The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-02
ARE ONLY 1873 NOW
Membership of Topeka Club lis
One Short.
This Is Due to Withdrawal of
Gov. Stubs.
STEWARD ON STAND.
Says Only 20 of Members Drink
Liquor.
Tells How 1t Was Distributed
NJ
STEWARD ON STAND.
Tells How 1t Was Distributed
in Club.


nesses were examined, as follows; E..
l.. Copeland, s. E. Barber Frank
| Lewis, George SIonecker and Henry
Scandrett, members of the club, and
| Nelson Ltndeblade, the club steward.
Nothing of a sensational nature was
disclosed by the testimony of these
witnesses. John Marshall, assistant at
torney general, assisted by County At
torney John J. Schenck, represented
the state, and Charles Blood Smith and
John Switzer represented the club.
Justice of Peace John NJ Stark heard
the testimony, swore the witnesses and
acted as his own court court stenogra-
pher. This testimony will be tran
scribed and laid before the supreme
court for q decision.
Club Steward Important Witness.
The feature of the morning session
came when Mr.. Marshall asked Linde-
blade, the steward, how many mem
bers belonged to the club last July
when this suit was begun.
Lindeblade answered that there were
140 members.
"How many members has the club
now2" asked Marshall.
''They still have 140," replied the
Then Mr.. Smith interposed with the
observation, mo, we have lost one
member since that time" The wit
nesses and newspaper men in the room
nation of his excellency. Governor
Stubs, later in the summer. Even
Mr.. Marshall grinned over the joke.
The summary of the testimony was
to the effect that the club is composed
of 140 members, the ajority of them
living in Topeka. That they conducted
the club as a place to go and read and
play cards and entertain friends and
twenty of the 40 members used the
lockers in the club locker room as a
place to store their liquors. These
members carried the keys to these
lockers themselves and either waited |
upon themselves or had the steward
get their liquor for them. There were |
81 lockers, but most of these were
used as places to store clothes, cigars |
and other personal effects.
E. L. Copeland was the first witness, |
but his testimony brought out nothing |
of Importance.
Lindeblade. the steward. was next |
called to the stand and; he was still
answering questions when the hearing !
adjourned for noon recess
He testified that he had been stew
ard of the club for over a year past !
That he received compensation there |
for in the sum of $3.50 pen month and1
half of the earnings from the bed
rooms and the dining tables. He sold /
liquor at all. He was employed |
he said, to look after the club house |
and lawn and keep them clean and |
in good condition. He looked after |
the personal comfort of the mem bers |
and was a sort of combination butler |
and housekeeper.
He stated that Messrs. Walker, Bar |
Der and Scandrett composed the house |
committee that hired him.
The Locker System.
He described locker as a place |
where the members kept their per- |
sonal belongings. Some of the mem !
bers kept liquor and wine in their |
lockers. He did not know how many, |
but not nearly half of the club MEM |
bership. When a member desired a |
drink he either went and got it him |
self or he called the steward and gave |
him the key to his locker. The stew |
ard brought the bottle of liquor and |
the member helped himself. 1t was |
just such a proceeding as when the |
head of a house calls his butler, |
gives him the key to his side board and |
tells him to bring the master a drink.
None but a member who had liquor
of his own in his locker could get a |
drink at the club, and this mans
guest.
Lindeblade testified that there were
three dining rooms in the clubhouse |
and a locker room. An ice box was
kept in the locker room, also ice was
kept in the cellar and the club kitch-
en-. Water was kept in the ice box,
but no intoxicants. When a member
ordered a bottle of beer the steward |
had it cooled for him.
When asked how the liquor got in
to the lockers, the steward testified
that it was hauled to the club house
by the expressman and the steward
received it. The members name was
on the package and when the mem
Der came he himself placed it in his
own locker.
When asked if the members had
any mixed drinks the steward replied,
mot many" In the few cases where
mixed drinks were asked for the
steward admitted that he mixed them
himself.
Few Members Drank.
What per cent of the members
drink Mquor?" was asked the, stew
ard for about the f1ftieth time. The
steward did not know. He thought
about fifteen or twenty members
drank. He denied that more than one
member used the same locker. An eff.
fort was, made to confuse the witness !,
by showing him the transcript of his
evidence taken last SUMMER before |
County Attorney John Schenck. 1t
was intimated that his testimony to- /
day did not agree with his evidence of /
six months ago. The witness replied
that he did not properly understand I
the questions asked him at the 4
Schenck hearing.
The witness testified that of the IL |
bedrooms on the third floor of the club !
house five were occupied regularly by /
members who lived at the club. Many i
Il0II1DoIS LIVING III anu Out OIL lOWL
stayed all night at the club very fire.
quently.
In the cross examination by Mr.
Smith the equipment, arrangement and
character Of the club house and the /
nature of its entertainments were !,
brought out thoroughly It was shown /
that all of the west side of the first |
floor had been given over to the ladies'.
that is to say, to the wives and sisters
of the club members. The ladies held |
receptions and card parties and lunch
cons at the club four or five times a |
r. Smith 6aH %1,o rriu<a