The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-12
JOTTINCS.
Officers Hunting for Evidence
in Gambling Case.
RumOr That Well Known Poll
ticians Are Wanted.
WOOD CAN'T BE FOUND
Hotel Proprietor Sought as Wit
ness, on a Vacation.
l. l. -
Another Story of a Couple of
Stranded Actors.

Stranded Actors.
The proprietors of the National hote
gambling den, Mike Ring and Lawson
Whiteker, will be given their prelim
mary hearing in the police cour
March 18th. Chas. L. Wood, manager
of the hotel has not been found by th'
subpoena servers as he has gone on {
| vacation somewhere east. All tina
he said at the time of the raid. abou
1890 O'Clock Wednesday night, wher
the place was surprised was How die
you get in here? That door below is
always locked" "a key" would be q
| tanned several weeks ago or even a
| few days ago some of the legislators
would still be in Topeka Mr.. Wood
came out upon the street about
| o'clock following the raid and seeing
Patrolman Parcels, ran UP to him ask
| ing, How about it when gamblers
and their equipment are found in a
hotel, what do they do with the pro-
| prietor? 20
why, it is prima facie evidence
! that gambling room has been in op-
Grafton there, and you know the pen
atty for that" replied the policeman.
At daybreak, as the first car went
over the river to the Union Pacific
depot, the same hotel proprietor was
seen by Patrolman Fowler to slip out
of the National with a little grip and
catch the car for North Topeka and a
train east for parts unknown.
Other SubpoenaS are being prepared
for prominent politicians and others
of the city whose names are withheld
who have been burning midnight oil at
great expense in those two little rooms
so carefully guarded on the top floor
of the National annex. The guard of
the den, Joe Matthews, employed es-
pecially to protect the gamblers was a
deputy sheriff and a special policeman
also His appointment as policeman
was revoked last evening by the may
or, and Sheriff Wilkerson revoked his
commission as a deputy.
Sobbing violently, a girl of 10 years
who had tried the stage life and found
it lacking in returns and a young man
also with tears in his eyes who had
found the stage also a delusion were
led into the station this morning by
Detective Hutton.
They are William Woods and Jose
phine McClain, formerly of the PriTn-
rose National Stock company of Kan
sas City, but now stranded and trying
to make a new start working at the
Throop hotel and trying to cheer each
other along by living together without
a certificate at the Hotel Darlington.
The Primrose company stranded at
Richf1eld, Mo-, several weeks ago. Then
Mr.. Primrose selected Miss Woods and
McClain for team mates and they play
ed in vaudeville in Olathe where they
made good From there they went to
Wichita, where they failed to make a
hit. so sadly in fact that again they
were stranded. Primrose caught a
freight to K. G. and the other two came
to Topeka, found a room at the Oar
lington, and employment at the Throop.
Their happiness in spite of poverty
might have gone on undisturbed had
indiscretion has resulted in her in
vestigation for robbery. While on duty
at the ThroOp last night, she called V.
NJ. Reed a travelling representative of
the Star Tobacco company from his
room ostensibly for the purpose of
helping her adjust a gas lamp He re-
sponded and as he reached up to fix the
light he was seized in loving embrace,
he found that 500 gold piece had been
pilfered from his vest pocket-a bad
place for gold pieces.
For some reason the robbery charge
the two unfortunate actors are to be
made the victims of the first prosecu-
ton under the brand new city ordi
nance No. 2919, which prohibits the un-
lawful association of men and women.
The new ordinance passed February
9th by the mayor and city council pro-
vides fine of not less $25 nor more
than 5000 and Imprisonment of not less
than 10 days nor more than months
OF both for any man and woman not
ing together.
Heretofore, although there has been
state law to this effect the city has
lad no ordinance covering the offense
1y which the police department were
authorized to arrest offenders and the
aXity regarding marital relations in
orne districts of the city went on un-
disturbed for lack of power invested in
he police department to interfere. Now
he chief has secured the ordinance and
t is to be brandiShed with pride a.
he police court in the trial of these
wo unSuspecting stage struck lovers
married as they claimed to have been
when they secured their room.
Thinking that they had the dope on
he Kneisler liquor chest in shape for
safe bet. two detectives started off
With smiles for the things they knew. |
But on the way they were to do some |
,ther Investigating. Another officer, !
that they had had time to
each the Kneisler house. telephoned |
lown to learn if anything was being |
ound. No officer had yet been there
md "the stuff was off, The two de-
ectives returning to the station to re- |
,ort the other investigation learned of
,lace but just as they expected things !
lad been done there and Lawson. the |
Iriver for Kneisler swerved into an al |
ey driving single rig on high speed /
uSt as they came INTO view. Ihe Orfl- (
ers followed in his tracks and yelled |
or him to stop but he appeared not to |
lear. BY furious driving the officers |
,ained until they could hear a clinking /
,ottles and they drove faster and yell |
d louder and the man stopped. A
ack of empty beer bottles was found /
Il the bottom of the rig
A little creStfallen the detectives went /
o the house and directly to an old /
york bench in the corner of the kitchen.