The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-15
HE MUST EXPLAIN
City Attorney Drenning Does
Some Queer Things.
Chief of Police Eaton Is, Much
Incensed.
CASES ARE DROPPED.
Police Court Appeals Dismissed
in District Court.
No Account of Money Received
Given to Police.
Naturally Head of Department
Becomes Suspicious.
CASES ARE DROPPED.

It became evident this morning that
CITY Attorney F. G. Dreaming will havo
10 take a day off from his arduous an
ties. which at present consist priucipaI-
iy of dismissing cases, and explain 10
the mayor, police committee and. incl
oently, the public.
Ever since Mr.. Dreaming took office
ne has been dismissing appealed caaes
without taking the trouble to explain
to the police court. As a result the
police dockets are in such a condition
that should the police committee take
hotloH to hold an investigation. they
would ind most peculiar state of az
Ialrs. policemen are notified to appear
III ulstr1ct court on a certain day to
testiry IN some case appealed from the
pollce court. They arrive on time, and
after waiting all day, are Informed that
'ne case IN question was dismissed
summarily ten days previous bv the
city attorney.
NOW, it is presumed that City Attor-
ney Drenn1ng does nothing irreenlar
IL is a known fact that he receives sIIn,s
OF money from the defendants or their
attorneys, a. and then dismisses the case.
1t is presumed that City Attorney
Drennlng turns this money in to the
city. 1t remains, however that the
city has no means of telling how much
whose
case is dismissed upon payment OF
costs, and Dreaming never takes the
trouble to advise the police court on
the action he has taken. For instance,
the police We're laboring under the de-
fusion that they had a case against
Henry Schaffer, whom they arrested
for keeping a nuisance. They captur-
ed some liquor on his premises and had
spotter evidence to connect him with
several sales.
In regard to this case Chief Eaton
said today:
1--WE presumed that Schaffer who ap-
peaied from this court, would be tried
in district court. and we had our evil
dence ready. We have learned that
Schaffer sent s25 to Drenning with
proposition that the case be dismissed
Dreaming was angry. Just a week later
Schaffer's case had been dismissed,
without the knowledge of the police or
the police court-and Drenning was not
angry any more.
II have never accused Drenning of
converting any money to his own use,
but 1 10 know that he has left my de-
partment and the police court in an aw-
full mess by failing to st-aighten up our
books. He collects fines costs and
dismisses cases and our books show
nothing. The police committee with
no good proof to the contrary, could
stick the police force for stealing.
This morning in district court.
we were prepared to try Bee Adams.
him. He paid some money to Dren-
ming, and Dreaming dismissed the case
against him. But Dreaming did not
make any report to us, and as far as
we know, officially, the case is still
pending. 1 have figured out a way to
settle this matter of Jurisdiction, as
to whether or not Dreaming shall COL
lect fines and costs without reporting
the same to this office. Today I shall
re-arrest 'Bee'Adams on the same
charge, on the same information upon
which he was arrested before. If
Dreaming sees fit to continue in his
present high-handed manner, 1 shall
take steps to protect this department
against false impressions"
Drenning has dismissed dozens of
cases in district court, upon payment
of costs by the defendant, and the po-
lice were none the wiser. No one who
knows Dreaming believes that he "cut
OUT any of the money paid to him by
defendants. but the fact remains that
he has been dismissing cases to get a
little money for the city and save him.
self of the trouble of conducting tha
prosecution, regardless of the merits OF
the ease