The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-05
Maximum Sentences to Topeka
JOintists Today.
Threat of County Attorney
AtchiSOn Carried Out.
MAY GO To SUPREME COURT
Lawyers Were Worried and
Appeal Notices Taken.
Six Months and 500 Handed
Out to Many.

There was woe in the ranks of To-
peka jointists this morning when they
came to be sentenced by Judge George
H. Whitcomb. for the court followed
the recommendation of William E.
| Atchison, county attorney, announced
| in the State Journal yesterday, and in
a number of cases assessed the maxi
mum jail sentences under the law
| six months on each count.
Not only that, but the court, in pass
| ing sentence, warned the jointists of
| the tribulations to come if they per-
sist in the violations of the law
"It seems to the court useless to
take up the time of the court and the
prosecuting officers if there is any 9TH
er way of handling this situation"
Judge Whitcomb said. al don't believe
anybody ought to serve six months in
the county Jail. The court is disposed
to be lenient- After the defendants
have served a certain amount of time
the court will let anybody out If it is
thought the prisoner will obey the
law"
But that didn't relieve the situation
much. and in every case notices of ap-
peal were taken, and promises that
cases will go to the supreme court
were made. Attorneys fitted here and
there attempting to have bonds signed
and approved, and stays of execution
issued.
Bolingcr Is Doubtful.
''In my Judgment it will cost the
county more money, and will serve
poorer purpose than the former man
ner of handling these cases." declared
Attorney Arthur J. Bolinger who rep
resented several of the defendants
who were sentenced. For one, I
promise I will let no client Of mine
plead guilty and all cases will go to
the supreme court"
10 ~-1,E
to appeal to the supreme court Judge
Whitcomb declared, "but If the de-
PENDANT violate the law while their
cases are up there the court will not
look upon paroles with favor"
So, If jointists who were sentenced
this morning proceed to violate the
law while waiting for the disposition
of their appeal, once they are sent to
jail to serve their sentences, in case
the appeals are denied, they may have
to serve out the full term for which
they were sentenced.
The heaviest penalty this morning
fell on William Briggs, whose place
recently has been raided two or three
times by the sheriff, and whose wife
slapped Undersheriff Hugh Larimer in
the face while he was on one of the
raids. The case was an appeal from
the police court, where Briggs was sem
fenced to pay a fine of 500 and go to
Jail for 80 days.
the limit of the law both as to fine and
imprisonment" urged City Attorney
W. c. Ralston.
1.-THE sentence Of the court is that
this defendant pay a fine of 5000 and
serve six months in the city JAIL was
the response of the court after W. T.
Jamison had made a speech urging
clemency.
Bertha Reve1y, colored, who has a
record as a violator of the law, Jared
only a little better. Her sentence was
only 500 as fine and six months in
Jail. A plea was made for Joe Nc
GiVern and his wife, Lena McGivern,
by attorneys representing them, but
the court turned a deaf ear. The PEN
atty was 800 and six months for each
of them.
Same Old Story to All.
Clinton Trosper, another notorious
jointist, came up for sentence and once |
moro the court handed him pack !
age. 1t was the same Old story, 800 |
and six months. Maud Lawson was
let off with 500 and four months, and |
then was paroled during good be- |
havior on a showing that she has to !
support an aged mother. But the |
court warned her she would be put in
Jail summarily if she was caught vio- |
lating the parole.
Newt Graham, old and infirm, drew |
800 and so days as his portion, and !
was also paroled on account Of his
physical condition. But the terms of |
the parole will make him walk only |
the straight and narrow path If he |
obeys, and will land him in jail in a.
hurry if he varies and is caught at it.
There are half a dozen more to be |
sentenced this afternoon, including |
Frank L. Robbins, accused of main
tanning a wholesale liquor business at
his livery stable, 113 East Twelfth
street, and who Is said to have taken
out a new federal liquor license since
his conviction on the charge of keep
ing nuisance.
~
that lighter sentences will be given
this afternoon, so that it is likely that
the day will go down in history as one
in which violator after violator met
his Waterloo.