The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-19
POLICE JOTTINCS
Characters in Bottoms Are in
Desperate Condition.
Law ViOlatOrs of River Regions
Barely Exist in Winter.
Description OF CITY JAIL
Louis Brandt, Writer, Spent
Night in Topeka Prison.
Other Items About the Sleuths
and the Local Police Court.

Other Items About the Sleuths
and the Local Police Court.
The lawless inhabitants Of the "bot-
toms district in Topeka are in a des-
titute condition. Those who were gay
and careless in the summer time are
now crowded in little huts and barely
| existing. There is no excitement in
this quarter of Topeka. 1t is not pic
turesque as imaginative persons usu-
| ally picture it to be. The city Jail
| characters, bootleggers, jointists and
others are not hourishing.
Their condition in the summer
| time" said a well known patroman
toda lis aggravating to us. They
have no cares during the warm
months. They sell their booze more
regularly, although they are arrested
more. In the summer time the motor
iOus cutting scrapes are pulled off. In
the warm days and nights there are
holdups, and shooting trays, and
there is plenty Of snap and ginger and
| trouble in the community.
Nov it is different. The famous
persons residing on Crane and First
i streets can just keep alive. A dimes
worth of chilli is enough for a day.
They buy coal by the quarters worth
Several families for the sake of econ
| omy are huddled in one building. All
| stay around the poorly kept up fire.
Every day some one touches me for
nickel, or ten cents, to buy some
thing to eat.
when spring comes, they will for
| get the hard winter and start a round
of merriment and law violation again.
They have not a single thought for
what is coming. They never look
ahead. In the summer there is con-
slant friction there; in the winter it
is desolation and desperation
| Notwithstanding the poor condition
Of the bottoms" people, there is lit
tie petit larceny going on there.
Louis Brandt. an eastern newspaper
Brandt is a special writer and is making
a hobo trip west. He spent Tuesday
night in the city Jail. wednesday he gave
vent to his opinions and later in the week
wrote the article about the Jail which
follows:
Topeka has something. Persons who
don't know what it is call It a Jail, when
really it is nothing but disease and an
infectious one at that. Situated on the
corner of Fifth and jackson streets. is a
s1zable brick building in which honest
| working men who are without employ
ment and broke are given a 'flop-a
n night lodging ana nreahfast
where there was bedding for about
twelve: There were millions Of other in
mates mat SIN: n the same Rpm who did not sleep
single one of those twenty-eight men had
blood relatives in that jail-that Is the
these twenty-eight men in their veins.
l. I'm all the wide state of Kansas there
Is not jungle where hoboes keep pots
with filth as is this disease of Topeka
have no business cooking in the jail. and
there was one dish pan. three pots, a COT
fee pot. pie plates and tin cups scattered
| in under and over every bunk in the
room. Various other articles such as old
newspapers, rags. one shoe, ct cetera, are
Uttered over the floor with the careless
| ness of the age that is the earmark of
classical decorations that is all the rage.
| One man who through force of circum-
stances sent his wife and family to his
fat. .er-in-law. and was sleeping in the
Jail over night was compelled to occupy a
bunk at the feet of a six-foot negro who
| through his superior strength had OBJ
tanned most Of the bedding in the rom.
Topeka is a fair city. but what a jail.'
| This morning several darkies in the
city Jail organized a glee club. The har-
monious tunes Of Dixie simmered
from the interior of the bastile to the
edification of those who were fortu-
nate enough to remain out of doors.
A man called up the police this morn
ing and said he wanted the snow show
cling law enforced. There is city
ordinance which requires every person
to shovel the snow from his sidewalk.
This man wanted the chief of police
to notify the r. r. Y. M. c. A. to
get to work and Mr.. Ross did 80.
"We decline to work today" was the
ultimatum delivered today by the pris-
oners Of the Jail. The gentlemen be-
hind the bars held session this morn
ing and decided that the air outside
was more injurious to their systems
than that within the prison. They did
not pound rock today and as a RESULT
will not get credit for the days work
when their time expires.
Phil Jones, colored, was arrested last
night by Officer Barker and Special Cop
Ogee and was fined S. by Judge Huron
| this morning for stealing coal.
/ George Givens was arrested last night
by Officer Hill and is booked on the
police blotter on the charge of disor-
derby conduct. He has not yet been
/ tried.
Three police officers. Woodward. Nc
CURE and HILL assisted by several spec
ials. raided the pool hall OF William
Golden" Hawker. on lower Kansas
avenue, last night. Hawker was ar
rested and booked on the charge OF
keeping and maintaining a gambling
house and eighteen negroes were also
"pinched' on the charge of gambling
II When the officers entered. they say
they found the colored citizens indulg-
ing in a game of black jack. nickel q
throw" Dice were also found in the
| pool hall and this led the sleuths te
believe that the familiar sound, "seven
come eleven" was also heard in the
pool hall
II .'Hoot Mon," exclaimed Officer Wood.
ward with an Irish accent as he en-
III tered the place.