The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-25
Santa Fe Man Tells Of Liquor
Sales in Topeka.
w. II. Ward Says Money Was
Paid in Front OF Policeman.
WAGON DELIVERS 1T.
Claimed That Boarding House
Gets a Consignment Daily.
Other Examples Given Where
Law Is Violated.

That liquor has been sold in the
river districts of Topeka within a few
yards of a uniformed policeman and
that every day liquor is being sold and
delivered in this city is the statement
made by W. H. Ward, foreman of the
store department of the Santa Fe
shops, this afternoon.
Mr.. Ward is of the opinion that
through the fact that Topeka has been
a dry city heretofore, the Atchfson,
Topeka & Santa Fe railway has had
much confidence and faith in its fnf1u-
ence with their thousands of working
men. Mr.. Ward substantiates the
statements made in the State Journal
few days ago that prohibition in this
city has been means of its prosperity
and welfare.
In speaking of the occasion of a
"bootlegger" selling liquor in the pres
ence of a uniformed officer of the po-
lice department, Mr.. Ward makes
some startling Observation-Disclosures
that do not bear out the claims made
by ]. B. Billiard. mayor, in the State
Journal last evening.
Il go down First street and through
the bottoms almost every day on my
way TO work" said Mr.. Ward this
afternoon. Il have been going down
this way so long that I am well ac-
Quainted with the liquor and bootleg
ging' business which thrives in Topeka.
1 have seen a good many things in the
daytime that would make the state
ments of Mayor Billiard hold very lit
tie water.
Saw a Sale Made.
1.-The other day about 9:45 I was go
ing down First street and at the cor
ner of Jefferson and First I saw a
police officer in uniform standing
there apparently on duty. I had not
a . f6 lT
when I spied man with a. grip. He
was but a few yards away In a short
time two men came along and the man
with the grip stopped, opened the
whisky or some liquor he sold it to
the two men and received money for
the transaction-I saw the money
change hands.
"AlI this time the officer was stand
ing a short distance away and didn' [
say a thing or make a move to do a
thing.
Almost every morning a small
photographers wagon with a canvas
stretched over the bed drives up to a
boarding house near First and Adams
street and delivers the contents
liquor of course. This happens almost
every morning between the hours of
6:45 and 1880.
q know that there is lots of liquor
sold in this district every day because
the men working under me will come
back from their noon hour with bot
ties of beer and whisky-they get it
around among the people of the bot
toms and have no trouble doing it.
"And liquor isn't ala person can
see a big crowd of crap shooters near
the Hackney mills every day. The men
gather together in punches here and
spend their spare time in this sort of a
pastime-but the police seem to have
little time to arrest them.
Topeka is wet in the bottoms
and anyone who wishes to know this
can find out for themselves. You can
not go through this section of the city
without being accosted by some man
who asks If you desire any liquor. Not
only this but it seems almost impos-
sible that the police do not know this
stuff is being sold right under their
nose. When can walk through this
part of the city in the middle Of the
day and see liquor sold in the same
block and in sight of a policeman in
Uniform it doesn't look as though the
prohfbitory law is being enforced as it
should