The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-31

The six young men: Harry Brown,
Ralph Brooks, James Crist, Charles
Smith, Charles Switzerland and Will
lam larceny started from Davenport,
Iowa. some few days ago en- route to
Denver via sidedoor sleepers, bumpers,
rods or any other route which carried
them in the direction of the Colorado
state. No one of the bunch is older
than 81 years, all are broke, and several
are sorry they are not at home. One
has a job with a circus, having the
privilege concession, another intends to
get on with the circus, too, another is
a cook by profession. and the others are
machinists. Colorado and Denver es-
pecially had been held out as an FL
Dorado to them and their one ambition is
to get to Denver.
NOW boys" began the judge, 'you
have started all wrong, you have left
home without money, thinking that the
world owes you a living, for how do
you expect to live along this way if
not by begging? But in truth you all
owe the world something instead. You
say you are looking for work in Dem
yer. What will you tell them when
they ask you what you have been doing
and how you got to Denver?
do you suppose they would have
you when they found that you beat
your way over several states and beg
ged your food? How much better
would it not have been to get work at
your homes where people know you
and your parents? This idea young
fellows get that they can go off on
hike without any money, see the
world and have a great time is hal
lucination. See where you are this
morning. Suppose I had you locked
up for thirty days in a workhouse,
then what would you think of your
free life ?' The lads faces were
downcaSt and tears were about to well
up as they thought of their predica-
ment and the homes they had left and
the judge took pity upon them and
began to question as to just how long
it would take for each of them to get
out of town. Some needed but a few
minutes. others thought they could
not possibly do the distance in less
than half an hour. At any rate they
will be a much scattered lot if they
all make it in the time they suggested
and it will take them some time to re-
unit in their way toward their Ell
dorado.
The Rough Ready liquor case when
brought up for trial last evening was
continued until April by agreement.
The crack motor policeman is back
on duty after a severe fight with the
grip and as heretofore announced this
is the tip to watch your auto speedo-
meters lest the Pop, pop cop'' be
watching his indicator close behind
under your left wing.
The testimony of Charles Baker, in
his preliminary hearing on larceny
charge yesterday, that while confined
in the city prison he had secured all
the booze and dope he wanted through
TRUSTEES does not startle the police
whatever. Still it may be true for the
officers have caught booze in passing,
and though no trusty was ever caught
passing coke it might be possible, ac-
cording to the police. If there is any
| one onto the ropes at the police sta
ton 1t would surely be G. Baker, for
ne has been around there as much as
any of the officers and has been a
trusty great many times. Still there
must be TRUSTEES and they can easily
enough sneak anything they please
around through the barn or the back
way to the prisoners by means of the
windows without even coming to the
doors which themselves are usually
closed from view of the Office by the
wooden door of the hallway. 1t is
customary to allow TRUSTEES to, pur-
chase such things as tobacco for the
prisoners. The only possible way to
forestall any liberties with this allow
ance is the discontinuance of the
trusty system or the guarding of them
which would amount to the same
thing. The practice, however, has not
become of such rankness as to justify
the abandonment of the trusty system
and the return of the trusty to the
pen.