The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-03
Chief Eaton Walks Into Wide
Open Road House.
Located Outside City Limits on
Granville Road.
LEADS CHARMED LIFE
RObt. Campbell, Released-Turn-
ed Over to County.
Whole Affair Indicates Con.
nivance of Officers.

carries a Shawnee county commission
as a deputy sheriff, refuses to be
quoted on what he witnessed yester-
day afternoon on the Granville road,
one mile east of the Three Bridges,
where with Sergeant Ross and Detec-
| tive Lawson Of the police force, and
Charles Bradshaw, marshal of the
court of Topeka, the department head
stopped at roadhouse where liquor
was being sold.
| According to the admission of the
police department head this morning,
| he stopped and in company with the
| two members of his force went into
the place where Robert Campbell,
colored, was dispensing schooners of
foaming brew to several persons, all
white, but of both sexes Bradshaw.
the police chief said, did not leave
the vehicle SO that he did not know
the real state of affairs within.
While there the officers saw not
only fresh barrel of beer that had
been unloaded but two jugs of
whisky besides. The occupants of
the roadhouse did not desist from
their drinking while the authorities
were there, neither did either of the
officials interfere.
In conversation this morning re-
garding the affair, the police depart
municipal ordinances Campbell could
not be arrested, as he was carrying
on his Illicit sale outside the corporate
limits of Topeka. He explained that
state laws because when previously
arrested under like circumstances,
and turned over to the county
authorities, Campbell was liberated.
Anyway, Eaton explained, he did
not care to go ahead with county
| q 11ndar orders the
sheriff. AS further reason for not
caring to arrest those engaged in
illicit sale of liquor operating outside
the corporate limits, Eaton cited that
cases like the Campbell case had been
dismissed by the county authorities
One instance, that when the pro-
prietor of the Rock Island restaurant
was arrested was brought to mind,
and he said that even after the pro-
prietor had sold liquor to member
of the police force. he had been
turned loose.
Eaton Notifies Norton.
Eaton notified Sheriff j. D: Norton
of what he had seen after his return
to Topeka last night. This morning
Journal. reporter regarding the affair
and explained it in detail.
When he had finished, and the re-
porter was about to leave the room
where they had talked together.
Eaton gave the newspaper man
warning that his name was not to be
used in connection with the affair,
and further he was not to be quoted.
''You- won't be quoted the latter
replied "Why you saw the whole
affair." you have exp1aine it all, why
don't you stand up under your state
ment ?"
st am willing to stand up under
the statement when it comes into a
l.. ,,4
quote me- the police chief answered.
make a statement about it and leave
me OUT
"But I don't know this thing to be
facts from personal knowledge. All
have to show that this condition is
true is what you have said about it,
well, don't quote me-" again
Eaton exclaimed, there's Lawson and
Sergeant Ross who were out there
with me. You were talking to Law
son about it before you were me any
how Quote one of them
The newspaper man made no prom
ises. but he did investigate the truth
of the statements made by the police
chief. 1t was found by the police
court records that Campbell had been
turned over to the county. and after
wards he was released, following his
arrest on October %. The same con-
dition was true with reference to the
proprietor of the Rock Island
dence given when both men were
arraigned was not gone into.
The municipal authorities happened
upon Campbell's place YESTERDAY
while in that vicinity searching for a
man wanted for some offense The
nature of the offense, and the identity
of the man is withheld by the depart
ment. During the conversation this
morning the police chief said that the
place conducted by Campbell was not
the only roadhouse near Topeka, but
that every road emanating from here
has somewhere near the town limits a
similar establishment.
Norton Calls 1t Politics.
When told today regarding the
statements of Eaton that campaign
literature bearing the pictures of Col.
J. D. Norton, candidate for sheriff of
Shawnee county were scattered about
CampbelPs place, Norton said:
Eaton seems pretty well posted,
and evidently hasn't the backbone to
stand up for what is right. All COM
missioned deputies have the same
power that I would have to make ar
rests, and I don't think it right to try
to shirk any responsibility of that
kind. For my part I think that in
stead of going out into the country
and looking up roadhouses, and cam
paign literature of his opponents he
had better be looking after gambling
houses and other bad places here in
Topeka. There is plenty of work for
all of us to do If we will do our duty.
I'm sorry the chief wants to dip into
politics so early. but rguess he wants
the office of sheriff awfu1ly bad"
This afternoon the police chief
didn't object to being quoted. When
the aforementioned reporter stopped
at police headquarters he was asked
| into private audience with the depart
ment head. by the latter who threat
ened that IL any attempt was made
to stir a muss disfranchisement of