The Topeka state journal., 1916-11-18
WRITING ON WALL
Indian, Slave of Drink, Lee
tured Before a Youth.
Path of Liquor Pointed Out, but
1t Was Not Needed.

cap" Curly, an Indian from the
Mayetta reservation, came before
Judge Robert Yates in police court to-
day suffering the usual pangs of body
and mind following a jag He held
his head in his hands, partially hiding
a black eye and badly oTuised enesk
bone His hands trembled and ne
groaned. His voice was merely
Look up here, Curly" said Judge
Yates ''I want to see you You
strike me as being about the best tenn
perance lecture 1 know Of I'm sorry
a lot of the young fellows who are
lust beginning to break in here for
booze fighting can't see you You'd
make a drunk man sick. let alone
man in his right senses"
Curly didn't look up. He continued
to roll his head in his hands and
Curly snapped the judge. 'I
thought I let you out day before yes
terday to go home and take care Of
your cattle"
back" said Curly
You mean you went home and fed
your cattle then came right back to
Topeka and got drunk again -
Wei, what's your excuse now?
Want to go home and feed your cattle
again? Do you think we're going to
let YOU come down here and get
drunk every night then go home in
the morning to feed your cattle2
Curly forgot for a minute that he
is an Indian He became as lOqua-
ciOus as a negro
Listen, Judge" he said. you let
me go now and I'll never get drunk in
this town again as long as I live. 1
want to go home 1 ought to be home
right now I'm in awful shape Look
how nervous I am
sure" said Judge Yates. '-Au you
fellows want to get home after you've
been on a big drunk and had your
ewes punched in. Home is the one
Bile is that you always think about it
lust about twelve or fourteen hours
/ too late You're not going home this
morning. cattle or no cattle. Ten dol
lars
..Aint you going to let me go.
I Judge >" asked Curly. standing up and
covering one eye with his hand.
Not on your life, it's jail for you
this time" and they led Curly out
He had no more than left the chair
( in front of Judge Yates desk when it
was filled by husky youngster who
admitted that he had been following g
the path Curly treads only for two
wears. His name is Sam Williams
Sit down, Sam said Judge Yates,
kindly. Been drunk"
Yes"
Where have you been lately2"
Well, I've been working for the
Santa Fe between Streator and Fort
Madison
You got along all right while you
were gone, didn't you?"
Yes"
SAM said the judge. the trouble
with you is the gang you train with.
I You never will amount to anything
here in Topeka You haven't a
chance You won't drop the gang and
as long as you train with it you will
be in trouble. Why don't you go some
where else, form new acquaintan
and associations and settle down
You're only a boy, 81 years DID, and
have a chance to .mGse good if you
take it
Williams hung his head and wiped
one eye
! I've tried to help you time after
time" continued the judge. but there
/ is no use while you're in Topeka You
seem to think that the officers and
the law are against you here. There's
nothing to that We are all for you if
you will do half right"
/ Judge Yates ceased talking and
waited perhaps a minute for Williams
to say something He said nothing.
The Judge was disappointed
l All right" he said. five dollars. -