The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-16
HOUSE SAYS NO"
Refuses to TeJlWhere He Bought
Beer Over Bar.
Didn't Want to Appear in Role
of InfOrmer.
WARRANT is ISSUED
Charged With Contempt for Re-
fusal to Give Information.
InQuisitiOn Before Attorney
General Was Brief.


A warrant was issued late this after
noon for ]. E House. a local newspaper
writer, on the charge of contempt for
refusing to tell the attorney general
where he bought beer.
Mr.. House, summoned before the
court of inquisition by the attorney
general. declined point blank to answer
all questions about when, how, where
or from whom he bought beer over a
bar in a Kansas town. After replying
to all leading questions regarding his
purchase of intodcants with the same
answer, 'I decline to answer" Mr..
House was asked by Attorney Trickett:
''why do you refuse to answer these
questions %
Mr.. Houses reply placed his atti-
| tude throughout the whole affair in a
nutshell. He said: "If 1 turned in
former 1 could never square it with
my own conscience
Lasted Only 20 Minutes.
The entire inquisition lasted about
twenty minutes. Then Attorney Cen
eraI Dawson paid House rs cents wit
ness fees for attending the inquisition
and thanked him for his presence
there.
Dawson Questions Bishop.
When Mr.. Dawson was asked what
he would do next he intimated that he
would bring proceedings in district
court for misdemeanOr, but he added
that the governor would doubtless "dl-
| rect me what to do"
A feature of the proceedings was the
| question asked by Attorney General
| Dawson of Sam Bishop, one of the gov
ernor's attorneys in the case against
Mr.. House. The inquislt1on was over
| when Dawson suddenly leaned forward
and asked Bishop: 10 you know OF
your personal knowledge lately Of any
| liquors being sold in Kansas and have
you bought any?'
| Bishop was clearly fabhergasted. He
| did not answer. Instead he said; Are
you holding an inquisition on me!
! Dawson laughed and then said, on,
well, let it go, of course you don't need
Mr.. Bishop, who was present at the
inquisition, said he was there from
| curiosity and not in the employ OF
any one He was asked by Dawson
if he wanted to ask any questions; ne
asked Mr. House two, both of which
were unanswered
81 Decline to Answer
The inquisition begun at o'clock
1t was over by 2:20- Mr. House was
asked his name, residence and occu-
patton All these he answered prompt
| lv and clearly. He was asked If he
rememb bered writing the article about
having bought beer over bar in
| Kansas town: the article that stirred
M ali the trouble. He said he did
After that reply Houses answers TO
All Questions were, 4 decline to ans
wer." 70
knew of any time or place where in
toxicants had been sold last year In
Kansas. Il decline to answer" re-
piled the witness.
Trickett then enumerated several
towns, Lawrence, Leavenworth, En-
poria. Erie and Atchison being among
them. He received the same stereo-
typed reply
/ feared to incriminate himself. Il de-
cline to answer" was the reply.
Then finally Trickett asked why the
witness declined to answer. House re-
piled: 7 could not square it with my
self. I resent the fact that newspaper
men cannot write about law violations
without being dragged before a court
of inquisition. If I turned informer I
could never square it with my own
Then Bishop, at Dawson's request,
took a hand.
rs the story true2" he asked.
Il decline to answer" replied House.
when you wrote that story did you
intend to tell the truth?''
During my 20 years of newspaper
work in this state 1 have tried to build
up reputation for truth and veracity."
Il assume, then, that the story was
true ?"
You can assume anything you like, -
was the delightfully."- frank reply.
And then the inquisition was ended
Mr. House had taken the position
that many. many perfectly good and
reputable citizens will commend in re-
fusing to turn sneak and informer
upon a person who had sold them in
toxicants Many good people take just
the opposite view on the same ques-
ton. It is one of the divisions newt
able with the prohibitory law.
History of the Case.
The history of this case is well
known. House wrote a story for some
Kansas papers over his signature last
July in which he stated that he had
/ bought beer over a bar in a small Kan
sas town in supposedly dry territory
The governor read the article and re-
quested the attorney general to sub
poenal House and have him tell what
he knew about these law violations.
The attorney general investigated the
case and then refused to summon
House. The governor persisted and
these two officials appealed to the su-
preme court to settle the question of
authority between them. The court de-
cided IN favor of the governor hand
ing down the decision last December.
Dawson asked for a rehearing of the
case which was denied the other day.
So today. seven months after the event
House will be asked by the officials to
tell what he knows about the matter.
In case he refuses he can be sent TO
jail for contempt of court.
The following is q copy of the sum-
mons sent to Mr.. House today:
In the matter OF 7ivers and various
alleged violations Of the prohibitory
law within the state Of Kansas.
To ]. E. House. Greeting: BY dfrec-