The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-17
VAL BLATZ FIGHTS.
Wants to Get Its Barroom Fixtures
Back.

A strenuous fight is to be made by the
Val Blatz Brewing company to recov-
er certain barroom fixtures which be-
long to the concern and which were
seized by Sheriff Wilkerson during the
progress of the custer proceedings
which were brought against the brew
ers by Fred S. Jackson, the attorney
general.
Through an attorney, the Val Blatz
company, which has Withdrawn from
business in Kansas and which has paid
the receivers fees and other costs of
the custer proceedings, which were as
sessed by the supreme court, demand
was made on Sheriff Wilkerson yester-
day for this property. But the sheriff,
who is not to be- bluffed on any sort
OF proposition, refused to give up the
property without looking into the mat
ter. And the chances are he win not
give it up without fight. or rather
he will make the other fellow do the
fighting for it.
This property is worth about s., 200,
1t consists of bars, ice boxes beer
pumps. and even some rather elaborate
mirrors used behind bars as we'll as
some fine sideboards. Sheriff Wilker-
son seized these fixtures when he raid
ed Bob Kneisler's place on East First
street and also the place on the corner
of Jefferson and First streets, which
had been run as joint at one time by
Archie Bailey. Kneisler was the repu-
ted agent of the Val BlatZ company in
this locality and against whom the
shafts.
When the custer proceedings were
brought by the attorney general
against the brewing concerns doing
business in this state and the receivers
We're appointed to take charge of their
property, each of the companies tried
it's best to remove such property as it
had in the state beyond the border lines
or either hide it.
The brewery receivers called on the
sheriffs of the various counties where
such property was supposed to be, to
locate and seize it. The sheriffs were
armed with search and seizure war
rants for this purpose. AS soon as
Sheriff WilkerSon had served the in
junction against the brewery agents
which had been issued by the su-
search and seizure warrants and
among the fixtures used in the traf-
fie in liquors .tR> violation of the law
which Mr.. WSIkefaon secured were
Blatz company.HS 'Nes
This is the first time since the brew
cry receivers we're appointed that a
brewery company has claimed the
or another to violate the prohibitory
law of the state. And 1t is likely now
that this demand has been made on
Sheriff Wilkerson for this property
that the brewery receivers will take a
hand in the game.
In the search and seizure warrants
that were issued when this property
vas taken it was charged that the
property was used in keeping and
maintaining nuisance. When this
property was taken by Sheriff wiIker-
son it was in storage, covered with
dust and had not been in use for
some time. although there is no doubt
in the minds of the peace officers that
It had been used formerly for Illegal
purposes.
The fact that the property was not
used in the maintenance of a nuisance
at the time it was taken raises the
question as to the right to its possess
sion by the authorities, and a bitter |
night on this proposition will probably |
result