The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-02
NO LET UP THERE
Governor Begins War in Earnest
on LeavenwOrth Joints.
Writes a Letter to Mr.. Jackson
Commenting His Course.

There will be no let up on Leaven
worth. Governor Hoeh this morning
sent letter to Attorney General Jack
son placing at the disposal of Mr.. Jack
son the entire contingent fund of the
governors Office to supplement that of
the attorney general. in the fight to
close the saloons of Leavenworth. The
governors letter to General Jackson
follows:
my Dear Sir:-I am exceedingly
anxious that the contest for the supre-
macy of law in Leavenworth county be
pushed with all the vigor possible; and
I wish to assure you that my conting-
ent fund is at your service for this
purpose. Spare no reasonable effort to
compel obedience to law in Leaven-
worth county.
II recognize the difficulty in this
particular locality which has confront
ed you and l want to congratulate you
upon the substantial results already at
tanned and wish to assure you that
at your disposal for the further pros
ecution of this battle for law and
order. Very truly yours.
"E. w. HOCH."
So if the law violators of Leaven-
worth thought they would take the
heart out of the law enforcement cam
paign by securing the acquittal of the
first jointist tried by jury in that
county for 20 years, they were mistak-
en-. The state has taken up the chal-
lenge of the Leavenworth courts, and
every power which the state possesses
will be devoted to closing the Leaven-
worth saloons.
Further than this, Governor Hoch
late Friday afternoon issued an off,
cial order to the attorney general d.
recting him, if he deemed it advisable,
to dismiss the perjury prosecution
hi nI, iS n
against Robert Norris. secretary of the
State Temperance union. This order
is an unusual document, for it not
only is signed by the governor, but Is
attested by the secretary of state, and
copy is placed on file with the sec
rotary of state. This order is as fol-
lows:
"Sir.
For reasons that are sufficient to
me, 1 beg to require of you and dt-
rect you to appear for the state of
Kansas in the case of the State of
Kansas VS.. Robert Norris now pending
in the district court of Leavenworth
county, Kansas, and to take care of
and prosecute said cause, or dismiss
| the same, as may best serve to vindi-
cate the laws of the state of Kansas.
| You must exercise your discretion as
to whether this action should be
prosecuted or dismissed. 1 further in
\ struct you to report to me in writing
| concerning the disposition of said
| cause. 1 need scarcely add the eau
ton to you that the state is not only
| concerned in the punishment of the
guilty, but is even more gravely and
vitality concerned in the prosecution
| and acquittal of the innocent"
A document of this kind is almost
equivalent to an instruction to the at
| torney general to cause the case
| against Norris to be dropped without
any further delay.
| The Norris case is believed to be a
trumpet up charge intended to dis
credit the work of the secretary OF
| the State Temperance union. The
charge against Norris is that he swore
to a complaint against a restaurant
keeper for selling liquor, and used a
| form which had been drawn up for
use in complaints against joints. This
complaint stated that there were bar
fixtures in the place, when as a mat
ter of fact there were none. The
i liquor element caused Norris arrest
on the charge of perjury. The motive
of the prosecution was so evident that
Attorney General Jackson filed a mo-
ton with the court some time ago to
dismiss the complaint, but the court
overruled the motion.
The law gives the attorney general
the right to step in and take full
charge of such prosecutions, and to
dismiss the complaint if it is deemed
advisable.
Attorney General Jackson went tc
Leavenworth last night to take charge
of the Norris case.