The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-13
FOR BATH $4,000
DR.. j. E. Elmere's Damage Suit
in Federal Court Today.
Fifteen Prominent Usage City
Business Men Defendants.

Taking Dr. J. E. Elmere. former
Usage City physician, out TO a lake
near that town, tying a rope around
his body and dragging him into the
lake and keeping him there<until he
promised to sign a note for the pur-
chase of $500 worth of Liberty bonds,
We're described today as heroic means
by attorneys for fifteen prominent
Usage City business men who are de-
PENDANTS in a $4,000 damage suit in
federal court filed against them by
Doctor Elmere.
The county chairman of the Lib
erty Loan drive urged our citizens to
make all citizens subscribe their full
quota by whatever heroic means they
could" said the attorney in opening
the case That was the only heroic
means that would get results"
Say He Wanted More Profit
The attorneys described the citizens
committees alleged begging and per-
suading the wealthy Usage City citizen
to subscribe his quota when they met
him on the street. He fatty refused
the attorneys declared. unless the bank
would consent TO charge him no more
than per cent interest, the amount
of interest paid by the government on
the Liberty bondA
Then they employed heroic means
the attorney said.
Doctor Elmere claims he was forci-
bly, showed into an auto on the main
street of Usage City in daylight on Oc-
tober II, 1913. and was hauled ahru
the streets to a pond, where a rope
was placed around his body and he
was forced to wade out into q pond,
which he claims was six feet deep in
certain places. There, he claimed, he
was forced to remain until he prom
ised to sign a note for $500 worth Of
bonds. When he promised he was per-
mitted to come to shore, he said,
where, with dripping hands, he signed
his name to note for $500.
Sheds Tears in Court Room.
Following the ducking, the physi-
clan claims, he was taken back to
Usage City, unloaded at a clothing
and jumpers. The humiliation and
shame. he asserts, forced him to give
up a lucrative. practice at Usage City
and move TO Kansas City. In addition,
he AYERS, the ducking, together with
the nervous shock and disgrace of the
ducking has ruined >his nervous sys-
tenn. He shed tears while his attor-
neye were outlining his case before
the jury. Elmere is so years of age.
Attorneys for the fifteen citizens say
Doctor Elmere inherited his money from
his father and brother and spent many
years Studying in Germany, France and
England. He is of Swedish descent. They
deny he had a large practice and say
near Usage City left to him by a brother.
Say He Insulted Flag.
They promised the jury they would show
that when the mayor of Usage City Issued
a procla urging ali citizens to raise
the American flag on flag day Doctor
Elmere said:
Il won't hang up the American flag and
it ought to be torn in the dust
The ducking, they claim, didn't injure
Elmere to any great extent They also
assert that in all Red Cross and liberty loan
drives when a committee called on Doctor
Elmere 1t never received n subscription in
accordance with his means Fred Robert
son, United States district attorney, stated
in the court room today that Doctor Ell
mere's actions and remarks had called
forth several Investigations by his depart
ment during the war.
The Usage City citizens who are defend
ants in the suit are: Chris Walker, Carl
1oungroot, William Maberg. Ernest Han
son, Luther Silver, Stephen Ryan, Fred
BaIding. August Hagberg, David Rapp.
Luther Thompson. John Anstrom, Victor
Anstrom, J. w. Warner, =. G. Hunsicker
and Ernest Bergstrom-