The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-24
Under Sheriff Judkins and Jail
er Bayless Fall Out.
Former Tenders His Resigna-
tiOn and 1t Is Accepted.
ORDERED OUT OF JAIL
Jailer Told Under Sheriff He
Must Keep Out.
Sheriff Norton Takes Side of
BayIess in Controversy.

Household difficulties at the county
Jail between the families of Jailer Hen
~ BayIess and Deputy Sheriff Ben Jud-
kins, which two months ago caused the
deputy to remove his residence to 612
Garfield avenue, have also caused his
resignation and threaten to disclose ir-
regularities of consequence in the man
agement of the sheriffs office.
Parties concerned are reluctant to
talk of the friction and it's extent but
it is known the resignation of Ben
Judkins, considered one of the ablest
detectives in the state, followed near
fight at the county Jail with the jailer.
Judkins had taken Chief Special
Agent ROssiter of the Rock Island and
Detective Saunders of the Santa Fe
to the Jail to look over a prisoner,
whom they suspected of work on the
railroad lines. Bayless, harooflng ms
enmity toward Judkins. thought the
deputy was making him pull out his
prisoners for the purpose OF botherlng
him. After a few angry words were
passed. the taller ordered Judkins out
of the Jail and told him never to set
his foot inside again.
This, the deputy who had as much
right there as did the jailer, refused
to do at once. I'D like to know how
you can keep me out of here if 1 want
TO come in" retorted Judkins. II snow
you how | can keep you out" fiared
Bayless. An encounter was averted by
the presence of the railroad men.
The outbreak reached the ears OF
Sheriff Norton and the two men were
called before him.
Ross TO Succeed JudI1ins.
"Both men are good men," said Col.
Norton, when asked about the trouble
today, Il told them that there would
have to be harmony in my office and
that l would not discharge either one,
but that, because they had shown they
would never agree, one or the other
must resign. I left it to them to decide
which one would withdraw. JuG&lns
spoke up right away and L have his
resignation, to take effect March 1,
in my pocket.
1.-THE trouble started when the two
families lived in the jail residence. L
never have lived there because 1 have
my own home. The Jail has two apart
ments and let Bayless have one and
Judkins the other. Trouble between
the women started when Mrs. Judkins'
four children began running through
the house. This was taken up by the
men and continued until they were
apparently at war and Judkins moved
out.
Il spent "a hours worrying over
what action to take. Mrs. Bayless does
the cooking for the prisoners, a duty
which Mrs. Judkins would not at
tempt, and decided to keep Bayless
in the Jail. The resignation of JUDI
kins will be accepted and Josiah Ross
of the police force will be put. in his
place"
1t is not likely Judkins expected his
resignation to be accepted when he
turned it in as he is we'll aware of his
value in the execution of the duties
of the office.
A number of lawyers report the
same trouble in getting to see prison
ers at the Jail as Judkins experienced
when he visited the Jail with the rail-
road detectives. In one case a young
lawyer says Bayless informed him he
had no time to show men to pin
headed lawyers and that he did not
want to be bothered any more. This
incident was taken to Sheriff Norton
who corrected his jailer on the points
of jailkeeper's etiquette.
Regarding reports that Bayless was
entertaining too many guests in the
Jail residence since Judkins moved
out, Sheriff Norton said. Il have Civ
en- over the residence to Mr. Bayless.
1t is his business how many people
he wants to accommodate, so long as
he feeds them and the county does
not have to pay the BILL
Neither Bayless nor Judkins will
talk of the trouble except that each
says he could not get along with the
other.