The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-11

getting to be true, I am glad to say, in
| Crawford county.
within the last seven weeks I have
/ commenced one hundred and ten
criminal cases in Crawford county and
made over three hundred arrests and
search and seizures. The judge grants
inJunctfons and the jury brings in con-
victions and the judge concels paroles,
and f1atter myself that the difficulties
OF the situation. so far as Crawford
county is concerned, are largely over
and that from now on until there IS a
change in the Judge or the officers, or
until I bring Bill Montgomery home.
the situation Will remain that way.
can not say as much for Cherokee
county, although within the same time
have commenced over sixty criminal
cases and searched and seized a large
| amount or liquor and made over one
| hundred arrests. My best information
| is that the jointists believe that this
| crusade of mine is only spasm which
has spent its force-perhaps a little
more severe and drastic spasm than
they have been used to-but the idea
that intend to stay on the Job for the
next year and a half does not seem to
have entered their heads However,
tomorrow is the beginning of a new
fiscal year and I will give them the
| best have in the shop.
please return the enclosures Yours
with kind regards,
JOHN S. DAWSON,
Attorney General
House Interview Not Made Public.
His reply was strictly of a personal
nature and 1 do not think it proper to
furnish it. But in addition to his
written reply, L took the matter up
with him personally and learned what
I surmised, which was, that Mr.. House
being a guest and a stranger did not
know who were selling liquors nor the
persons who were buying liquors and
he had nothing to tell of any conse-
quence, nor upon which to have a
prosecution. So, too, his general state
ments that Wichita, LeavenWorth, To-
peka and Lawrence were overrun with
bootleggers. Mr.. House only knows
such matters by mere hearsay and on
that subject he is possessed of no in
! formation that would be of the
slightest assistance to a prosecuting Of
ficer.
l I have reflected fully upon the adj
i visibility of subpoenaing Judge Sapp to
| come to Topeka, but Judge Sapp has
| been here without a subpoena and he
will tell the truth as well without be-
ing under oath as If placed under oath
and he has given me such informatio1
as he has on this subject do noS
think that I I'm at liberty to disclose
such suggestions for the enforcement
of the law as the Judge has been kind
enough to make, and another reference
| to my letter to you of July will give
| you my point of view with regard :
your authority to require me to issue
| subpoenas.
Refuses to Quarrel with Judge Sapp.
Another matter: cannot conceive of
| any way that the law can be enforced
| in Cherokee county by getting into
/ quarrel with Judge Sapp- A certain
amount of respect is due to his official
position and to his gray hairs as well.
( So far as his hints Of graft are con-
! cerned, they do not affect me nor my
| administration. They ante-date my
induction into Office, and have reference
to alleged practices Of officers in by
gone years, the substance of which is
that formerly paroles were granted
without payment of fines but upon
payment Of attorneys fees either by
the salOonkeeper or by the county it
self. I cannot see that it would serve
any good purpose for me to go down
ooze and slime Of the past history OF
Cherokee county to dig that up.
From my inquisitorial investigation
and other sources 1 have found what
I am inclined to think is sufficient evil
dence to warrant custer proceedings
against other officers in Cherokee coun-
ty, but 1 am going to give them
chance to resign before filing any fur
Their suits. If the counsel which you
desire to employ to assist in the lrose-
cution of Mr.. Martin are trustworthy,
in my judgment, 1 will be glad TO snow
them the transcript of the testimony
taken at the inquisition concerning de-
relict officers, but / do not recognize
your right to demand an inspection of
this evidence. However that may be,
I hope to have it distracted and ready
to present to the supreme court week
from Wednesday or as soon thereafter
as the motion for the suspension Of
Sheriff Martin can be heard.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN S. DAWSON.
Attorney Geuelal