The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-30
Topeka Fag Smokers Discover
Who Their "FriendS" Are.
Willis Asa Gregg, 4O4 Leland
Street, Purchased Cigarets.
CARRIED 'EM IN PASTEBOARD B
Frank Curry Appeals to District
Court From Decision.
Other Cases Held Up Pending
Decision Legal Questions.

Cigaret smokers this morning has
an opportunity to learn just who their
friends were when the cases against
the Curry Smoke House, T. V. Camp
belts Drug store. Frank, Campbell, of
the Oxford Cafe and O'Garra's con-
dictionary store near the state hospital
were called for trial.
A tall, slender young man wearing (
eye glasses was observed in the court
room. carefully hugging a small paste
board box. When he was called to the
witness stand he said his name was
Willis Asa Gregg, that he lived at 404
Leland street and that he purchased
the vile fags and turned them over
to NJ. w. Baker, first vice president
of the Anti-Cigaret league. to be used
as evidence. Gregg said he works in
the freight auditors office at the Santa
Fe. The amazing thing was that he
wore an American Legion button on
his coat lapel When the small paste
board box was opened it was found to
contain several packages. of soul-re-
voting cigarets. each package bear
ing label showing when and where
it was purchased
Purchased for M. w. Baker.
Gregg said he purchased the cigarets
at the request of Baker with money
supplied by the Anti-Cigaret league.
He slipped" the clerk a quarter, ac-
cording to testimony, and then the
clerk - naughty, naughty! - reached
down and got a package of the vile
fags and showed them towards him.
Beads of sweat broke out on willis
Asa's brow under severe cross exam
nations, but it was otherwise with
Baker The first vice president OF
the Anti-Cigaret league appeared in
clined to make sarcastic answers un-
til he was sharply called down" by
the court.
"You are to understand, however
you may regard it," said the court,
that these men are charged with q
crime and that it's a serious matter.
You are to, answer questions and re-
frain from trying to make any hot
shots"
Now Doing Reform Work.
Baker testified that he had been a
that he is now doing "some reform
work. in connection with cigarets.
He stated that George E. Dough-
erty, president of a local business col
lege. is treasurer of the Anti-Cigaree
league and that DIR. william McKeever
of Kansas university is second vice
president. Among the directors he
mentioned Clarence Skinner of To-
peka, DR.. Charles M. Sheldon, DIR. S.
S. Estey, DR.. E. J. Kulp, v. S. Bentley
of Cove county and Frank B. Parker
of Topeka. general agent for the New
England Mutual Life Insurance COM
pany.
Willis Asa, who testified that he
purchased cigarets from the Curry
Smoke house in June, created a laugh
when he later stated that he had not
been down that side of the street
since.
Found Guilty on Two Counts.
Judge Paul Heinz found Frank
Curry guilty of violating the cigaret
law on two counts and fined him $25
on each count. The, case was ap-
pealed to the district court. The other
cases were held up to give attorneys
an opportunity to quote authorities 70
the court. The defense held that sale
of cigarets by or with the knowledge
of the proprietors was not proven.