, 1923-01-04
DELEGATE
In POLICE court
ORGANIZER FOR ZONE Big union"
ORGANIZATION MADE BIG MISTAKE
In GETTING DRUNK

Police Justice Dunlap presided at
a court hearing Thursday afternoon,
which started off with a plain
charge of drunkenness brought
against Wilbert R. Burton. but
which wound up in a rather sensa-
tional case. Burton had been ar
rested for being drunk the evening
before and after being locked up be-
came heavy smashing everything
breakable in the little Jail and pour
ing forth abuse and dire threats on
the officers.
The customary search OF his per-
son reavealed a complete outfit of
I. w w. literature. not merely a
"red card" but papers showing that
he was an organizer, or at least
something out of the ordinary in that
dubious organization of malcontents.
The sum and substance of his person.
al effects included an authorization
numbered s1s149 from headquart-
ers, a wallet containing blank appli-
cations, cards, stickers, lapel but
tons, and an expense account which
showed quite an itinerary which Bur-
ton has covered in recent months for
the organization"
When the complaint val read to
the defendant he said guilty" with
out hesitating one second. He was
thereupon fined the sum Of $50, the
maximum for the %offense. drunken
ness. Burton then proceeded to ex-
plore his sock and brought forth two
checks and paid the fine without
further ado. Under ordinary circum-
stances this would have ended the
matter, but the court took occasion
to deliver n Of the most scathine
indictments Of the I. w. w. ever
heard In a local court, to which the
defendant Burton listened attentive
ly and without rejoinder.
The fine paid and the defendan,
about to depart. he was informed
that his I. w. w. literature and ere
dentials would be turned over tc
Sheriff Sanders for further investi
cation and this was done. after hi
had indicated an intention to "com
municate with his order" and beinl
allowed to make a memorandum o
the confiscated personal property.
Shoplifter Hearing
Joe Romero. whose spectacula,
dash for liberty enlivened thing,
Wednesday morning. was given
preliminary hearing by Justice Dun
roy - sAc oui houoC quay dht
ernoon. He was charged with CRANE
larceny by the Rawlins Mercantil,
company and accused OF grabbing
black fur muff and secreting sam,
under his coat when In the store buy
ing an innocent pair Of 10-cent shos
laces. The story Of how he broke
away from Officer Kuykendall ant
ran like q scared antelope and wa.
finally captured in a shack south Of
the track was told last week.
Romero appeared In court defend
ed by l.. e. Armstrong. and at the
conclusion Of the hearing was held
to answer to the district court with
bonds fixed 1t $3.50. The first wit,
nees for the prosecution. which wal
conducted by County Attorney Nc.
Micken. was l.. A. Foster. a clerk In
the store referred to. He testified tc
the facts n already related. that
Romero was discovered trying Ia
hide the muff under his coat, thai
he had made an inconsequential pur.
chase OF shoestrincs. and had asked
to have them wrapped up. evidently
with the idea OF d%istractinE the
clerks attention temporarily and OF
calling the officer by telephone. The
witness testified that the retail value
Of the muff In question. and intro
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