The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-04
WOULD CLOSE PRISON MINES
Warden Botkin says Deplorabie Con.
dition Exist Among Convicts in
Penitentiary.

GROSS immortality alleged to exist In
the coal mine of the state prison at
Lansing, an immortality which, it is
declared, has kept the prison physi-
clans and surgeons busy and entaiIed
an enormous expense upon the state,
will be checked in the future if War
den J. D. Botkin has his way, even
though it becomes necessary to lease
the mine to a corporation which will
employ miners.
Warden Botkin said recently that
conditions in the mines have become
so deplorable that he has resolved to
take the matter to the board of cor
rections with a view to having them
| remedied. Ultimately he expects the
question to be presented to Governor
Hodges, after which he is hopeful that
some action will be taken which will
| forever prohibit state prisoners de-
scending into the coal workings.
The warden will endeavor to show
| the board that of the 81 prisoners
now behind the bars, 33 per cent are
suffering from some form of tubercu-
| losis and that the majority Of those
i comprising that percentage at some
| time during their prison life worked
in the coal mine.
|
Liquor Under Stairs.-TWo police
men raided the home Of Mrs. Antonio
Lamar at Pittsburg, suspecting that
| the place was joint. They had about
all the evidence they needed except
| the stock" A search of the house
was made without results. Mrs. La
mar and other members of the fam
lily were interested spectators. One
officer started upstairs. He noticed
| that the sound of his foot upon the
| steps was strange. So he investigated
| and discovered that the first three
steps could be lifted out. Under them
the policemen found thirty bottles Of
beer and twenty bottles of whisky.
Mrs. Lamar, already a defendant in
one case, now faces another charge.
x X
Widow Gets $15,ooo.-The Federal
supreme court has dismissed the ap-
peal of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
Railway Company from the judgment
of the Oklahoma courts, awarding
Mrs. L B. West of Labette County,
Kan, $751; for the death of her hus-
band, William B. West.
Veteran Dies-John Albert, veter-
an of the Mexican and Civil wars, is
dead at Gridley. He was 81 years old.
Live Wire kiIis.-A. E. Patton OF
Coffeyyille, was instantly killed by
coming in contact-with high tension
wire in the sub-power station of the
Union Traction Company at Jefferson,
nine miles northwest of Coffeyville.
Mr.. Patton had been prominent in bus
mess for about twenty years. He was
pioneer in the development of nat
ura1 gas in that section and was one
of the most widely known gas and oil
operators in Southern Kansas.
Big Damage Suit.-One of the larg
est damage suits filed in recent
months in the district court at hide
pendence was that filed by Ira NJ
Hart, 81 years old, who sues the Mis-
souri,, Kansas & Texas Railway Com
pany for $50, 200 for the loss of ar
arm, due. he says, to the negligence
Of the company.
Double Tragedy.-E. S. Stevenson
So years old. photographer of Edo
RADIO, shot his wife and probably fat
ally injured himself He told his wife
several days ago he would commit sui
eide on his birthday.
X
Only One of Us.-In spite of tn.
fact that his name indicates thu
, presence OF more than one, Frank q.
, has the shortest name on the tal
, rolls in Crawford County, so Guy E
Turner, the county clerk, has discoy
cred. Mr.. Us lives in CockreH Camp
X y *
t Soldier Inherits SIS, ooo.-Ross A
/ Spangler, who was discharged at tn,
: post March 4, as q private OF Troop G
, Fifteenth Cavalry, has received wore
: that ne has inherited $4,000 from hi
uncle. James Hines who died il
Wichita. March IL.