The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
Members of Church Call Up
Chief of Police To Apologize.
Former Chief Eaton, a Deacon,
One of the Callers.
WOMEN ESCAPE FROM JAIL
Too Many of Them Are Crowd
ed Into Station.
To Be Held at Lansing for
Duration of the War.

That the Rev. Robert Gordon, pas
tor of the First Baptist church. in
characterizing the police department
rs Inefficient and corrupt, has brought
down upon his own head the disap-
prevail of members and officials of his
own flock is apparent from telephone
and personal apologies for the min
listers statements that are being made
at the police station. Numerous To-
pekans, members of the church, have
called up Chief Frank Harbaugh or
other members of the department and
asked that 'Gordon's statements not
be regarded as the attitude of the
church as whole
r. Winfield Eaton. member of the
board of deacons of the church and
feFmer chief of police, appointed for
his term under law and order ad-
ministration. was one of those who
telephoned Harbaugh and assured the
chef that the pastors assertions were
not subscribed to unanimously. 1t
also was intimated that officials of
the church have been urging Gordon
to apologize for his sermon but the
pastor is too stubborn"
Cook Demands Retraction.
Gordon, in his sermon, delivered
Sunday evening. asserted that the
ponce force was recruited from loaf
ers, gamblers, drunkards, perjurers
eHitu duuiIeferS- Since that time one
member of the force H. o. Cook a
plain clothes man. has written to Cor
don demanding an apology under
threat of getting a chance to prove
his statements in court" Members of
the church have taken pains to tell
their policemen friends thai nothing
personal from the church" was meant
in the sermon.
Women Sent Away.
While Gordon's pot is boiling the
police department is moving in its
smooth order, waging an unrelentless
war against ''soiled angels of the
streets, that kansas avenue may be
safe for visiting soldiers"
In police court Tuesday afternoon
six women, all of whom the police
and health officials say are diseased"
were strong armed by Judge Paul
Heinz into the state detention home
for women at Lansing. The city court
has not the authority to legally and
technically make such a sentence, it is
cited, but the women will leave for the
home tomorrow. To-Day they are being
held in the matron's room at the city
1aiIfwhere there is weeping and wall
IL and gnashing of teeth They.
SefSe police say. are going to the home
for the duration of the war. The girls
sentenced to Lansing include Pearl
Lee, May Dhepard, Maggie Porter,
May Colfax and Iva Griffith and one
other whom the ponce are trying to
locate.
One Girl Escaped.
Just before the trial Tuesday after
noon the girls who had been out on
bond pending a hearing in police court
got wind" of what was in store for
them. The police think they quickly
formulated a plan to escape from the
station while it was crowded with
scores of persons. Iva Griffith did es-
cape and the police are searching for
her now. She is thought to be in Law
renee. On the request of her bonds
man, Elijah Scott, she was allowed to
sit in the lobby and while it was
crowded slipped out Scott promises
to locate her and bring her back. I've
got all Lawrence looking for her." he
said this morning.
Women Are Fined.
a number of other women of the
streets were fined heavily or were
1lned and sentenced with a parole that
they leave town and hike for where
they came from" Leila Dodson was
given 500 fine and thirty days in Jail
for selling liquor. Ethel Brown drew
thirty days. Mabel Porter drew the
same sentence and a parole to leave
the city Mamie Felix, recently from
Lawrence. was given the choice of
800 fine and thirty days in iaiI or
the privilege of going back to Law
renee and staying there. She left the
city an hour after making her choice
Jessie Long drew thirty days in iaiI
Mary Bradshaw drew fifteen days
HNa Dolln, recently from Oklahoma
vas picked up" while working the