The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-10
He LET JONES GO
Judge John C. Pollock Tempers
Justice With Mercy.
Young Man Convicted of Mis-
use of the Mails.
DISCHARGES HIM WITH FINE
Which He Need Not Pay While
He Is Good.
Several Minor Cases Dismissed
in Federal Court.
DISCHARGES HIM WITH FINE

The April term of the federal dis
trict court began at 10 o'clock this
morning, at the federal building and if
the first official act of Judge John c.
Pollock, has any bearing on the term
it augurs we'll for defendants.
Otto Jones of Admire. Kan, little
more than a boy, was before the court
on the charge of sending obscene mat
ter through the mail He is farmer
boy and had been married only five
months when he committed the crime
to which he pleaded guilty today.
His wife and a tiny baby were in the
court room. Jones stood before the
court and admitted his guilt. Judge
Pollock considered for minute, then
closed his eyes and talked to Jones like
what do you do?" he asked.
Il farm" said Jones, almost in a
whisper.
young man." said Judge Pollock.
you are married. You have a wlte.
You have a baby. L wonder II you
understand that you have a different
relation to life from what you had be-
fore you married.
Jones nodded.
You have a duty to your family"
continued Judge Pollock. 1T is to
conduct yourself as an honorable and
upright man and to work to support
them. l could send you to Jail and
then to the penitenJiary for the Of
Tense to which you have pleaded
guilty. But l am not going to follow
that course. What would your wife
and baby do if L were to send you to
prison?'
Jones shook his head.
Il don't know either said Judge
Pollock, so l am going to fine you
S1O0 and the costs of this case and let
- 4 h
to pay the fine or the costs as long as
you conduct yourself properly. Now
go back to Admire and conduct your
self like a man, like a husband and
father"
Jones VisibIy Affected.
When Jones turned from Judge Pol
lock tears were streaming down his
face. He said nothing but hurried to
his wife's side, picked up their baby
and the father and mother silently left
the court room.
Practically all that has been done in
the court room today has been to go
over the docket. finding out what cases
were to be tried, what cases were to be
dismissed or continued and listen to
pleas.
Several cases charging sales of
liquor without a government license
were dismissed soon after the court
convened. They were:
The government against Thomas
Carroll, the government against Ray
Bussey, the government against Fitz
Warner, the government against ]. NJ.
Lutes, the government against Henry
Knouf. Fred Green and Vetter Green
were charged with introducing liquor
upon an Indian reservation and the
cases against them were dismissed.
Ten civil cases, all of minor impor-
lance, were set for hearing. A great
majority of the cases set for this term
of court were continued upon request
of attorneys interested.
The first case to be tried, when the
court reaches that stage, will be the
case of James P. Alley, by Abijah
Alley, his guardian, against Usage
county.
The petit jury was drawn for to-
day. The grand jury will not begin
work until Wednesday. The grand
jury's grind was delayed two days in
order to allow Democratic federal Of
ficers to attend the Democratic state
convention at Hutchinson