St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-03

The so-called Kiefer investigation
took place yesterday.
After consuming five days In writing
letters to each other, Col. A. r. Kiefel,
Republican candidate for mayor, and
Editor Wheelock, of the Pioneer Press,
got down to- business by the selection Of
an investigating committee composed
of Capt. Peter Berkey. Ferdinand Will
out of the city. Gen. r. W. johnson was
selected to fill the vacancy. The COM
mittee met at l o'clock yesterday after
noon in the Union league rooms,
Endieott building. In addition to
the committee there were pres
ent Col Kiefe1, Editor Wheelock
Walter Sanborn, Henry G. ia mes,J.
w. Lusk, Will am Dawson Jr., w. IL.
Ames and Anse Oppenheim. The rep
resentatives of the press were not ad-
mitted, but George N. Hillman was
called in to furnish an officials tenO-
graphic report.
The reasons for the investigation are
now well known. Editor Wheelock
Sunday last editorially jumped the Re-
publican ticket, so far as the candidate
for mayor was concerned, alleging that
certain unbusinesslike conduct on the
part of Col. Kiefer untitled him for so
high an office. Col. Kiefer challenged
Editor Wheelock to produce his charges,
and if he failed to clear himself he
would 'step down and out" Yester-
days investigation was the result.
At the opening of the investigation
there was little by-play as to whether
the affidavitS of the charges made
should be read. 1t was thought that the
parties making them should repeat
the charges under oath and submit to
examination. Ultimately the affidavits
were READ. The first one was as fol-
lows:
Charged With Duplicity.
It is charged that Col. A. R. Kiefer was
guilty of grossly dishonorable conduct IN de-
clining to fulfill an explicit verbal agreement
entered into by him with Ansel Oppenheim
andWilliam Dawson Jr. during last summer.
This agreement was that COL Kiefer should
convey to William Dawson Jr one-haif in
terest in certain property bid in by the said
Kiefer at public sale at the court house.
Ansel Oppenheim was present at that sale.
representing William Dawson Jr, and
was bidder for the property, on behalf
of the said Dawson. He proposed to Kiefer,
who was also bidder, that he (Kiefer)
should bid in the property and convey half
interest to Dawson. Kiefer agreed to this
arrangement. The said Dawson, having been
Immediately informed by OppeDheim of the
agreement he had made with Kie1er, went
on the same day to see Kiefer at his office,
and Kiefer thereupon acknowledged that he
had agreed with Oppenheim to convey
halt Of the said property to the
ratified and confirmed that agree
ment with Mr.. Dawson himself, promising
to convey one-half of said property to Daw-
son when he (Kiefer) should obtain deed Of
the property. After Kfefer had obtained a
deed of the property, Mr.. Dawson again
called upon him and requested him to con-
yey to him the one-half interest in accord
ance with the agreement when Kiefer de-
clined to fulfill the agreement. saying to Mr..
Dawson that he had understood him too
literally.
Ansel Oppenheim, sworn, testified to
the truth of tfiis affidavit. CroSs-exam-
ined by Mp. Sanborn:
@. Was this conversation with Col
Kiefer had " hile the bidding was going on?
@. At the court housei A. Yes, sir.
O. All of it? A. All of 1t, willie it was
going on, right there and then.
William Dawson Jr., also sworn. sub
stantiated his part of the affidavit, as
set forth by Mf. Oppenheim.
Gen. Johnson-What property was it?
Mr.. Dawson-It is piece that corners on
he Duluth road on the east sida- mt III ~