AGAINST the Druggists.
The proceeding is not directed so much
against the druggists themselves as it
is against the men in the city who have
been furnishing them with beer and
liquor There is nothing in the prohib-
itory law to prevent druggists from pur-
chasing liquor where they can but il is
against the law for persons within the
city, county or state to sell them LIQUOR
and beer and 1T is these persons that
the county attorney and the sheriff are
after.
OF course Il is possible that as a result
of the inquiry information will be OBJ
tained from some druggists that they
have not kept within the strict limits of
the law In their dispensation- of lfquor
and beer and that on this Information
the county attorney will institute pro-
ceedings FOR the revocation of their per-
mfts to sell liquor. But 1t is not likely
that proceedings of this sort will be
many as most of the druggists in the
city have been unusually careful to live
un to the letter of the law.s If not it's
spirit, in selling liquor since Mr..
Schenck and Mr. Willzerson began their
crusade which has BEEN so successful in
closing up the joints in the city, and
thereby compelling those addicted to the |
use of fermented and distilled beverages,
who are not members of bona f1de clubs |
and who do not care to turn their homes |
into sort of private saloons, to go to |
druggists to satisfy their wants for the |
various ailments that they claim to need |
beer ard liquor for.
Those druggists cited to appear in the |
probate court for this novel proceeding
were: J. M. Brunt. the Capital Phar- |
macy, ]. T. White. proprietor: T. M |
Curtis, s. D. Punches, c. w. Meade, A. |
T. Gibler. A F. Gatlin, c. NJ. Hines, J. /
w. Hollinger. Charles Joslin, c. M !
Knowlton, Charles w. Kohl. Frank |
Keith. E. s. Lee. w. T. Lake, A. H. and |
J. B. Marshall, H. C. Martin. T. Morris. |
r., A H. OFT. G; 8: Pope. Henry Page,
B. F. Simms. Fred T. Walker, E. B. |
Walker. c Williams, Clarence Young, |
and w S. Kuntz.
Proceedings Are Secret.
All of them were on hand promptly |
at nine o'clock and they more than
comfortably filled the probate court |
roo ON, which is none too large. Among |
4 few of them there was an air of APP
oarently forced jovialty. But the
most of them sat or stood in silence
bout the room with every evidence
IF great expectancy as to what was
going to happen to them. Strange as
A~~@~T