The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-21
MAYOR CORWINE
is SILENT ABOUT
POLICE SCANDAL
He Ignores Request of Reporter
for a Statement.
When Asked About Trouble He
Left the Room.
FORCE is BADLY DEMORALIzED
Two Factions Not on Speaking
Terms Now.
"What VIII COrwine DO7" Is
the Question.
COUNTY ENTERS The FIGHT
Fisher Demands Trunk of
Liquor Be Produced.
Commissioner May Be Asked
To Fire MacFarIand.
COUNTY ENTERS THE FIGHT
Fisher Demands Trunk of
Liquor Be Produced.
Commissioners May Be Asked
To Fire MacFarland.

Apparently Mayor Corwine is un-
concerned or intends to maintain the
same policy in dealing with the police
scandal that has characterized many
of his decisions since entering the Of
flee of mayor-simply complete and
utter silence.
What is the trouble down in the
police department? ?" the mayor was
asked.
Either he did not hear the question
or ignored it. for he got up, went out
in the other room and engaged In
conversation with several persons.
When he came back the question
was put differently. This time he
picked up the telephone and talked
to some person for several minutes.
Asked Once More.
Again the question was put as the
first time What is the trouble down
in the police department."
Following the tactics usually ascrib-
ed to the people of the far eastern
countries the mayor replied by asking
a question, What do you think 1t is
II don't know. l wouldn't be sup
posed to know. You are running the
police department"
"Well I don't care to discuss it, the
Are you Investigating the situa-
tion ?"
Complete silence.
Have you no plans or anything in
mind that you intend to do"
II don't care to talk about 1t at all.
Not this morning" said the mayor
and picked some papers and began
reading.
He Changed the Subject.
After reading for a time the mayor
said, Did you see the visitors here
yesterday" and thus changing the
subject he ignored the request for in
formation as to what he intends to do
in unraveling the most disagreeable
situation that has arisen in the police
department in many years.
Force "Shot To Pieces"
Faced with the statements of four
members of his police force concern
ing the drunkenness or drinking of
five other members, fully cognizant Of
the large number Of burglaries in the
city, with knowledge that his police
chief has refused to obey the orders
OF the police Judge, with information
al his disposal of mysterious releases
of crooks and bootleggers by his chief.
with knowledge of strange erasures on
the police docket, Mayor Herbert j.
Corwine now faces a situation in
which action must be taken one way
or another. AS yet, the mayor re-
mains deaf and dumb as to his future
actions.
Meantime his police force is Shot
TO pieces" One faction isn't on speak
ing terms with another. the public is
excited and wants to know what the
mayor intends to do.
Chief Of Police George G. Hannah
was forced to record officially today
that the trunk Of liquor taken from
X. r. Awfield had disappeared before
the case had gone to trial. Hugh
Fisher, county attorney, this morning
90
be brought before him in preparation
for the prosecution of Awfield in the
county court. Chief Hannah had to
acknowledge the liquor in the trunk
had been poured in the sewer"
'I wonder II the chiefs definition
OF the sewer would be embarrassing, ,"
said Fisher.
In attempting to cast suspicion at
Police Judge Hugh MacFarland in
charging him with dismissing the Aw-
teld case, the chief has merely dug
his own grave little deeper. An in
yestigation Of the Awfield affair to-
day revealed that Clyde p. Cowgirl,
assistant city attorney went before
fisher and asked that Official to pre-
pare n warrant for Awfield's arrest
by county authorities. This was done
peiore the case was called in police
court P0--Ne
Didn't Serve Warrant.
aus tlAliUL was Issued records
show in the court Of Topeka Frank
Leech, marshal Of the court. went to
police headquarters and presented the
CHIEF and Clyde Tresner, chief of DE-
tecuVes, with the warrant. Al the
time a warrant for Ralph Scott-
charged with a similar offense was
issued. Scott was arrested. AwfieId
has never been arrested.
Police Judge MacFarland stated
positively this morning that CoweiII
had asked to have the case dismissed
He has witnesses, he says. to prove mi.
fact. Believing that the ram
would be served on Awfield bv tbs
county, the same as in many otba,
cases, Judge MacFarland dismissed tht
case.
THAT is customary" said Hugl
Fisher today. THE county usuaI1,
prosecutes bootleggers first. The de
struction OF booze before a case /,
tried breaks all precedents during m,
term of office"
Elisha Scott, a negro attorney, re
luctantly told a story of the failure q
the police to send for him at the re
quest OF prisoners. In one instance
Scott admitted, the police obtain
another attorney when the prisone