The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-07
City Commission Finds It Nee
essary to Do So
In Order to Temper Huron's
Judgments With Justice.
THE CASE OF TWO AUTOISTs
Fined S25 for First. Offense-A
Third Fined SO.
The Boy Who Did Not Break
Pop Bottles-es5.

The members of the city commission
are finding it necessary to act as a
reviewing board and have on some of
the decisions of Judge George A. HUI
ron. police judge. The city commits
sion did not adopt this course Of pro-
cedure until after conferences with the
judge failed to produce desired re-
suits.
After Judge Huron failed to remit
or reduce fines which were considered
unreasonable. the commission tool
things into their own hands. The COM
mission has the legal right to remit
fines imposed in police court. and has
taken this method of tempering Judge
Huron's justice. Three fines Of SIS each
against first offenders against the
speed ordinance were remitted by the
commission some time ago, SO the Of
tenders would have an even break with
a young man named Pettijohn who wal
guilty of the same offense, and who
was also said to be friend of the
judge and. was assessed fine of only
SO and at the same time told he did
not need to pay it, the escape being
via the parole route.
A case was brought before the at
tention of the city commission yester-
day. In this case q 16-year-old boy
had been fined $25 for the ofrense OF
jumping on and off a merry-go-round
in Garfield park while in. motion. Hi
was guilty of this offense.i But a little
over two weeks later he was fined
$25 again for a more trivial offense an6
one Tor which he was not in the Least
guilty, and the judge had ample oppor-
tunity to ascertain his innocence, but
refused to admit the evidence. which
was a confession from the guilty par
ties. This second offense was for break
Ing two pop bottles. Some boy in
Garfield park were playing ball with
the bottles. The bottles met in mid
air and broke. The park policeman
the same who had arrested the boy fol-
up and finding the satne boy there. ar
rested him. The guilty boys had 'rur
away. So there was $50 in police court
fines for the boys father to pay in
one month. The fathers income is $6(
per month for ten months in the year
Letters from the boys school teachers
give him an excellent reputation
Ine matter was brought to the at
tentfon OF the commission by a letter
irom the boys father. 1t is as fol-
lows:
II am the father of Clarence Ebr-
mart, a minor aged sixteen years. july
2S. 1913. my son above referred to.
was arrested and fined $25 for Jump
ing on and off a merry-go-round
while In motion at Garfield Park I
paid the fine and costs. August 15.
the same boy was arrested in Car
held Park for breaking two pop bot
ties, and in the same court Judge
huron assessed a fine of $25 for this
NOT ~
L have been a resident of Topeka
Tor great many years, during which
time l have been regarded as a law
abiding citizen. I bought and paid
Tor my little home by days work.
saving small sum each month from
my meagre salary Of $50 per month
acting in the capacity of janitor at
Grant school, North Topeka am
thus setting up state of facts for
your consideration in order to quail
Try you to judge whether or not fus-
tice has been done to me, and also fo
show that 1 am unable to stand the
unjust burden saddled upon me by a
city official.
My contention Is thic: In the first
case, matter of $25 fine for a bov
committing such an offense as tump-
ing on and off a merry-go-round is
not only unwarranted. but is so un-
reasonable at it condemns ITSELF
In the second case. I personally
appealed to Judge Huron to allow
me to introduce evidence showing INV
son was not present at the time the
alleged crime of breaking pop bot
ties was committed; that the young
men who did break the pop bottles
would go on the stand and admit
guilt. but the court refused to allow
this.
am poor man. and I appeal to
you Tor justice. The city of Topeka
do not believe desires to have its
treasury enriched with money OBJ
tanned from laboring man under
Continued on Page Twelve.)