The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-05
POLICE JOTTINCS.
Officers Search for v hOlesaler'S
Supply of Liquor.
Find Little Wet Goods for Their
Pains.
VISIT TWO RESIDENCES
TISIT TWO RESIDENCES
Captured Order ROOk for beer
the Inspiration.
May Prove Breweries Are ViO-
lating State Injunction.

Tt looks like the last straw in the
liquor cases is about to be broken off
too close to be used again. The
wholesale liquor dealers who by hook
and crook have avoided the penalty
of the law are now in the way of the
small retailers. BY the arrest of
Charles Lanson, the driver for Robert
Kneisler, when he was delivering a
load of beer and collecting empty
cases, the chief secured the order
blank book of Kneisler for Val Blatz
of orders, some of which have not yet
arrived, but the names thereon gave
excellent information as to who were
those in the business and an investiga-
ton was begun Immediately.
The first step taken was the search
ing of the houses of Fritz Durein and
May and Dick Heitman, whose orders
were for 25 and 10 and 10 cases re-
spectively. Durein had only been re-
leased from serving out his last fine
few months and thought he knew
the ropes too well to get in again, but
he was caught in his house at 211
East Fourth sitting by a table where
he had been selling and serving beer
until the table was wet and dripping
and the house smelled like brewery
Taken to the station old Fritz became
very penitent and frightened. He. was
willing to plead guilty to nuisance
charge and began his time of 80 days
on the spot instead of being locked
in the bull PEN as has been con-
insulted at F'ritz's ingratitude for their
kindness when locked up before. He
also has fine of 800 to pay. At
May Heitman's at 316 East First
street one case of beer was found
partly full and the bulldog guarded
another case in the chicken coop.
May was very indignant and vowed
she had not signed for that order of
Ix-ni T.
mans store sheltered no booze that
the officers could find but both he and
May were taken to the station and
later released on $500 bonds.
Then the chief showed the order
book to the county attorney, Mr..
Schenck, who decided to try his hand
on Bob Kneisler. Late in the after
noon Bob was arrested by the county
officers but the chief learned that
while Bob was sick Mrs. Mary
Kneisler did all the business and, in
fact, it is Mrs. Kneisler who holds the
United States license, so the police ar
rested her also. Robert Kneisler was
the first wholesaler of liquor to serve
time in the Topeka prison. but since
has been fined frequently, though for
the most-part escaping the law 1t !
was arranged between him and the
county. attorney that he should plead |
guilty to two counts before Judge A. |
w. Dana this morning and the other
counts would not be prosecuted. Con- !
sequently he was fined 5000 and sem |
tenced, to so days imprisonment by the |
court this morning.
But Mrs. Kneisler is up against a |
different proposition. The chief has |
decided upon at least IL counts to be /
tried against her in the police court |
and has more than half a notion to |
make it so, which would just be as
easy to prove, and that would then |
offset the suit of Bob against the city |
for $1,000 damages sustained by fall |
ir,rr iV,fn i4nI c17 he 70
win that suit. However, there are
enough sales affidavits sworn to this
morning by purchasers from Mrs. |
Kneisler in the hands of the chief to
make prosecution merely a formality. |
Several police officers were sent
down to the Kneisler home at Crane
and Jefferson streets to search the |
premises this forenoon. For reasons |
aforementioned the proprietors were
not in but the Swede girl answered |
the knock and invited the officers in. |
When told their mission, she motioned |
them to go ahead but said ma, ay
tank sure dere is nothing here bud it
oughd of bane" and she kept one of |
the officers near her while the others |
searched on and on without finding |
even a smell of booze.
But all the beer ordered on the
blanks was to be shipped in care of !
cold storage house so if it has come |
it is probably in the warehouse to be !
delivered when wanted.
The order blank book was turned |
over to Attorney General Jackson by !
the chief as evidence that Val B1atz |
has been violating the injunction Sc
cured by Mr.. Jackson some time ago |
restraining the brewers from doing |
business in the state, and some action |
is expected to be begun.
But the Blatz people are not the |
only ones. The Pabst company is also !
selling in Topeka. and though the
agent is not apprehended, the driver |
was arrested this morning in the hope
of securing evidence. He is Dave
Burel, an expressman and will be held |
at least "a hours for investigation.
long list of nearly forty names of ex-i