The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-15
POLICE JOTTINGS.
A Riot on the River Bank and Raid
on Rock Island Junction.

With the boom of heavy can
nonading pounding in his eyes, Officer
Wonderly, in the bottoms, fastened
toward the river almost expecting to
find a fleet of gunboats ascending the
kaw and dealing distinctions
devastating doom. 1t was nearing
midnight but a startled moon showed
him the way.
Louder and more effective grew the
bomb ardment as the officer drew
nearer. His ears were ringing and he
had broken into a run. Rounding
into First street he found, not an
array of battleships on the river, but
row of littlet houses apparently
serene on their moorings with the ex-
ception of one, midway between JEFF
ferson and Madison, where shouting
and laundering explosions were shak-
ing the little house on its very
pondered. How could he hold them
and call the patrol too. A happy
thought. A small boy was promptly
made an aide.
With the boy in tow, Wonderly en-
tered the house of high explosives.
Five men and three women there
were, but one lone man escaped.
Guarding the seven prisoners, the Of
ficer dispatched his aide to phone the
patrol. Soon the wobble wagon and
Detective Hutton arrived and the
joyous throng were carted to the sta
ton and registered for disorderly con-
duct.
Originally the gathering seems to
have been just a little parlor party at
the house of Mr.. and Mrs. w. H.
Lynch. Those present were: Mr.. and
Mrs Lynch. he teamster, and she
housekeeper; Mayetta Burns, daughter
of Mrs. Lynch; Pearl Johnson; w.
Neddo, hackman; Frank Dick and
w. McLain, laborers.
There was no evidence of gambling
or drinking SO it is to be supposed
that only parlor games were the en-
tertainment until Miss Mayetta
apologizingly withdrew for few min
some lighted giant crackers into the
room. That was the signal for a gen
eral engagement which so startled
the officer and ended in their all being
taken captive.
These are all white people SEEM
ingly a little too heavily charged with
vim and not dollar five. A good big
noise and high spirits was as far as
they had proceeded when interrupted
and the charge is disorderly conduct.
Nearly all gave bond to be at court
this evening when their trial will be
held.
At a place called the Rock Island
Junction in North Topeka, Officers
Fribance and Mcclure last night ar
rested seven negroes for running a
disorderly house. The men are John
Wheat, VIII Wheat Grant Lewis
John Drain, Ed Harris, Ed Davis and
Silas Turner. The dive maintained is
a so-called pool hall where any and
all may congregate under license.
There have been reports of foul treat
ment at the hands of those who loaf
there. The officers report that there
is always a crowd of coIored men
hanging about the place. Mr.. Nc
Clintock. the grocer; r. B. McMasters,
and Claude Maze. engineers on the
dixie will be subpoenaed to testify
against the negroes as these men one
day entered the place just to look
around and found it very difficult to
get out again. Four of the men are
out on bonds to report for trial and
the others are being held in Jail.
Four men giving the names of Rob-
ert Tighe, Billy Behrens, Geo. Wilks
and L. E. Shaw came to the police
station last night asking for a place to
sleep. They were sent here from
Kansas City to work on the dixie
Arriving in the night without money
they begged harbor until this morn
ing when they left for North Topeka
Construction gangs always afford an
excuse for Migrants to escape a fine
by claiming to belong, or going to join,
such gang. However, these men ap-
peared to be what they claimed and
the police made no effort to discredft