The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-10
N. P.L. IN CHARGES
]. o. Stevic Calls on State to
Prosecute Egging Party.
Guilty of Assault, kidnapping
and Robbery, He Says.
WRITES LETTER TO GOVERNOR
Offers Evidence to Show Mob
Violence Premeditated.
Cites Custer Against Sheriff
Webb as Precedent.

Charges of assault and battery. kid
mapping, and robbery in the first de-
gree" against the men who broke up
the picnic at Ellinwood and subjected
Nonpartisan League representatives to
innumerable indignities were con-
tanned in a letter written by ]. o.
SteVic state manager of the league, to
Governor Allen, made public today.
Stevic framed the implication as fol-
lows: 81 understand the parties COM
posing the Ellinwood-Great Bend mob
are guilty of three distinct crimes:
Il. Under Sec. 1904, Gen. Stats.
Kansas 1915. for assault and bat
terry, where punishment is not more
than one year in prison.
"2. Under Sec. 3406, Gen. Stats.
Kansas. 1915, for kidnapping. where
the punishment is five to ten years
in the penitentiary.
%. Under Sec 3443. Gen. Stats.
Kansas 1915. robbery in the first
degree, where the punishment Is ten
to twenty years in the penitentiary.
THE guilty parties should be prose-
cuted on all three of these charges,
Stevic declared.
Inference may be drawn from the
letter that it is the intention OF the
league to prefer charges and push
prosecution.
Stevic's Letter In Full.
Stevic's entire letter to Governor
Alien IOllOWS
Dear Sir: ON the first day of June, 1920
in Ellinwood, Barton county, Kansas, there
was a picnic held by the farmers or that
and adjoining counties for the purpose OF
becoming acquainted and listening to an
address by a speaker for the National Nom
partisan League, a farmers political organ
ization being organized in thirteen states,
including Kansas.
While the picnic was in progress about
300 men. representing themselves to be
ex-serviee men in the United States army.
came INTO the grouds and forceably seized
the person Of Waiter Thomas Mills. who
was scheduled to speak to the farmers,
and attempted to place him IN a waiting
automobile. A scuffle ensued between the
farmers and the alleged eX-service men and
Mr. Mills was rescued from the mop anu
placed in a friends car, when the snernL
of Barton county arrived on the scene
The sheriff requested to give the aged
speaker and his party protection from the
mobsters but refused to do so or to swear
in deputies to assist him In maintaining Or
der On the other hand he ordered the
speaker, Mr.. Mills, and his fr1ends OUT OF
the park, and forced them to leave their
friends and take to the highway, where
the mob surrounded their car, took charge
of it. and drove with them to Great Bend,
where thew marched thru the streets,
beaten and robbed, herded in the stock
yards pen, egged, and made to suffer other
indignities, with the knowledge OF tne
Deace officers of Barton county.
Now, this seems to constitute, such
violation Of the duties of his office as a
peace officer as should warrant proceed
ings against the sheriff to GUST him from
/ trust you will direct the Institution
S of the g0ur as attention.
the action of Mr.. G. Clint Webb, sheriff
Of Crawford county, in permitting Alex
Howat to talk from the balcony of the JAN
to a crowd Of workmen who had come 10
call on him, which action, as was adjudged,
was sufficient to warrant the bringing OF
custer proceedings against him. and for
which action he resigned before the case
could be heard. The present case to which
| call your attention was very fragrant In
deed, and very much stronger than the
Webb case.
l understand the parties composing the
FlIinwood- Great Bend mob are guilty of
three distinct crimes. to-wit:
l. Under Sec. S404, Gen. Stats. Kansas
1915 for assault and battery, were punish
ment is not more than one year in prison.
. Under Sec. 34O6, Gen. Stats. Kansas,
1915. for kidnapping, where the punish
ment Is five to ten years in the peniten-
3. Under Sec. 3443 Gen Stats. Kansas,
1915 robbery in the first degree. where the
punishment is ten to twenty years In the
penitentiary.
The guilty parties should be prosecuted
on all three of these charges
You will find enclosed fac smile letter
showing premeditated mob violence.
NATIONAL NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE,
Fly ]. o. Stevic, State Manager