The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-22
DEATH IN SUIT
Mysterious HoOdOO Seems to
Follow Long Fought Case.
Attorneys and Judges Who
Handle 1t Die.
IN COURT Is YEARS
Twelve Men Connected With
Action Are Dead.
Fight Over $4,000 Settled by
$500 Chech.
N COURT Is YEARS

Wichita. Kan. June 22-Haunted
houses and moonlight cemeteries may
have their ghosts. but they are not very
frightful because the victim of their
phantom frolics is generally looking
for their appearance But when one
enters the realm of the law, and finds
the court house streWn with corpses OF
practicing attorneys, their cause Dand-
ed from court to court. first to the su-
preme court to be reversed, thence
forward and back for Is years. he re-
alizes that there are ghost stories
which frighten the ermine itself.
Yesterday George Theis, Jr., Of this
city received a check for $500 in settle
ment of a claim for $2,700 which has
been hanging in the courts Of Oklahoma
for Is years.
About 15 years ago. Beaver county,
formerly No Mans Land, was in fin
ancial distress. It's warrant were sell
ing at so cents on the dollar and there
was serious trouble. At that time Geo.
Theis, Jr, now of this city. was in
the banking business at Ashland. Kan,
and the commissioners of Beaver
county, Ok, asked him to finance the
county. They entered into a contract
with him to fix UP their credits. He
told them to refund all outstanding
warrants, putting them in bond form
and he would dispose Of them at 80
cents on the dollar, he to have COM
mission Of 20 per cent for his fee. The
contract was signed and the bonds sold
for 90 cents and the money turned over
to pay off the debt. There was no cash
left with which to pay Mr.. Theis' SO he
took a warrant for his fee.
BIackman Is Charged.
Then appears the county attorney
with a blackmailing demand for $50
threatening to have Mr.. Theis indicted
for obtaining the warrants Illegally.
Mr. Theis turned him down and sure
enough the attorneys had him indicted
and a warrant placed in the hands Of
every sheriff in Oklahoma This meant
at least a day or two in Jail If he was
arrested, so Mr.. TheiS kept out of the
territory, although he had large cattle
interests requiring his presence there
at times
There we're two sides to the fuss,
some believing Mr.. Theis entitled to
his fee, others thinking him fit for the
penitentiary. The county commission
ers were ousted by the district judge
and feud started, which still has its
echoes.
In Court is Years.
Mr.. Theis put the matter into the
hands of a lawyer and the lower court
gave him judgment. Appealed, the case
was reversed, and it was shuttle cock
for Is years until last week when a
settlement was made and yesterday
Mr.. Theis got his compromised check
First the judge who heard the case
ed away. Then Mr.. Theis' lawyer join
ed the great throng. He hired other
lawyers as did the county, and one oy
one the ghost Of the court house grab
bed them all until every man connect
ed with the case on either side ex-
cept Mr.. Theis himself, had Joined the
ghostly procession
Then Mr.. Theis invited Judge Price
Of Ashland to pick up the scattered
threads and go after that long overdue
commission.
Having inquired into the merits Of
the case and seeking to learn the pro-
cesses to date, Judge Price learned OF
the II deaths of lawyers and officials
connected with the affair.
It am not sure that want this
case said the Ashland attorney. do
YOU observe that shall be the thlr-
teenth to come under the ghost!y
spell2"
However he took it and the end came
yesterday. Judge Price is still safe and
having ended the cause he may escape
the hoodoo-
''The death of all those lawyers may
account for the fact that I have the
proceeds Of that check in my own
hands" said Mr.. Theis casting glance
toward Judge J. N. Haymaker, who
had listened to the ghostly recital.