The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-02
WHICH is CORRECT
~
Records Do Not Agree With the
County Attorneys Report.
Three Convictions Out of %
Larceny Gases.
VICTORIES ARE FEW.
Compromise and Dismissal More
Often on Docket.
Vouchers Show Simon Got Money
From State.

County Attorney Simon has issued an
annual report. showing his record for
the last year as public prosecutor.
Stress is placed on the liquor prosecu-
tons in Shawnee county and the fact
that Mr.. Simon has received but
81 200 in these cases. No denial is made
of the records printed showing that the
courts have allowed the county attor-
ney nearly $4,000 in liquor cases dis
posed of in the last year.
In his report, Mr.. Simon claims Is
convictions in criminal cases exclusive
of liquor prosecutions. A record COM
piled by the State Journal a few days
ago, covering cases filed and disposed
thing like the following condition: Ac-
tual convictions as charged, g. Com
promise verdicts by jury, 5. Acquitals
by jury, 3. Pleas of guilty as charged,
county attorney, II. Cases dismissed
by county attorney, g. These are al
exclusive of the record in liquor cases.
There were 105 liquor cases brought in
the year and the record of these cases
printed recently.
Compromises Not Mentioned.
Mr.. Simon In his record shows 80
pleas of guilty, but does not designate
the number of cases in which he agreed
on compromise plea. He also cites
similar statement of affairs. Cases
In which convictions We're secured as
charged in the complaint, were all in
varying degrees of larceny and burg
larry In two murder cases. Simon lost
one and in the second the defendant
was convicted of third degree man
slaughter-the minimum of five muir
der degrees In a third murder case,
the defendant was permitted by Simon
to plead guilty to third degree man
slaughter.
Five cases were disposed of in which
the defendant was charged with as
Sault with intent to kill. In none of
these cases was the defendant con-
victed as charged in the information.
One case was dismissed by the county
attorney, three were compromised by
the lawyers and in two cases the jury
convicted for minor offenses.
Three Out of TWenty-Three.
the three convictions as charged in
complaints in larceny cases We're from
total of % similar cases. Eight de-
PENDANTS pleaded guilty as charged
Simon personally compromised nine
cases, secured 81 minor conviction in
one, conviction a. charged in three and
the jury voted for acquittal in two
OF a total of four forgery cases,
Simon compromised three and the de-
fendant pleaded guilty as charged in
one. Simon disposed of one perjury
case by dismissing it.
In black faced type Mr.. Simon ex-
plains that the fees which he receives
in liquor cases are paid by the de-
PENDANTS" a matter over which there
was never the least dispute. Import
ance is also placed on the fact that
the governor and attorney general
have never interfered in the Shawnee
county liquor situation under the ST.
mon regime. No reference is made to
the fact that the official state spoilers
have spent many weary, tedious hours
in the local vineyard seeking evidence
against violators of the prohibitory
law and drawing weekly pay checks
from the governors and attorney gem
erals contingent funds. In mentioning
the money he has spent in securing
evidence and the fact that he himself
has no contingent fund. Mr.. Simon
overlooked point He did not men
ton voucher No. 27,70S from Cover
nor Stubs contingent fund in which
he received 500 under the date of
March Is. Read the language of the
claim:
ITO reimburse E. r. Simon for
moneys expended in collecting and Sc
curing evidence concerning violations
of the prohibitory law in Topeka
Shawnee county, among the various
hotels and resorts within said city.
o. K. John Dawson, attorney gen
eraI.'
This item is from contingent fund
No. Z, set aside for the enforcement
of the prohibitory law.