The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-10
BREAKS into JAIL
Charles Kane Asks to BE Locked
- Up.
Wants to, Be Protected From
Himself.
HE is A DRUG FIEND.
Thinks Term in Prison Would
Cure Him.
Officers Trying to Find a Way
to Comply.
He is A DRUG FIEND.

Self convicted as an irresponsible
and dangerous man, at any moment
liable to do serious injury to his fell
low creatures, Charles Kane, former
ly a member of the famous White
Horse gang and dope fiend, has aE-
piled to the county officers for conhno-
ment in the Shawnee Jail.
The extraordinary case is puZzling the
county officers who are at a loss what
course to pursue. Jail records over the
country will show instances of men
who have broken in for the purpose
of gaining few meals and lodging
during the cold of winter, but the
present case is alone in it's kind and
there is no precedent for the officers TO
follow.
Here is a man of about 80 years
of age, in the prime of life, who, just
as the sun begins to warm and every
living thing Graves freedom, would
have himself locked up for an indetiE-
lite time. ...-
Two years ago, Charles Kane and
the police officers as well discovered
for the first time that he was danger
GUS. These officers had known him Tor
Is years and in the latter period had
arrested him on numerous occasions
for drunkenness. They learned, too,
that he had taken to eating cocaine
and morphine.
I Then on the night of March 20, Kant
attempting to go to the home Of
relative in North Topeka, arrived at
the home Of Rev. Joshua Barrett, 1903
North Quinscy street. The minister
sat in the living room reading and
could be seen through the window.
Nevertheless, Kane entered. Not stop
ping to open the door, he burst it in,
walked into the room where The
preacher sat and seated himself in
rocking chair
Thinking the intruder insane and
dangerous, the minister succeeded in
entertaining him safely until the po-
lice arrived. Kane was to be tried
for burglary. He swore he had not
known what he did and said he was
under the influence of drugs. He had
not stolen anything and the county at
torney dismissed the case. This action
was taken in order to save Kane a
penitentiary sentence. In the stead of
the burglary charge. he was tried on Z
new charge of breaking down the min
listers front door and sentenced to
serve nine months in the county Jail.
There, Jailer Henry BayIiss stopped
the drug supply and cured his patient
of his desire. During his term, he con-
tracted the smallpox and was taken to
the pest house. When he was cured he
came back to the Jail and finished his |
time.
Coming to the Jail he was almost as |
thin as skeleton and weak and help |
less. When he finished his term he !
was robust and strong. He had not |
n SAID
Baylss:
Z never felt so well in my life and |
now that you have got me Strengthened |
up, never will take that stuff again" |
With an exhortation not even to touch |
the stuff lest he be tempted to eat it. |
Bayliss saw him go.
Kane went to work for the Santa Fe |
railway in its shops. His brother also |
worked in the shops and the two |
brothers have kept bachelor quarters |
at 325 Adams street ever since.
The police court records show that |
Kane was arrested January %, 1910, |
about month after he left the county |
Jail, for drunkenness and was fined So, |
but he has never been found in a |
drugged condition and the officers |
thought he had never resumed his |
habit.
Last evening, however. he aston |
ished Bayliss by walking into the Jail !
and asking that he be locked up. 81 |
thought 1 could take a little of the |
drug without getting the habit again. |
he began, but I couldn't and now 1 |
have gotten so far along 1 know I am |
dangerous. You cured me once If |
you'll do it again I'll never touch the !
stuff any more. 1 know better now. |
All I want is that you lock me up UNI
til I am cured again. / don't know
but what I'll kill some one.''
Bayliss was not a little moved at
the mans earnest plea and promised
to see what the procedure was for
committing a man to jail as a proven
fon of crime. He asked Sheriff Nor
ton and Sheriff Norton asked County
Attorney Simon and Simon referred
the case to the probate judge, w F.
Schoch.
Judge Schoch promised a trial if
someone could be found who would
sign a complaint charging Kane with
being an habitual drug fiend and in
need of guardian and treatment. No
one yet has said he wanted to sign
such a complaint and the case is fur
Their blocked by the expense incurrent
upon the county. The medical COM
mission and examiner, the necessary
witnesses and court costs bring the
costs of such a trial to a considerable
sum.
Perhaps the county commissioners
would be willing to grant him a cell
in the Jail if he offered to pay his
board, but he has not made any such
proposition and could hardly afford to
Kane, when advised to try a private
hospital, refused the suggestion, in
sisting there is but one hospital for
him and that is the county jail.