The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-18
And His BOndSmen Hold 81, 900
in the Sack.
JOintist Who Was Fined $4,000
and 8 Months in Jail.

There is weeping and wailing and
gnashing of teeth today among those
who went on the appeal bond OF
Charles Heck, the notorious North
Topeka jointist, who was recently
given the heaviest sentence for traf-
ticking in liquors that has ever been
passed out in Shawnee county, and
possibly in Kansas.
Heck has left for parts unknown
There is a rumor around town to the
effect that he has reached a point as
far away from Topeka as Alberta,
Canada. And if he has, there is lit
tie danger that his bondsmen will
take the trouble to go after him.
There is even a question if he could
be eXtradited from Canada or any
other foreign territory under the cir
cumstances.
But no matter where he may be,
he has gotten beyond the jurisdiction
of the court and his bondsmen and
the latter are the ones who are par
ticularly sad. They are holding a
sack, and it is a large one. AS far
as the county officials are concerned,
they think the disappearance of Heck
from Topeka is good radiance of bad
rubbish. He has been a thorn in
their sides for years as a persistent
and clever violatOr of the prohibitory
law. And the bond they hold for his
custody is of the gilt-edge variety.
and on which they can easily collect
the whole sum.
Heck operated a pool rom at No. SIS
North Kansas avenue. But it was rather
a pool room in disguise The chief function
of the proprietor was the dispensation of
all kinds of intoxicating liquors. So cleV-
erly had he arranged the place for the
concealment of liquor that 1t was almost
impossible to get evidence against him.
Finally case was worked up against him
several months ago and filed in the DIS
trict court by ex-County Attorney Simon.
1t did not come to trial until April of this
year. In the meantime Sheriff Kiene and
County Attorney AtchiSOn had obtained a
lot of new evidence against Heck. So
the old case against him was dismissed
and one based on the new evidence was
pressed This resulted in his conviction
in the first division of the district court
on April on number of counts for SELL
ing liquor and also for maintaining
nuisance. Then Judge Dana got busy,
and to teach Heck a lesson he would not
forget. and also toss out a hint to other
persistent violators of the prohibitory law,
he fined Heck 5000 and sentenced him to
nine months in jail. To avoid the i'm
mediate execution of this sentence Heck
did as other convicted jointists have been
in the habit of doing. He filed a notice of
an appeal to the supreme court. Pending
the perfection of this appeal he was re-
leased on bond And Judge Dana made
the bond heavy one, fixing it in the sum
of 5000. The sureties on this bond are
Kate Heitman of S19 East First street, for
$1,000; W. 7. Williams, of 1909 Central ave-
nue., for $500. and George Knowl, the wall
paper man at s42 North Kansas avenue,
for $500.
It is the duty of these bondholders to
get Heck within the Jurisdiction of the ,
court by August 8, when the bond expires. |
But they and the county officials are GER
tain that Heck has left for good and then
the county will proceed to collect the 5000
from the bondsmen, the price of their
And each person on the bond is more than
good for the sum he or she signed for.