Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-06-06
COFFEYVILLE REPORTS.
A FINAL VERDICT, THE ALLIANCE,
REPUBLICAN, AND DEMOCRATIC
MEMBERS SUM UP THE MATTER
IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
Synopsis of the Three Reports.

| Lno JOlut COuLlItSo dppOiuCu "
the legislature to investigate the Cot
feyville dynamite explosion, has filed
its report with the governor. The com
mittee consisted of Senators Kimbal
and Mohler, and Representative Bis
choif, republican,: Representatives
Cary, Lem, Crumley, and Templetor
OF the peoples party, and Senator Car
roll OF Leavenworth, democrat. The
results OF the investigation is embodied
in four reports. One the general find
ing of the committee signed by all the
members; another signed by the repub-
lican members; one by the alliance
members, and Senator Carrolls, the
democratic members, individual re-
port.
The joint committee after going over
the evidence introduced concludes by
saying:
''As to what are the true answers to
the questions suggested. or the true
theory upon which TO account for this
explosion the committee is unable to
agree, and as before stated, the several
opinions entertained will be hereto ap-
pended"
REPUBLICAN REPORT.
The republican report covers fifty
pages OF type written copy.
The general findings of the republic
by Senator Carroll, the democratic
member, are:
First-If it is true that man known
or unknown to Mr.. H. NJ. Upham,
brought box to the express office at
Coifeyville and left it with him to be
shipped to Winfield, as he says, and
that 1t was this box or the conte nts
thereof which exploded; then we find
after a careful consideration OF the tes-
timony, that there is an entire absence
of evidence by which we are able to 10
cate or identify the person, who left the
box at the express Office. or, II the pur-
pose was criminal, by which we are able
to say what crime was intended, the
motive thereof, or the purpose to be ac-
complished
Second-We find further that the eX-
plosion was not the result OF any con-
spiracy instigated by the republican
state central committee. or in which
any member OF that party or any en-
ploye Of the state was implicated rs
charged by the resolutions. The proof
is clear and convincing that the Use or
explosion OF dynamite was no part OF
the plan OF the republican state central
for conducting the campaign,
that it had nothing whatever to do with
the explosion at Cotfeyville and was in
nowise responsible therefor and that
Henry Booth, Bion S. Hutchins, Ed. p.
Greer, c. A. Henrie, and George W.
Poorman were not in any way con-
nected with the explosion or accessory
thereto.
Third-We further find that there is
an entire absence OF testimony, show
ing or tending to show that the failure
to investigate the alleged crime in the
courts has been caused by the neglect
or refusal Of any public officer to per-
form his own duties in reference to the
matter, as charged in the resolutions.
Fourth-The findings already made
show that the charge that you having
been advised OF Mr.. Henrie's connec-
ton with the explosion and as reward
therefor, secured for him the Office
which he now holds as clerk in the bu-
reau of labor statistics, cannot be true,
and we find that your action in recon-
or asserting to the appoint
ment OF Mr.. Henrie was uninhuenced by
any such consideration.
The report then goes over the evi-
dence given before the committee, and
among other comments says:
''Mr. II. NJ. Upham is the man who
knows as much, perhaps more, about
this matter than any one else. If his
story is truA, il he has told the whole
truth, p. Jason and L. or ]. Louden are
yet to be discovered. If he has misled
us in this matter, there are circumstan-
ces which indicate where the guilty
person is to be found"
In conclusion the report says:
The only recommendation which we
have to make is that in the future the
investigations of alleged crimes, in no
way connected with the administration
of any public Office or trust should be
left to the machinery OF the state crea-
ted for that purpose. Signed
G. H. KIMBALL,
]. G. MOHLER,
Members OF Senate Committee.
G. N. BISCH0FF,
Member OF House Committee.
PEOPLES PARTY.
The peoples party report after re-
viewing the testimony concludes with
the following findings:
''Our conclusions drawn from the
foregoing review of testimony are, that
there was a conspiracy on the part OF
some one to do certain things for the
purpose Of breaking the ranks Of the
union labor party and adding strength
to the republican party in the political
of the fall of 1888.
''The Vidette expose was the first
step in that line. This was followed by
the second expose and the preparation
of the box Of dynamite, which would
have been in Winfield, Kansas, October
10Th, had it not prematurely exploded
in Coffeyville.
1--WE are further OF the opinion that