The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-11
Well Known Insanity Lawyer
Barred by Supreme Court.
He Refuses to Apologize for
UncOmplimentary Remarks.
OTHER DECISIONS DOWN TODAY
Melinda Nichols Lawful Wife
of George Haywood.
Parole Law Well Defined to
Care for Cases Here.

John F. Hanson, well known in
sanity lawyer. was today suspended
from practice in all state courts. un-
| der an order from the supreme court
The action followed the refusal or neg
lect of Hanson to apologize for un-
complimentary remarks which Hanson
recently made concerning the supreme
court in a petition filed with the tri-
bunal. Until the court makes some
further order, Hanson is barred from
practice in all state courts.
For several years Hanson has been
a thorn in the flesh of the Kansas su-
preme court Usually when a lawyer
loses a case before the court and is
/ denied an application, he goes home
and tries to forget. Sometimes he
closes the door of his office and 'eX-
presses himself in quite positive terms.
But it usually stops there. Hanson,
refused to subside. He was persistent
in the extreme and when he was flat
ly and emphatically denied, he filed a
document with the court which was
the last word in contempt and disre-
spect.
Some months ago the court ordered
Hanson to appear and adjust accounts
1t was an offering for him to escape
punishment thru an apology. But
Hanson didn't come to Topeka. Nor
did he send his apology. So now the
court has wiped his name from the
list of lawyers eligible to practice in
the courts
Two years ago Hanson was a can
didate before the primaries on the
non-pa artisan judicial ballot and
sought nomination as an associate JUS
tice of the supreme court. He polled
more than $4,000 votes and lost the
nomination by the narrowest sort OF
margin. In August this year, he was
nominated for district judge by the
a aV-M
district Whether he would be per-
mited to serve in event of an election
is a matter of considerable dispute.
Hanson has brought many cases be-
fore the state courts. He field numer.
Gus actions to secure the release of
insane patients from state hospitals
and at one time was tried for his own
sanity, but acquitted. At one time he
/ filed suit for damages against mem
bers of the state board of control and
justices of the supreme court. He
failed to maintain his action and later
annuonced that he himself would
enter the race for place on the su-
preme bench. In this endeavor, he al
most won the nomination.
Defines Parole Law.
Paroles shall be granted at the dis
cretion of the state board of correc-
tiones and are not compulsory follow
ing expiration of a prisoners mini
mum sentence, according to a decision
today by the state supreme court. The
! decision was in the case of Fred Gar
vey, convicted of assault with intent to
kill.
Garvey was sentenced to a term of
one to ten years. At expiration of the
first year of his sentence, Garvey was
eligible to parole. He was not re-
leased by the board, however, and
filed suit to compel the board to act.
Both the Leavenworth county district
court and the supreme court held that
while Garvey might be eligible to re-
lease, it was not compulsory and was
a matter entirely within the discretion
and judgment of the state board.
Must Label Goods.
The supreme court upheld the con-
tention of the state board of health
when it reversed the Shawnee county
district court and set aside an injunc-
ton against the state board of health
which sought to force the Corn Prod
ucts Refining company to place labels
on its syrups. The company disputed
the theory of the state health board.
When the state department threatened
action, the syrup company secured an
INDUCTION against the boards order.
The supreme court, however, held that
the board could regulate the branding
and sale of foodstuffs.
Davis Loses Case,
The supreme court today issued
writ of mandamus compelling W. E.
Davis, state auditro, to register bonds
for the erection of a high school at
Rantoul, Franklin county Davis had
refused to register bonds because the
transcript did no definitely locate the
proposed new building. The school
district then brought suit to compel
registration of the bonds and the court
today directed the state auditor to ac-
cept the issue.
Melinda Nichols Wins.
The supreme court today held that
Melinda Nichols was the lawful wife
of George Haywood and entitled to
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