The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-25
BOOtleggers Flirt With Uncle
Sam to Dodge State Law.
Use Fictitious Names. Thus ViO-
lating ssLabeI' Statutes.
ADDRESSES ON VACANT LOTS
and Baggage Cars
Also Brought Into Use.
HObOes Found Begging Under
State Charter.

Following the unusually strenuous
warfare receTtiy launched against il
legal liquor dealers of Topeka by
Harvey Parsons. chief of police, and
the county attorneys force, local
bootleggers are taking big chances III
shipping liquor into Topeka. In doing
this a number of them, it is said, are
flirting with federal violations.
Not long ago the county attorney
began an active campaign against
those who sign up for consianments
of beer and wniskey shipped for dis
tribution by local bootleegers. AS a
result it is no longer safe for a
friend to receive the shipment in
his name for the distributor. Both
the police and county attorney have
been keeping close tab on shipments
coming into the city. Lists of such
shipments are fl finished the county
attorneys office every month by rail-
roads and express companies TheSs
lists frequently are responsible for
raiding parties swooping down upon
boOtleggers joints.
Recently bootleggers have been
forced to take long chances TO get
their wares into the city without de-
lection. 1t is said that a number of
jointists are sending men to Kansas
City and St Joseph to bring the wet
goods to this city. The representa-
tiveS generally on the return trip
check a trunk or a number of suit
cases at the baggage office. The
trunks, are, of course, filled with
liquor.
Automobiles have also been pressed
into service to carry liquor into the
state, to successfully avoid the eye of
the law.
The latter methods of lodging de-
lection will undoubtedly demand the
attention of federal authorities. Fed
eral statutes provide that shipments of
liquor, regardless of shipping method,
must be plainly labelled. Recently
several cases were tried before Judge
Pollock at Fort Scott wherein autos
were used to carry the liquor across
the line. Pollock held that the law
applied to autos as well as railroads
and express companies.
In addition to automobile and bag
gage methods of shipping, a number
of instances have been found by the
county attorney and police where ficti-
tious names have been used in receiv-
ing shipments from Kansas City,, Va
cant lots are often found at addresses
in the list of shipments furnished by
the railroads and express companies.
More "Charter' Troubles.
1t seems that a new graft, concealed
under the name of charity, is flourish
ing in Kansas. Anyway, the police
can be SO convinced, with little or no
effort
An instance of irresponsible parties
being authorized to solicit aims in the
state by possession of state charter
was brought to light when two typical
hoboes, with weeks growth of brush
on their faces, were found begging and
picked up by the police.
At the police station they coolly in
formed Chief Parsons that they were
authorized to solicit aims by right of
state charter. From the pockets of
their ragged coats they pulled charters
for Kansas and two other states au-
thorizing them to solicit as agents of
the Messengers of Jesus" To the
police the charters appeared to be
genuine.
However, the credentials had little
effect on Parsons. The 'boes were
shown the accommodations of the bull
pen and then told to hit the rods"
They left town on the next freight.
TOO Much Relatives
telephone call from his mother
late Thursday night, landed James
Smith, better known in police court
as Babe Smith in the bull pen a half
hour later on a charge of drunk and
disorderly For some time past
Babe has been taking his meals off
and on at the Parsons cafe.
In police court this morning, Smith
who is a husky negro, begged for
clemency. He said that trouble start
ed Thursday night when relatives re-
fused to give him money he had CIV
tears rolling down both cheeks he
threatened to start a KILN - if his
relatives did not come across
Smith gets a pension of s55 month
from the Santa Fe owing to an in
jury received while in the employ of
court and released on promise that he
Stay away from his relatives