The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-25
200 LIQUOR SUITS
They Have Been Brought IN
Shawnee Past Year.
Went to Trial with n ana Sc.
cured II Convictions.
Co. OFFICERS eOOD RBcoRD
Topeka Jointist Has Dark Wars
and Vain Tricks.
But the Officers Find His Goods
in Hidden Places.
|C0. OFFICERS 6OOO RECORD

In connection with q report Of the
zoo liquor cases started In 0havneo
county since January. 1919. County
Attorney w. e. Atchtson observed to-
day that the liquor traffic IN the
county had decreased % per cent IN
tho last year. Formerly WagonIoaAo
OF liquor were pulled at one timA
Now a raid results In the capture Of
six half-pints. Jointine has deterior-
ated into bootieggtng.
The story Of the stringent enforce
ment Of the state prohibitory law In
this county Is the story OF the ingenu-
ity Of county officers pitted against
the ingenuity OF dozens Of jointfses,
who have expended much skin and
cash in cunning concealment Of their
wares.
OF the 200 cases started In shaw-
nee county. II have come to trial. ana
II convictions secured. Seventy-one
verdicts Of guilty" Seventy-Ono
sentences have been secured. The
convictions include Al pleas of guilty,
II trials, and three felonies. meaning
charges of persistent violation, re-
sulting in penitentiary sentence.
Many Gases Consolidated.
Many of the 400 cases were conson-
dated. The policy Of the county u
| never to bring q case without evi-
dence Of sales. This explains why
Mr.. Atchison has not lost q case since
he took Office thirteen months ago. In
a few cases the defendants and wit
nesses disappeared. Two felony liquor
cases are pending now In the dis
trict court
Last year several liquor companies
had agencies in Topeka These, ac-
cording to Sheriff L. L. Kiene. have
been completely wiped out
| Hiding Places Of Liquor,
! When a sunken cement chamber en-
tered by q secret passage and conceal-
ed with soft dirt was discovered by
the sherin's ONCE. Bort DumfURd,
Twentieth and Fillmore streets, now
Il out on bond. gasped atmfrinyly.
Il take on my hat to syou." he said
to L. l. Kiene. and submitted grace
fully to arrest.
! The hole under the trap door in
Forty Bryant's home, 125 North Mon
roe streets, might never have been
found had not tho murdered body of
James Roach been discovered there.
When repairs were made in Charlie
Hechts billiard hall in North Topeka.
a carpenter discovered a revolving
brick wall behind a false door. Hecht
never heard OF the discovery, for he
had skipped his bond, and cannot be
located.
Thoughtful jointists have engaged
hardup carpenters, sworn them to re-
crecy. and superintended the building
Of liquor boxes under stairways, in
false chimneys, between walls and be-
meath floors.
Kiene Found Whisky i'm Piano.
Sheriff Kiene has found whisky in .
piano, a flush tank, and bed. The
police department captured several bot
ties neatly tucked up in a cradle.
Bee Adams and his wife Johanna.
Crane street characters. hid beer in a
feed bin. Bee Adams was convicted
on a felony liquor sentence, and Is Iiv-
ing at the penitentiary.
Trap doors. subcellars. and false
steps are favorite methods for con-
cealrhent employed by illegitimate
dealers who have been prosecuted by
Mr.. Atchison and his assistants in the
district courts.
1 Mahin Law Body Blow to Traffic.
Illegal traffic has decreased mater
tally since last July. The Mahin liquos
law provides that each shipment OF
intoxicants received IN the county must
be listed with the county clerk. ME-.
Atchison estimates that less than II
per cent of these shipments are iIlegf-
innate.
/ Activity Of County Officers.
Part Of the great decrease in a busi-
ness forbidden by state law Is due "a
the enforcement of the Mahin act, and
part to the activity of the sherin and
county attorneys office. The success
Of the, liquor prosecution since last
January Is due to the following OF
each clue, exhaustive inquisitions in
Mr.. Atchison's office and collection OF
evidence. followed by the issuance Of
warrants and inevitable convictions in
the district court.