The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-11

AFFIDAVITS ARE KEPT SECRET
County Attorney Admits He
Has Girls Statements.
Raid on Saum Place Reveals q
New Scandal.

The story of protection that
failed to protect in the hour of dire
need; the near sacrifice of the reputa-
tons of a number of Topekans on
the altar of public opinion; the
tragedy of girls once pure and inno-
cent fallen in the mire of public Scorn
and sentenced to long terms at Lam
sing; and regretS-vain regretS-all
! these things have developed and are
being unfolded as the result of the ar
rest last Saturday morning of Mr. and
Mrs. A. A. Saum, 724 Monroe street,
on the charge of maintaining house
of disrepute.
The Saums were said to have had
protection" but there is many a slip
'twix the cup and the lip, altho, ap-
parently it was not the fault of GER
tain persons whose duty it is to en-
fc~ce the statutes of Kansas and the
, ordinances of Topeka that the Saums
found themselves in the clutches of
the law. They had protection, it was
rumored, and were evidently highly
surprised and indignant when County
Attorney Fisher, Marshal Leech and
Deputy Marshal Lytle invaded their
home on the morning of December Z
and escorted them to the court house.
And it all came about in this way:
The Story and the Moral.
Several days ago Police Sergeant
hopes of finding there Thelma Coyne.
| a girl whom DR.. H. L. Clark, city
health officer, had ordered picked up
for a medical examination. The girl
was there. beside Pearl Holmes and
five men who were engaged in a crap
game. These persons, together with
Mr.. and Mrs. Saum, were arrested;
the two girls were later given medi-
cal examination, found to be diseased
and taken to Lansing. Mr. and Mrs.
Saum were released to appear for trial
but forfeited their bonds.
| Meanwhile.s Hugh Fisher returned
| from Chicago and hearing a rumor
that the Saums had protection in
Shawnee county, set to work to gather
| evidence against them. Mrs. Saum
had gone to Kansas City after her re-
| lease on bond, but Saturday morning.
hearing that she had returned to the
| city, Fisher and the two marshals
raided the place and took the two
| into custody. 1t is known that the
| two girls made affidavits in Fisher s
office confessing what they knew
| about the place, altho just how long
these conditions had existed is impos-
sible to tell, as the county attorney
refused to permit newspaper repre-
sentatives to see the affidavits taken
by him. saying that they were conf
| dental information and that to give
them publicity-at this time-would
| hinder his work.
1t is rumored on good authority
that number of Topeka business
men are involved in the affair. One
of the girls is said to have taken in
s65 at the Saum place in one night.
/ Altho the Saums had been arrested
on felony complaint, this was later
| changed to misdemeanor charge for
the following reasons: First, Fisher
explained, it is hard to secure a con-
viction on a felony complaint where
the witnesses are persons of doubtful
character and an outcome similar to
that in the case against A. H. Reich
ley last winter was feared; second, a
trial would have been a heavy ex-
pense to the county and the danger
of an acquittal had to be faced; third,
Fisher explained that it might hinder
his office in its work
Sentence against the Saums was de-
| ferred until December II.