The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-09
State Temperance Union Spot
ter Sentenced to Jail.
ParOIed by Court With Advice
to Pay Up.

Fred Pringle, who objects to being
termed a 'spotter," but who has been
doing special work for the State
Temperance Union, having been en-
ployed by Frank NJ. Stahl in that ca
pacity, and who also did special
work for Harvey Parsons, chief OF po
lice. was convicted in the court of To-
peka today on a charge of violating a
state law making it misdemeanor to
beat ! board bill. He was sentenced
to sixty days in the county Jail by
Judge Hugh Fisher, but Judge Fisher
granted him a parole of thirty days
in which to square his account and
also to pay the court costs of the case,
admonishing him that if accounts
were not settled by that time, he
would be placed in Jail.
Con Chumos, proprietor of the Bal
timore hotel, 61S North Kansas ave-
nue., was the complaining witness.
Pringle told the court that he and his
wife left without paying because they
were both nervous and high strung"
and could not stand the arguments the
Greek put up to them to induce them
to pay. He said ne explained to ChU-
from the State Tefnperan Union
with which to pay his hotel bill, but
that there was a MISUNDERSTANDING
all around" between himself and
Stahl and the amount he received
was not as much as he expected.
Like Adam Of Old.
He claimed that it had not been his
intention to leave the hotel without
paying, and shifted the responsibility
for a quick getaway" upon his wife,
pretty and becomingly dressed young
woman. She also testified to this, say
ing she decided to leave when walters
at the lunch counter passed her up,
causing her to go without breakfast
Il decided to get another room,
she testified, and Mr.. Pringle did
not know anything about it 1
wrapped up some of my clothes and
sent them to laundry. The rest of
them 1 carried out in my arms But
L did not take everything"
Although Mr. Pringle might reason
ably be expected to be a temperance
man, considering that he was en-
ployed by the State Temperance
Union, among his affects which were
left at the hotel was a handsome wine
set. There was also a chest of silver
which PrinSle placed with Chumos
for safe keeping. He denied that he
had done this with a view to establish
ing credit with the proprietor of the
hotel, and testified in court that he
had purchased it from an 1nstallment
house, paying only 20 cents towards
its purchase. He also testified that
after leaving the hotel he had given an
order on Chumos to turn over the sill
yer to the installment house.
Miss Minnie Friend of 113 West
Sixth street, was witness for Pringle.
She told of going with Mrs. Pringle
to the hotel when Mrs. Pringle re-
moved her baggage. and that Mrs.
Pringle had engaged a room at the
same place where Miss Friend rooms.
In passing sentence, Judge Fisher
said he believed Pringle should be
made an exanple-that while any
man might be excused for simply be-
ing hard pressed for money, apparent
ly Pringle had not acted in good faith.
He said that he believed that when
a man spent 1925 for a hot water bot
tie for his wife with money he had
promised hotel keeper and said
nothing to his creditor about it, he
might be guilty of nothing but poor
Judgment. but that his other actions
and testimony indicated bad faith.