The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-21
Alleges Presence of immoral
Women Plus Liquor.
DEMANDS MORE THAN So, 500
Suit Against Mayor and Ofh-
ciaIs Is Threat.
House Calls Claim Only a
"BIackmailing Scheme"

Nfl1lr1 TOT SSsaH1 lOt teAiile17N- -
property and damages to the reputa-
tion OF property with notification
that unless the claim be allowed at
once action will be brought against
the city" was presented to the city
commission today amid smokers from
those present. The claim. which city
officials assert is an indirect out
growth Of the vice crusade, waged
against persistent police characters
last summer, by the hiring Of two pri-
Vate detectives by the city. makes SEN
sational and startling charges against
the city. in connection with the two
detectives occupation of a house at
-l9 East Eighth avenue during their
stay here. 1t is brought by William
Eckhert thru his attorney, J. NJ. stark.
The claim alleges that on June 13,
1915. the city. thru its agents, J. a.
Lewis and another person NAMED, and
j. l.. House, mayor, obtained possess
sion of the private residence belonging
io the claimant at 519 East Eighth
avenue. and remained in the same un-
I'll August following. The other
party named Lewis" city officials as
sert was the vice-crusader's wife, who
assisted him in his private detective
work.
Keg Party Used.
The Lewises falsely and fraudulent
ly represented that the premises
would be well taken care of, the claim
states and says in part:
That after obtaining possession of
the said property as aforesaid, said ].
~ Lewis and - Lewis did. acting
for and on behalf of said city and its
mayor as aforesaid, and under the di-
rcction of said mayor wrongfully and
unlawfully hold a 'kee' or beer party
ia said residence, at which intoxicating
liquors We're sold. hartered and given
away i'm violation of the law: that
several persons at the said time be-
came intoxicated, and that great dam
age was done by said intoxicated per-
sons to said residence property and
the furnishings therein That during
all the time of the occupation of said
residence property by said persons
beer and liquors We're given away and
disposed of in violation of the law on
said premises under the order and in
stieation of said mayor. and in the in
terest Of said city. and that at least
one night during said time the said
mayor, acting for said city and thru
the said Lewises, harbored and enter
taired two women in said residence
and that the property had suffered
damage in a large amount. consistine
OF damage to real property and fur
nshings. etc. and property stolen while
anG
that said property has suffered great
and irreparable damage in its repu.
tatiou. and has become undesirable
TO the undersigned for residence pur-
poses, by reason of said wrongful acts
Damages Itemized.
The iteHs of said damage are here
matter more fully set forth. as fol-
lows:
Damage to reputation of property
Value of personal property stoler
by occupants of said residence during
time stated. $40.
Damage to window and sidewalk
SIC.
Damage to furniture. bedding. etc
expense Of fumiGation. SIS.
You are further notified that un-
less said claim is paid at once action
viii be brought against said city and
also AGAINST its mayor and AGAINST ali
parties implicated in said wrongful
acts 60 recover said amount. and al
additional amount by way of exem.
pi7rv damages of $1,000"
City officials. following the readins
81 the claim, presented in affidavit
form. declared it a ''tlackmailino
scheme" and = Joke" That term wa,
used by both Mayor House and City
Attorney Hayden in describing the af,
fidGvit.
City officials said the two partie
detectives who engineered the vice
crusade which cleaned up Topeka So
clean last summer that the city didn'
even have to be fumigated"
Mayor Hired Them.
Il hired the two detectives. the ma,
and his Wife" Mayor House said to
day I had nothing to do with theiI
renting the house if they did. l die
not even know where they STAYED
City Attorney Hayden said that all h,
knew about the dete ctives' method,
= We're that they reported to him ever,
DAY and that convictions had been nh
tanned IN every case tried that tn,
GetecuVes had worked on. Tn,
Lewlses. city officials said were re
sponsible for the gathering of evidanc.
IN the Chesney case, the Vogel case
the Noler case, the Richardson (ase
the seymour case and the Hfc<or,
Jones case. In the cases convic+io,,'
nave been obtained i'll one or NOR,
courts. iii0l
1ne two women" of which tn.
'tfiidaVlt speaks were the -wo voun.
Nansas City girls, Boone Brown am
Irma wilson, who testified agains
Nary Chesney, according to Citv At
orney Hayden.
We arrested them here and tbe,
United they had at different tira
asst been in the Chesney house" ." sal,
.ayden, and We had to have som,
lace to keep them overnight on
isht and keep them in good humo
the same time. so IL Lewises tool
lem home The Lewises have worI1s.
big cases all over the country an,
nave got results here"