The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-06
RIGHT and LEFT
POLICE PICK Up
LOCAL NEGROES
Clean Sweep of COlOred Sus-
poets Made Today.
Every Man Who Looks Like a
BOOtlegger Arrested.
PATROL WAGON RUNS AMUCK
Most of Prisoners Are of Hip
Pocket Variety.
SVEN Keep Them in JAIL"
Says Chief Parsons.
Every Man Who Looks Like a
BOOtlegger Arrested.
PATROL WAGON RUNS AMUCK
Most of Prisoners Are of Hip
Pocket Variety.
ssWe'H Keep Them in Jail"
Says Chief Parsons.

,-he deadest, dullest place in To-
pelxa today is that section occupied
ordinarily by negro bootleggers. There
NAV be a few of their type enjoying
their freedom but if they are their en-
ioyment is being taken in a cellar a
barn or some other place of hiding.
Most of the clan is in the city Jail
with no chance to get out for twenty
four hours. At noon today twenty
four negroes whose occupation is CIV
en- on the police docket as bootleg
GER had been turned in at the jail.
Beginning last night Harvey Parsons
chief of police, told the patrolmen on
all the beats to pick up every known
hootlegger whether they saw him DO
ing anything wrong or not
''Pick them up on general prin-
ciples." said Parsons. land IN take
care of them when they get here.
The chief had scarcely issued the
order when the patrol wagon started
en- its rounds. Load after load or
negroes was dumped at the city prison
door. The trips continued all night
and when the day men Went TO Worf-
this morning they began where the
night men left off. Every police char
was picked up.
BY 10 O'Clock this morning the
scare had spread to every part of town
and the faces familiar in police court
have been hidden from public view
all those not already found. The po-
lice automobile was driven down
Crane street this forenoon and not a
male negro was seen from one end OF
the street to the other.
Held for Investigation.
AT the Jail there is weeping and
wailing and cursing. The negroes ar
rested do not know what the charge
against them is and until they do
know they can't arrange for bond,
they can't plead guilty. All they can
do is to sit in Jail and wait for the law
to move. Every man arrested under
orders from the chief has been book
ed for investigation" A man can be
held for twenty-four hours on thai
charge without any chance to give
bond. AS rapidly as the twenty-fo1l
hour period expires for the negroes
arrested Parsons will lodge a charge
of "vagrancy" against each of them
Then there will be a wild scrambling
for bonds. The Jail has been sur
rounded by negro women all day
clamoring for chance to see the mer
inside The women are confident
some great injustice is being perpe-
trated in the name of the law.
Guilty of Vagrancy.
81 am sick and tired trying to pu
these hip-pocket bootleggers out o.
business" said Chief Parsons today
1--WE know they are selling but it i:
the hardest thing in the world to ge
convincing evidence against them. Va
grancy is one charge of which pract1
. caliy every bootlegger is guilty. He
has no visible means of support. These
BELLOWS don't work but we are goine
to see if we can't keep them in jail oil
at work on the outside. Vagrancy Il
one charge for which there is no fine
4Conviction means a Jail sentence.
would like to see every man we have
picked up draw thirty days"
: Here is the list of negroes picked VI