The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-22


Carl Lawson, City Jailer. Who Tcsti-
fed for Sergeant jenkins.
Mary Bayley, the star witness for the
prosecution, made a bad impression on
the council and the audience. She told
an improbable story and admitted that
she asked the sergeant for a nickel as
soon as she saw him that night. She
went to her home in Hutchinson after
she got out of Jail and was sent for by
Chief Eaton to come here and testify.
She was arrested by the Hutchinson
chief of police on request of the Topeka
chief. She claimed that Jenkens called
her out in the hall and took her in the
detectives room across the corridor.
Annie Ellis the other Witness is an
old timer in police circles here, having
been arrested on an average Of once
month for street walking for many
years. She looked the part. She told
of the sergeant's visit and how he
called the Bayley girl from the room.
She told Mrs. Thorpe about the matter
the next morning when the police mat
ron asked her If any of the officers
were in the women's ward the night
before. She said the matron always
asked that question of the women pris-
oners.
Councilman Howard was the next
witness, and he told of the events at
the investigation of the two prisoners
and of their signing the affidavits. He
said that Jenkens admitted at this in
Vestigation that he had entered the
women's ward and walked the prisoners
and given them money and that he
'joshed" the Bayley girl. Also that he
he had taken drink that night
Mrs. Thorpe, the police matron, took
| the stand and testified to the story told
! her by the negro women. Under cross
| examination she said that she left the
| jail at o'clock every evening and that
| 1t was necessary for police officers to
look after the wOmen's ward at night
| In case of disturbance up there or TAX
ing new prisoner to the quarters.
| There had been cases of officers going
to the women's ward before at night.
Jenkins Tells His Story.
The city rested its case and the de-
| tense called Maurice Jenkens to the
stand. The big sergeant made a good
| appearance and told straightforward
! story that bore the ring of truth. He
made a favorable impression on all
! present but his enemies . and it was
/ impossible to believe the allegations of
| the negro women in the face of the
sergeant's appearance and his story.
| Jenkens has lived here % years and
| spent the last 16 on the police force
| except during intervals when politics
forced him to retirement. His story
| was as follows: 81 have known Annie
| Ellis for years. She is addicted TO
the other woman was in Jail that night.
Il went on duty at 6 o'clock and took
the night men out on their runs. /
| staid at the Jail until o'clock then
| l made my first round, going clear to
| North Topeka and locating all the pa
| trolmen. L got back to the station at
10 o'clock and staid until midnight
| when started on my next round. go
ing to North Topeka again. 1 stopped
| at the Chesterfield for lunch and then
| Kansas Ioa
| land hotel where I met Patrolman Eng
| land at O'Clock. I went TO the sta
| ton and found a call there from the
| Western Union ONCE. They had an
| important message for Chief Eaton.
| Detective Sauls and 1 hitched up tho
| horse and drove ont to the CHIEFS
| house with the message. J. delivered il
| TO the chief myself. We returned to the
| station about o'clock. Detective Sauls
| and Jailer Lawson were there with me.
Before going to the chiefs house 1 had
complained of feeling badly and 1 took
| a drink of whisky from a half pint bot
tie. 1 took small drink. 1 am not a
| whisky man and drink very little of
! the stuff. I never carried a bottle
around with me in my life. This flask
| was in the station. Detective Sauls
| had brought it home with him from
| Kentucky where he visited two months
ago. Jailer Lawson went home at 4
| o'clock and Patrolman Duncan came
| in to relieve him. Detective Sauls went
| to bed. About 4 o'clock I heard noise
and went out in the jail yard to in
| vestigate. There was nothing there
| and I went up stairs. 1 saw a light
| burning in the womans ward and ]
| went in there. Two wenches were ly-
ing in the bed and I grabbed one OF
them by the foot and asked how many
were in the room and she answered
that there were only two. They asked
me for money. Begged for a nickel
The Bayley girl followed me to the door
and begged for a quarter and made q
proposal in exchange for it. She stood
in the doorway and I showed her back
| inside so I could close the door,
| had no money with me. so 1 went
down and got some change from my
coat. 1 went back up stairs and gave
them a dime apiece. Ever since have
been on the force 1 have given small
| sums like this to these negro charac-
| tiers about town. Police officers have
to have information many times about
! these people and often give them mon
ey when they ask for it and often get
| information about criminals by this
| method. / was upstairs about two min
utes the first time and 80 seconds the
| last time. And this is the whole
| truth. gentlemen"
When asked about being suspended
from the force some time ago by Chiel