The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-18

ed in the wrong doing None of them
told Warden BOtkin of the reVeiry by
night in Lansing, Leavenworth, KAN
saS City or the prison barracks. Each
man was convinced that he had lost
his job without cause and was the VIC
tim of an evil design.
Testimony before fhe. commission in
the Botkin case, toKiAy assumed the
proportions of circus parade. The
things that Bot4<in did, the things he
didn't do, the things of which he knew
and the things he knew not of-each
and all found a common dumping
ground in the record of the hearing
and will have a bearing as to whether
Botkin should be separated from his
pay check. Every brand and stripe or
political affiliatiOn was represented IN
the list of men who once drew check
from the state and worked at the
prison.
There was the case of T. j. Laugh
lin. a Topeka man. He went to the
prison as a guard-a loyal, patriotic,
fighting Democrat. He lost his job
and changed his politics.
A Night of Pleasure
Laughlin's troubles seemed to dec
crate the events surrounding the es-
cape of one DR.. King, convicted forger
from Kansas, Oklahoma and Virginia.
Once Laughlin, with other guards, had
gone with King to Leavenworth for
festive night along the primrose path.
The men went to picture show
visited some ladies of light and frivol-
Gus habits. All drank beer. Laughlin
thought the party spent two or three
hours at the picture show and twenty
five minutes at the house of pleasure
but he wasn't right certain about it.
Ever tell Warden Botl1in about it ?"
asked Joseph Lafferty on cross-exam-
ination.
Laughlin did not.
Are YOU a Democrat?" was asked.
Il amt now" asserted the dis
charged guard, who added that he had
since become loyal Republican.
Just why were you fired?" urged
Lafferty
The witness didn't know. But fur
ther cross examination revealed that
two days after the Leavenworth cele-
bration and "a hours after DR.. King
walked away from the prison guard
and never came back. that Warden
Botkin had dismissed him from SER
vice.
Next came J. S. Stevenson of To-
peka-a Democrat. Stevenson went
to the witness stand under 12O pounds
steam pressure. Stevenson had been
discharged for ''just no reason at air.
and he was anxious to tell his story
that BOthin might also 60
Drinking Inside Prison Walls.
Stevenson provided names of pris-
on officers whom he claimed to have
seen drinking within the prison walls.
The witness had failed to report such
action to the warden. although he ad-
mitted he knew it was a violation of
the prison rules.
Drank sometimes yourself?" asked
Lafferty after Edwin McKeever had
completed the direct examinat ton.
Sometimes. ass sented Stevenson.
I'm a man who always takes drink
when he wants it. But l haven't TAX
en- a drink for six months and haven't
been under its influence for six years.
Stevenson then told of drinking in
the prison barra cks, in Leavenworth
and Kansas City. Once he had been
suspended-most unjustly, he vowed
because some one told the warden
he drank.
The witness also told of the time
when Joe Casey, deputy oil inspector.
and Fitzgibbons, deputy prison war
den, assessed the prison employees in
order to pay the bills for the 1915
campaign. Stevenson's assessment
was $40. Some of the officers said
the witness. made campaign trips
Testifying further, Stevenson said he
had seen employees take supplies
from the prison.
Topeka Cops Story
c. NJ. England, former Topeka po-
liceman, knew he had been dis
charged because he supported Billiard
for governor. In fact he testified that
was the reason given by Botkin for
his discharge. England also knew a
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