The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-19
SUES FOR $4,000
LeavenwOrth Police Judge Asks
for Big Damages.
Claims LeavenwOrth Post Lii
beled and Maligned Him.
ALBERT 7. REID A PARTY
TOpekan Included as President
of Publishing Company.
Trouble Arose Over a Negro
Case in Court.

The Post Publishing company, AL
bert T. Reid, Topeka, president, and
Wallace F. Hovey, secretary and treas
urer. publishers of the Leavenworth
Post. were made defendants today in
a suit for $500 actual and punitive
damages filed in the Shawnee county
district court by Paul c. Mails, police
judge in Leavenworth. Mails charges
the defendants printed a libelous
story about him in the Leavenworth
Post. and attached to the petition is
what Mails claims is a copy of the
article.
Mails was appointed police judge
of Leavenworth April 10, this year
and has continued to hold the posi-
ton since that time. He cites that
on June 10 the defendants printed the
articles which he describes in the pc
tition as malicious and defamatory.
According to the copy of the al
legged article attached to the suit
Mails sued the Post Publishing COM
pany for $4O0 bond which the de-
PENDANTS put up for negro, arrested
for having trouble with his mother-
in-law. Afterwards the Post is al
legged to have printed a story, the
headlines of which read:
Kangaroo judge is dragged from
behind his mask Boy whose
knowledge of law was gained while
he acted as Public Stenographer, suf-
fers expansion of head with new JOB
Knows Fine Points Reputa-
ton as exponent of art with cards
cannot be questioned, according to
declaration of fellow players-Now
stands as enemy to law violators.'
Mails's Assertions.
Mails asserts the article did and
still tends to provoke him to wrath
and exposed him to public hatred and
contempt and ridicule. He declares
it will deprive him of earnings and
income and deprived him of public
confidence and social intercourse. He
asks $4,000 actual damages and
$1,000 punitive damages. Before his
appointment as police judge Mails
ding, while Codding was special at
torney general in Leavenworth.
Article in Post.
The copy of the article which Mails
attaches to his petition and claims
was printed in the Leavenworth Post
follows:
1.-The police judge of this city, whose
head has become suddenly swollen as to
require the sign explosive nice young
fellow. to file suit against the editor of the
Post in the district court for the recovery
of $4,000 bond of one Henry Miller. col
ored, arrested on the charge of disturbing
the peace of his mother-in-i:Iw, Is supposed
to have given and forfeited.
This case from its inception, was
frame-up. Miller did have Il little conflab
with his motbcr-in-law just as many of
the white brethren have. but no blows we're
exchanged and no harsh words spoken.
Under orders from the mayor, the police
lnaH on the beat arrested Miller and the
police judge wrote on the warrant-$4OO
cash bond must be given. Now the editor
f ~ Of the amonntHs4oO after having
just shook off n $4,000 suit
Miller Was Released.
MILLER released and appeared the
tI,s H..r, iR1 10 funaH
judge but no one appeared against him.
Ills case was dismissed and Miller left the
mic Thompson, aged Ill years. died down
south. Miller left for the funeral When
he returned. he was surprised to learn of
the fact that the case had been continued
under cover and that his aged relative
was forced to appear In court by a sub
poenn later.
No attention was paid to the Kangaroo
court and when the case is called In the
district court: Henry Miller will show
that he Is an honest colored man ana tnat
he did not jump his bond.
1T is wonderful how the new police
judge. working under orders from me
heavy if they were not right in the last
election. The police stationed in the
north end of town. permit fhNorites To
solicit for immoral purposes on the car
line but prosecute honest, intelligent color
Now if the police judge wants the pub
lie to know five men with whom he
gambled almost incessantly-played poker
Just before he was appointed police judge
even while he was trusted by the church
people in their campaign. The Post has
their affidavits and will print them one
a day, beginning Monday until that hypo-
critical city official calls for mercy.
No Malice Intended
1.-THE Post has nothing personally
against the police judge. lie has gone out
OF his way to pick quarrel with this
newspaper when it WAS friendly To him
lie has a mean disposition and is moi
totally sane. In other words, the police
Judge plays for sympathy but. like many
who openly beat their breasts in louC
and open prayer. is hypocrite of the
worst kind and does not have the proper
Judgment to be trusted with the position
he now holds. If the judge could lc
other peaceful people alone and not play
90 on ali his life, happily fooling the gen
CraI public. But his meddlesome. mean
utinrrels some disposition does not allow hin
to pass any peaceful citizen without prod
ding him cruelty.