The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-02
Sheriff Dunnuck Writes to Gov
ernor Stubbs.
Gives Authority for Statement
About Topeka Joints.
MUIRHEAD TOLD HIM.
Secret Service Man of State Said
Names Another Topeka Nan
Who Confirmed Story.

Sheriff Dunnuck, of Cloud county,
who gave testimony in an inquisitiop
ordered at Topeka by Governor Stubs
and held by County Attorney Simon,
has written the governor to tell him
that there are so joints doing business
in Topeka, and the sheriff gives the
names Of his infOrinantS in regard to
the joints. The sheriff names J. c.
Muirhead, one of the governors secret
service men, as one of his informants,
and W. W. Burt, a citizen of Topeka,
as another. The sheriff wants a To-
peka inquisition called on the strength
of his information given to the COVER
nor. The Dunnuck letter in full fol-
lows:
Concordia. Sept. 30, II.
Governor W. R. Stubs, Topeka, Kan.
My Dear Governor@On the day that
/ was in Topeka obeyIng a subpoena
sent me by the attorney general at
your direction, after being examined
by Mr.. Dawson, I met Mr.. Muirhead,
the man who made the investigation
for you in Concordia, on Kansas ave-
nue. and in discussing the Topeka Ii
quor situation with me in the pres
ence of Frank Allen, superintendent of
paving for the city of Topeka, Mr..
Muirhead said, 81 could find so joints
in Topeka in "a hours if [ wanted to-
Mr.. Allen will confirm this statement.
Since Mr.. Muirhead is in the business
of finding joints in Coneordia. and other
points in the state I would suggest
that you have him find the 90 joints in
Topeka and then have the attorney
general subpoena him and obtain this
information which would no doubt be
campaign.
On returning to Concordia via Atch-
ison, coming this way because it was
the quickest way home where I was
needed in the trial of a bootlegger that
was in progress I met w. W. Burt in
the union depot and talked with him in
the presence of the night depot master.
Mr.. Burt said that he could find fifty
joints in Topeka in less than two
hours: that during the old soldiers re-
union he saw an officer coming down
stairway wiping his lips and Mr.. Burt
approached the officer and inquired If
everything was all right. On being told
that it was, he went up the stairway,
opened a screen door into room
where he was met by a woman. Mr..
Burt told the woman that he would
like to have a. little nip She went 20
the bed turEed back the mattress and
procured a bottle of whisky from
which she gave him a drink and re-
ceived 10 cents in payment therefor
From this place Mr. Burt went down
to the corner of Second and Kansas to
a place ran by a man called Blind
Tom" and purchased another drink of
whisky. Mr.. Burt issthe father of Fred
Burt that runs the eating house back
OF the Stale Souiueat olAlce anu VIII DS
easily found.
I would suggest that you subpoena
Mr. Burt and he would probably be
able to give you some information that
would help in the enforcement of the
prohibitory law in Topeka I know
that since you are so much concerned
with the enforcement of this law in
Cloud county that you are equally in
favor of enforcing it in Topeka. I give
you this information thinking it might
be of value to you. Assuring you of
my willingness to do all in my power
to enforce this law in Cloud county and
to aid you all I can in a similar move
in Topeka, I am,
Very respectfully,
W 7 nTTNNTTCK