The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-29
Declare Information to County
Attorney Has Not Ayailel.
Schenck Said to Have Been
Given Zone More Chance"
JACKSON KEEPS MUM.
Attorney General Refuses t.
Talk About Discussion.
Prosecutor Ayers He Will Not
Make "Grandstand Play"

That the county attorneys office
has ignored all information furnished
from police headquarters relative to
| liquor selling in the last two months
| or more; that the county attorneys
office had laid down to such an ex-
tent that even Sheriff Norton could not
get warrant for the prosecution of
| an offender against the prohibitory
law in August and September, and that
things finally came to such a pass that
| the attorney generals office advised
giving the county attorneys office
lone more chance before issuing war
rants from the state house over the
county attorneys head, are the retorts
courteous, which the police depart
ment made this morning to an inter-
view in which County Attorney John
J. Schenck said the police and mayor
had failed to cooperate with him in
liquor prosecutions.
Sheriff Norton, who says that rela-
tons between his own office and that
of the county attorney are now as
pleasant and peaceful as they can pos
sibly be, admitted that there had been
some difficulty in the last two months
about getting warrants he wanted for
liquor prosecutions when he applied
to the county attorney for them. The
sheriff acknowledged that he had ask
ed for warrants a half dozen times
without getting them. He also admit
| ted that he had told his troubles to
| the attorney general and that the at
torney general had advised giving Mr..
Schenck one more chance.
Attorney General Won't Talk.
At the attorney generals office moth
ing was admitted relative to the dis
cussion one way or the other. Attor-
ney General Fred 8. Jackson simply
declined to talk.
AS to having received a reminder
from the office of the attorney gener-
al County Attorney Schenck entered
general denial.
My office is constantly in COM
munication with the attorney gener-
all said he, but I have never been
reminded to do my duty. The subject
never has been touched in any man
AS to other matters Mr. Schenck
said:
It have never refused to issue war
rant for the prosecution of a liquor
case when the evidence that was
brought to me justified the beginning
of a prosecution. 1t now is nearly four
years since I took office and I have
established a reputation for liquor
prosecutions such that when an often
der ~ets into the district court he sim
ply throws up his hands. The records
of the last two terms of court show
that.
II do not propose to adopt a custom
of rushing into court with weak cases
in which there is little OF no hope of
a conviction, simply with the idea of
making a grandstand play. / will not
prosecute case in which [ have moth
ing but a nuisance count to base my
action upon. 1 never have refused to
start a prosecution when I was shown
actual evidence upon which l might
make conviction on sales.
That's what's the matter with the
| information sent here by the police
That has been the reason when have
not issued warrants on the application
! of the sheriff"
Chief jenkins Has a Say.
| Chief of Police jenkins insists that
| the evidence he has sent to the county
| attorney has been all right.
/ 1.-Two months or more ago., he said
| az issued instructions that all evidence
| of liquor sales should be forwarded
from headquarters to the county attor-
| news office and that policy has been
| strictly adhered to- We have obtained
| conviction after conviction in police
! court. Out of the seventeen cases con-
| victed in the last two months in ponce
/ court. nearly if not quite half of the de-
PENDANTS have accepted sentence and
not used their right of appeal. Some
| of them have pleaded guilty and &C
! cented sentence. But can't see that
| ANYTHING has been done with our evil
/ dence. Notwithstanding we have offer
i offnrnaU'S OffiP6.p