The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-28
NEARER TO FRONT
PatterSOn's Case Goes to Adju-
tant General of Illinois.
Kansas Report Shows He Has
Had Fair Hearing.
IS CLASSED AS A DESERTER
Government Inspector Callahan
Has Reviewed Case.
PHYSICAL Claim Denied by Army
Medical Officer.

Mai. r. Neill Rain of the adjutant
generals office took steps today that
it is believed will place John Martin
Patterson, Topekas champion army
dodger, considerably closer to the
front line trenches in France than he
has shown a disposition to be. At the
instigation of Major RAIN, John CAL
Iahan, government inspector, has pre-
pared a detailed review of Patterson S
case and this, along with the recon-
mendations that Patterson be treated
as deserter and taken into custody
as such, will be forwarded to the
adjutant general of Illinois with the
hope that Patterson will re GIVE per-
sonal attention at once.
Patterson was registered N Chicago
and early last spring succeeded in hav-
ing his papers and examinations trans
ferfed to Topeka board. He was ex-
amined here and put in class L ready
for induction into the army, but set up
dependency. physical disability and
conscientious objection pleas, none of
which were recognized by the Kansas
boards. However, he succeeded in
getting the Chicago board to recon-
mend that his appeals be given con-
sideration, and this was done, but the
appeal board could not find a legiti-
mate reason for allowing him to re-
main at home.
Tried Dependency Claim.
In his dependency plea he said he
had a mother, aunt and sister to sup
port, but it was learned he gave them
less than forty dollars month and
received in return from them room
and board. In his physical disability
plea he asserted one leg was shorter
than the other, but Major Gray, medi-
cal aide to the governor. made a thoro
mination and reported that the dis
ability was not sufficient to handicap
him in performing general military
service.
In his conscientious objection plea
Patterson set up that he is a member
of the International Bible Students as
ISOLATION, an organization that does
not believe in war and that has been
having considerable trouble with gov
eminent authorities because of OBJ
struction tactics practiced by it's men,
bers. In making his religious plea.
Patterson made insinuating remarks
about government officials. cast re-
Elections upon ministers of the
churches and asserted that he has no
objections to war so long as others do
the fighting.
Glass Him as Deserter.
In his report to Major Rain, Gov
eminent Inspector Callahan states that
Patterson has openly and defiantly re-
fused and Sill refuses to obey or con-
form to the terms of the selective
service laws: that he had a fair an6
impartial hearing of his claims for ex
emption which have been denied; anC
therefore he draws the conclusion.
that his refusal to report for induction
or entrainment should demand that hi
be treated as a deserter and that HI
should be taken into custody as such
Twcnty-siX Arrested in California.
Los Angeles, Sept. 28.-Twentf-si,
members of the International Bibl,
Students association. were placed or
trail before jury in federal cour
here yesterday, charged with viola
tons of the espionage act. The specific
act alleged by the government was the
circulation of a circular resembling
newspaper said to have contained at
tacks on the government and extract.
from the Finished Mystery" which
book had thereto been held seditious