The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-08
20, NOT 80, CENTS
That's What State Opinion Was
Worth to Sparks.
Rocks County Man Sent Two
Dimes to Attorney General.
He WANTED HIGH TRIBUNAL
And B'GOSh, He WuZ Willin' to
Pay Fer 1t, Too.
State-CrueI KanSaS!-Sends
Back Silver Coins.
He WANTED HIGH TRIBUNAL

If w A Sparks of Zurich. Rocks
county. were on the bench in Mont
gomery county, it is probable that the
attorneys in the Kansas Natural Gas
company cases would have worked a
natural lifetime for their $4,000 and
$4,000 fees. Today Sparks establish
ed a basis for legal fees when he ask
ed the attorney generals office for
legal opinion and enclosed two thin
dimes and a stamped envelope to
cover fees and expenses.
Sparks lives in the country where
Judge 5. \. Hawkes., assistant attor-
ney general. was formerly district
judge. Possibly Sparks wanted to
show show his appreciation of the promo
ton of Rocks county legal talent.
Maybe he merely wanted to retain
Judge Hawkes. personally to represent
him in his troubles The letter with
the twenty cents remittance, at least
found its way to Judge HAWKES.
desk.
Sparks Takes a Hand.
Out in Rocks county Mrs. Sparks
seems to have encountered many legal
difficulties and complications con-
corning the settlement of an estate.
The woman was appointed administra-
triX by the court, but the estate seems
to have caused more trouble than the
Democratic tariff bill. Mrs. Sparks
wanted the court to do a lot of things
which the court appeared to feel was
not within its province. She wanted
advice and suggestion from the bench
and when the court did not respond,
Sparks personally took a hand in the
matter.
More than a week ago Sparks wrote
a letter to the attorney generals Of
flee asking legal advice. He received
the customary reply that he should
consult the county attorney. But
sparks was not inclined to be pushed
aside. He wanted the highest author
lty IN the state and intended to get it.
Does Not Stop at Expense.
Maybe, after all, it was mere mat
ter of compensation Sparks was
good sport. Bet your life. If money
was all that was necessary, small mat
ters IKE finance would not stand be-
tween Spar--S and his right to tell the
ROCKS county court where to transfer.
NO mere trial court could ignore
SPARKS and make a complete success
OF 1t. No, sir. Not so long as legal
authorities of the state could be called
upon TO defend the rights of American
citizenship.
So Sparks wrote letter No 2. In the
letter which came today, Sparks re-
cited a number of things he wanted
done He also wanted to know if the
trial court hadn't ignored the rights
or MRS Sparks as administrators and
II the legislature had been thoughtful
enough to provide remedy and relief.
Sparks wanted either. He preferred
both Sparks was brief but forcefuI.
He put his complaint on a single sheet
OF single spaced. typewritten paper.
Then, in his closing paragraph,
Sparks called attention to the fee
which he enclosed-two dimes That
the state nor the attorney generals of
nee should be compelled to pay the
expense of a reply, Sparks also en-
closed stamped envelope. Judge
hawkes. who may not show proper
appreciation of a retaining fee, 70
returned the twenty cents. But
Sparks's stamped envelope was a com
plete loss