The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-25
TO SEE 1T THROUGH
Chief Eaton Demands Investi-
CATION of Charges.
Denies He Has Given Liquor to
Prisoners OF Anyone. +
THAT "KITTY" FUND.
Kept Up From Sale to Junk
Dealers.
Money Used for Emergencies at
Police Station.

asked the mayor and city council to
make a thorough investigation of the
charges which were preferred against
him yesterday by H. A. Dusenberry,
discharged policeman. Dusenberry has
had a varied experience since he has
been in Topeka as far as his connec-
ton with the policing of the city is
concerned. For a time he was en-
ployed by the State Temperance union
as spotter and later served in the
same capacity under Chief of Police
frank Stahl.
When the force was reorganized
after the election of Mayor Green he
was given star and for a time was
stationed on the North side of the
river. Robberies became frequent and
the oh1cer who was working with him
claimed that he slept much of the
time that he, was on duty and was of
no assistance. He was then transfer
red to this side of the river and given
a beat on lower Kansas avenue and
complaints began to reach the chief
that he was neglecting his duty as we'll
as complaints of a more serious ma
ture.
These complaints became so numer-
Gus that another officer was assigned
to investigate them and upon his re-
port as we'll as those of business men
on the beat. he was released. 1t was
then that he filed charges against
Chief Eaton charging him with selling,
appropriating and giving away goods
seized during raids on joints about the
city.
Speaking of the charges fled Chief
Eaton this morning said: 81 have
asked that a thorough investigation of
all charges be made as they are ma
licious and without foundation. Du-
senberry is incompetent and should
not have been kept on the force as
long as he has. but wanted to investi-
gate the charges thoroughly before
taking action.
LAS soon as I became satisfied that
they were true, as we'll as a number
of others that have not been mention
ed, 1 suspended him with the recon-
mendation that he be discharged, and
Mayor Green acted on my recon-
then he filed these charges. l shall
file charges of criminal nature
AGAINST Dusenberry and give him
chance to prove his statements in
court.
81 have never given any of the Ii
quor captured in joints to reporters
or to anyone else for that matter as
it has been emptied into the sewer
under my personal directions. 1t has
been the practice for years to save the
empty beer bottles and cases captured
during these raids and dispose of
them to the junk dealers. The money
realized on these sales is placed in
fund and kept at the police station.
cat this time there is about $50 in
the fund and it is used for the pur-
chase of needed supplies about the
city prison for which no appropria,
ton is made by the city council, and
for charity. 1t often happens that an
old man or woman temporarily
stranded in the city comes to the Jail
for assistance and in cases of this
kind an officer is sent with them and
their lodging paid at hotel.
Boys and girls are frequently
brought to the Jail who must be cared
for temporarily and this expense is
paid from the kitty fund. Tables
kind taken on these raids are given
to the Orphans home rather than de-
stroy them and this is not a new GUS
tom.
"The charges are malicious and
wholly without foundation and made
for spite work. 1 want to make the
police force efficient, but I can not
make it SO If I am compelled to keep
The charge that the prisoners are CIV
en- liquor is as absurd as are the rest
of the statements made. The liquor
is kept in the basement until it is or
it is emptied into the sewer, and the
sergeants and myself are the only
ones who have keys to the lock-"
Sergeant Jenkins. who has been on
various capacities said, For years
there has been a kitty fund at the
jail kept for the purpose of buying
shoe blacking. clothes brushes and
hundreds of other little things about
the Jail that are a necessity. but are
not provided by the city. Time after
time we would be called on to go
down in our pockets if it were not for
this kitty fund to help deserving
people who apply at the jail for as
sistance. All the liquor captured has
been turned in the sewer as fast as
Judge Urnny gave us permission and I
have helped in the work and know
that is has been done"
Sergeant Joe Ross, who is another old
head who has been on the force for
years and has served under a number OF
different administrations said: There
is nothing to the charges made by
Dusenberry but spite work pure and
simple. There has been complaint about
his work ever since he has been on the
force and I have investigated some Of
the charges and know that they are
true.
THE prisoners have never been per-
mitted to drink liquor as Dusenberry
charges nor has liquor been given away.
The empties have been sold just as has
been done under every other admins
tration that I have known anything
about and the money placed in a kitty
fund to sused for little things about
the station and for charity