The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-09
o. S. Gibson Promised Offices in
Arkansas City.
Such Action Practically Brib-
cry, the Court Holds.
OTHER DECISIONS DOWN TODAY
Cherokee County Must Pay Fees
to John Dawson.
Fred Thomas Wins in johnson.
ThOmaS-WiISOn Case.

The supreme court today ousted o.
S. Gibson from the mayorship of Ar
kansas City and decla- d c. N. Hunt
his opponent, elected and entitled to
the office. In deciding the case. the
court held that Gibson, directly or in
directly or thru a third party, prom
ised offices in reward for political ac-
tivity in the city campaign. Such ac-
ton, the court held, is practically
bribery. The custer order is effective
Immediately.
Gibson is a Democrat. was a MEM
ber of the state legislature in 1918,
and a candidate for the Democrat
nomination for cor greSS in the Third
district in 1914. Hunt is a Republi-
can and in the recent campaign was
chairman of the Republican Commit
tee in Cowley county. Both men have
been prominent in politics.
Hunt Gets Salary, Too.
In deciding the case, the supreme
court not only Gusts Gibson from Of
flee, but holds that Hunt is entitled to
the salary. Evidence before the court
showed that Gibson either directly or
thru friends, promised appointments
of police judge, chief of police and
other offices in event of his election.
His prospective appointees took an ac-
tive hand in his election. The court
held that such votes should be de-
Quoted from his majority. Gibson re-
ceived the certificate of election on
the face of returns which showed he
had won by ten votes
1.-The method is merely a refinement
of the old, coarse form of plain prom
Use and accomplished bribery in the
sense in which the term is used in pro-
ceedings of this character said the
court in deciding the suit brought to
contest the election.
Bridge Is a Menace.
Deciding the suit concerning the
Missouri Pacific bridge across the Kaw
river at Kansas City, the supreme
court today held that the bridge is a
a1tho the court did not direct destruc-
tion of the bridge. Instead the court
held jurisdiction in the case and di-
rected the railroad and members of
the Kaw Valley Drainage district to
seek an agreement concerning removal
of the menace.
Dawson Gets His Fees
! Cherokee county must pay John 5.
Dawson, former attorney general, $625
in fees for prosecuting jointists who
quent to the expiration of their SEN
tences. r. J. Bland, Charles Dixon
and Harry Brown were prosecuted
and convicted by the attorney gem
erals office, but failed to pay the at
torney fees provided under the state
| law.
Dawson waited thirty days after the
release of the men, Failing to re-
ceive his fees, he filed suit in the
| Cherokee county district court.
Must Furnish Standard Gas.
The supreme court today held that
firm which sells gas to a distribut-
| ing company under a contract for mer-
chantable gas must provide fuel of a
quality that meets standard tests. The
decision came when the supreme
| court reversed a decision by the Neo-
sho county district court, compelling
the Wichita Natural Gas company to
! pay in full under a purchase contract
with Bell Bros & Macdonald.
| Leaves Lawyers in the Cold.
| The supreme court today destroyed
| a fad among lawyers who seek diver
sion in the collection of fees thru dis
putes in interstate shipments of grain.
The court held that such cases must
! be taken before a federal tribunal and
that efforts to gain attorneys fees
thru such actions will not be recog-
nized by courts of this state.
| County Loses Taxes.
The supreme court today reversed
| the decision of the Shawnee county
district court granting the right to col
| lect from the w. w. Kimban Piano
company a tax on sales notes in this
| county. Evidence showed that sales
notes were taken by the local office OF
| the company. The notes were sent to
| the head office in Chicago, which re-
| corded the notes in the register OF
| deeds office. The notes were then sent
! to Topeka for collection.
| Officers of the company refused to
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