The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-24
FILED AN CUSTER
Attorney General Dawson After
Crawford Co. Sheriff.
Alleges DerelictiOn of Duty ON
Fifteen Counts.

Custer proceedings were filed in the
supreme court today by Attorney Cen
eral Dawson against John burlington.
sheriff of Crawford county, charged On
Is counts with dereliction of duty and
violation of state laws. The suit Is the
result Of an investigation which began
In the attorney generals office several
months ago.
According to the petition which Daw-
son filed with the supreme court, Turk
ington has fractured many laws and
overlooked numerous duties as a peace
officer. 1t is charged that he permit
ted county prisoners to leave the Jail
and remain away for several days at u
time. but always collected for three
meals day for each prisoner when hts
bill was presented to the county COM
missioners. Names Of q prisoners who
are said to have been permitted to
leave the jail on Friday or Saturday
and remain away until Sunday night
or Monday ara furnished in the pet,-
ton. '
1t Is further charged by the attorney
general that when the prisoners re-
turned to the Jail, they came back in a
state Of intoxication, brought 'iquor
with them and were permitted to drink
and distribute liquor in the Jail, ''all
with the full knowledge and liberation
of the defendant" 1t is also charged
the Jail. to convey liquor to prisoners
Was Leader of a Mob.
In July. 1913, the petition recites.
Huntington violated the state law and
his oath when he became the ring
leader of a mob of several hundred
people which sought to prevent the ar
rest of a Pittsburg man by the police.
That Huntington has had knowledge Of
the maintenance OF joints in Crawford
county towns. Is another charge. 1t is
recited that while about 100 liquor con-
victions have been secured by the coun-
ty attorney, 1t was through the aid and
assistance Of local marshals and con-
stables but that because of the per-
| sistent inaction. misconduct and neg
lect of duty. tolerance and acqui-
openly carried on" 1t is further
charged that Huntington has failed to
turn over to the county attorney
knowledge of law violations in his pos
session.
Knew of Liquor Violations.
During January burlington is
charged with having knowledge OF
violations of the prohfbitory liquor
law by Charles Carnino and Ben
Byrnes, but failed to report to the
county attorney orally or in writing
and gave no information as to names
of persons who frequented these
places, although such knowledge was
| in his possession. In September, it is
claimed, the Crawford county sheriff
received knowledge of the existence
of common nuisances in his county.
but failed to take action. November
4. Huntington was given search and
seizure warrants for the arrests of a
number Of persons charged with law
violations, but the petition alleges that
| he failed to serve these papers until
January 5, this year. Arrests by Tur-
kingtOn on search and seizure war
rants, it is claimed, have resulted in
arrests only and the state charges that
the sheriff failed to make any at
tempt to procure liquors or joint fix
| lures.
| Did Not Serve Warrants.
| August /, 1913, Huntington was
given bench warrants for the arrests
Of certain parole violators But the
sheriff Is said to have been in COM
pany with the defendants on several
occasions without serving the war
rant from the court. Before the bench
warrants were served. it is claimed
that Huntington arrested the defend
ants on other charges and complaints
fled by the county attorney of Craw-
ford county.
Turkinston, In company with two of
his deputies, visited and drank liquor
in joint in August last year and that
upon the approach of local consta-
BILE fled from the building.
The custer of Huntington is de-
manded by Attorney General Dawson
set out in his petition. No date for a
! Clark 4Ovx6,1l Clrpf S,f Race