The Topeka state journal., 1918-07-23
IN A GOOD RECORD
e, S. District Attorneys Office
Makes Excellent Showing.
Fred Robertson Wins 5S2 OF
6O4 Criminal Cases for q. 5.
PROBE LOYALTY COMPLAINTS
Thousands of Cases to Office
Since q. s. Entered War.
No Matter How UnimpOrtant
Every Clue Is Run Down.

From a total of criminal cases tried
during the administration OF Fred
Robertson United States district at
torney, the government has won all
except 22. From a grand total of 321
civil cases, Robertson and his starr
have won all except SO cases. During
the fiscal year ended July 1, the dis
trict attorneys office actually pre-
sented 1913 cases to the courts and re-
ceived judgments for the government
in all except twelve cases-some of
which have been appealed and may
later be won by the government
The showing of the unusual success
of the district attorney'seof office is con-
tanned in Robertson's annual report to
the United States district attorney at
Washington. The record as main
tanned in Kansas is one of the best es-
tab1ished by prosecuting attorneys in
any of the federal court districts of
the country Because of war condi-
tions and hundreds of disloyalty COM
plants, the work in Robertson'S office
has greatly increased and is now sew
eral times its normal proportions. In
spite of this extra work, the office Sc
cured judgments for the government
in all except twelve of the 199 cases
actually presented to the courts last
year.
During the fiscal year ended July
1, the office presented 54 civil cases
for the government and the govern
ment was successful in all except four
cases. A total of 154 criminal cases
was presented by Robertson and his
staff. Many of these cases were Bit
terly fought and brought into the trial
some of the most widely known attor-
neys in the middle west. In spite of
the red hot legal battles which result
ed from the trial of many of the cases.
Robertson's record for the year shows
that verdicts favorable to the govern
ment were secured in 191 of the casts,
while unfavorable verdicts were re-
turned in eight of the cases. Some of
the cases decided against the govern
ment have been appealed to higher
subsequently be decided for the gov
ernment.
Investigate Loyalty Complaints.
Yet the trial of the 1e9 cases dur
ing the last year has been but an al
most incidental matter in the district
attorneys office. Robertson and his
assistants have received and investi-
gated several thousand complaints
from every section of Kansas. Special
investigators were used in many cases
and the work of the office has in the
last few months been carried into al
most every county in the state.
Each and every complaint, no mat
ter now unimportant it may seem, is
given the same careful consideration" :"
NODSA NSOAi oe1AA IOddy III u1SCuSSIIlS tie
| heavy work of his department. 1.-The
offices of district attorneys are run by
the United States upon the theory of
protecting good citizens and Furnishing
bad ones. 1t is not the desire of the
| district attorney to see how many
people he can get in Jail, but rather to
see what can be done to improve the
citizenship of the country, at the same
| time having in mind the protection
| of the rights of the citizens"
| Under Robertson's administration
| the office has not only attained a DO
sition well toward the top rank OF
similar federal offices, but the depart.
ment has become more than self sup
porting. Altho scores of investigations
have been conducted and large staff
| of investigators are now employed t.
| aid the increased office staff in it.
| work, fines and judgments recovered
| by Robertson and his assistants for tn,
government have amounted to mucf
| more than the salaries and expenses
of persons in the department