The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-02
JoTTlNGS
Detective Lyle Resigned to Ac-
cept Court House Job.
Now Years Eve Passed Away
Here With No Drunkenness.

II was with regret that the Topeka
police force learned last night that
Charles Lyle, the popular detective,
had handed in his resignation.
Lyle went on the force April 23.
1913. as a detective and has won dis
ttnction in that office because OF his
good work. He feEreted out several
important thefts. robberfes, burglaries
and other affairs where apparently no
traces Of the offender had been left.
= Detective Lyle also gained quite a
reputation for his ability, to- draw out
confessions from suspected persons.
He will leave the force January II to
become assistant marshaf OF the court
OF Topeka, under George Frost.
Chief Ross this morning had named
no one to take Lytle's place. but he
held long conference with Mayor
Cofran. presumably talking over the
situation.
From 6 o'clock on Wednesday even
ing, December 80, until early this
morning, there was not single per-
son arrested in Topeka for drunken
ness. New Years eve came and went
away and the capital city OF Kansas
remained sober. ir,atsff Sal.
The standard of drunkenness in To-
Peka is rigid, according to Judge
George A. Huron of police court. In
the saloon cities: a person is not taken
into custody for being drunk unless he
IS lighting, maudlin or dead drunk.
In Topeka, the court holds that a per-
son Is intoxicated If he walks in an
1nebriated fashion, or talks so as to
give the impression of having drunk
liquor, or if his breath is scented with
booze
With that standard, the fact that
there were Gel DRINKS arrested last
year does not look so bad. the judge
believes. He points out that rs per
cent of these arrests were made
against persons who drank too much
alcohol in Missouri and brought their
jag" to Topeka. Another rs per cent
purchased their liquor in another city
and drank it here. That left about
$50 DRINKS who bought their liquor in
Topeka. Half of those, according to
the Jail docket. are non-residents of
Topeka, visitors, farmers, Indians
Mexicans and hoboes. Only; bout $50
drunks were citizens of Topeka, which
Judge Huron believes is quite a record
Tor city of $4,000 people.
From Christmas ~eve to date, there
were IL arrests for drunkenness, three
OF whom were Mexicans, four Indians,
three c-1ored men and eight whites.
Bob Larson, a paroled prisoner from
the federal penitentiary at Leayen-
worth, attacked ID. D. Mote, assistant
a
suit will be taken back to his former
quarters under Jerry Botkin. Larson
addressed Mote in front Of a pool hall
on Kansas avenue last night. asking
MIN II he had any liquor to dispose of
and later striking him when he was not
locking. AS a result, Mote, who is also
police officer, arrested Larson and the
latter was escorted to the. city bastile.
This morning he was taken over to the
county jail for lsafekeeping until the
nc frnv T<pv n
after him.
Three arrests on arson charges were
made last night and early this morn
ing. Richard Miller, in the city Jail
on the charge Of selling tobacco to min
ors. and the two John Briggs. senior
and Junior, were arrested and turned
oyer to the county authorities.
The financial report for December
was filed with the city commission to-
day by Police Judge George A. Huron.
The report shows n total Of 166 arrests
Tor the month: fines totaling 1862 so,
with $5S in back fines. making a total
of cash collected s41s.5O
Richard Miller tried to set fire to the
city jail last night and If his attempt
mad succeeded, perhaps the discussion
Tor and against a new lookup might
have have been ended. Miller, in Jail
Aoi SeHiHe toodcCO 10 minors, refused
to work on the rock pile with the other
prisoners and was ordered to the bull
pen below until he would change his
mind. He was put on a neager fare
OF bread and water.
Last night the officers upJxadrs de-
tected smoke coming out Of the base
ment stairway and rushed downstairs.
A big sack of corn cObs, thoroughly
saturated with coal oil and the mattress
had been set on fire and Miller was
Kicking the basement window in an ef-
fort to escape from his fire. Sergeant
Sauls and Officer Richards opened the
door of the bull pen. freed Miller who
was choking with the smoke and the
two officers put out the fire. Miller
was promptly taken to the county tail