The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-15
DOODLE, BASE DOODLE.
A Startling Deposition Made by
John Y. Moffett Of
FL Reno.
Seven Trusted Men Alleged to Have Bar
tered Their Honor and Traded
Their Trust for Lncre.
A Full Expose of the Infamous Jasperite
Pavement Steal-Seven hundred
Dollars the Price Paid to
each Alderman.

to TAIL upon the shoulders OF any gulIt.
parties that may have hand in tn
alleged steal.
Every breeze which has foated over tn
city since the summer of 1890 has whis
pered that there is something rotten-no
in the state of Denmark, but in tn
municipality of the Peerless Princess.
is an old story that ''the wages of sin il
death" Will it turn out that the wage
of corruption and dishonor is .ignomny
Well, to come to the story:
Some time ago in the amended petition
to the issperite paving case by the city il
was charged that Contractor Wilson WHIT
put down the jasperite on Douglas aYenu,
corrupted majority of the councilmen to
vote for the contract aud that she did offe
and pay them money" in consideration o.
their support of the ordinance letting hin
the contract. Many of the councilmer
who voted for the ordinance laughed at il
while some more of them got "real mad
to think that any Insiuuations should be-
made against their honesty and swore they
would institute libel suits. The citizens
generally scanned the charges over, nod
ded their heads. and said, 81 told you so, u
but still there WAS no proof adduced. The
city, in its corporate capacity, said moth.
lug. but, from evidence now at hand, the
city attorney and his assistant attorneys
in the case were saving wood industri.
ously. Last Monday night City Attorney
Gordon was not at the council meeting
and inquiry being made for him by one OF
the councilmen, Mayor Carey stated in his
usual serious manner that he was "oHt OF
town, performing valuable services to the
city" This was a>hint at something that
would impress itself on an inquisi-
tive mind. Inquiry revealed the
fact. however. that at the same
time Colonel James L. Dyer, special at
torney for the case for the city, was out oil
town, too, and further inquiry revealed
the fact that c. F. Coffin, attorney foi
Putting the absence OF these three gentle
men together 1t was not very hard mat
ter to make up ones mind that some step
was being taken In the Jasperite litigation.
at late hour night before last all three
of the gentlemen stepped off the north
bound Rock Island train and walked di-
rectly to their respective homes. Yes.
terday morning it was noised
around that the gentlemen had been
at FL Reno, o. T., and that John v
Moffett had testified before them concern
ing the letting of The Jasperite pavement
contract. and that he had given the entire
SNAP" away, udder oath.
Colonel Dyer was called upon and he re-
ferred the reporter to Mr.. Frank
Shearman, clerk of the United
States court, who had in his
office the sworn statement of Mr.. Moffett
The papers had just arrived through the
mails and the following deposition of Mr..
Moffett was handed over to the reporter:
THE DEPOSITION.
Dispositions taken before me, John Fox,
probate judge of Canadian county, Indian
Territory, in an action pending in the
circuit court of the United States for the
district of Kansas, second division, where
IN Robert f. Wilson is plaintiff, and the
city of Wichita, Kan, is defendant, on the
18th and 18th days of December, 1892,
on behalf Of the defendant in said action,
at my office in the town of Ell Reno, o. T.,
pursuant to the annexed notice. The
plaintiff was present by his attorney,
Charles F. Coffin. and the defendant was
present by his attorneys, James l.. Dyer
and H. l. Gordon; thereupOn the defend
ant produces the following witnesses who
testify as follows:
John V. Moffett, a witness called on be-
half of the defendant in the above entitled
action, being first duly examined, eau
toned aud solemnly sworn to testify the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, deposes aud says:
Direct examination by Colonel j. l.,
Dyer.
q State your name, place of res
idence and occupation
A. John V. Moffeti. age SO. territorial
agent OF the Rock Island Land company,
residence FL Reno, o. T.
Q Do you live and reside in FL Renos
A Yes sir.
Q How far is that from the city of
Wichita, Sedgwick county, Kansas?
A About 100 miles.
@ Did you ever live in the city of
Wichita, and if so, when2
A. Yes sir, from 1884 until 1890 made
ii my home,
O. Are you acquainted with the plain
tiff in this action, Robert F. Wilson,
A | am acquainted with Robert F.
Wilson.
Q. Where did you become acquainted
with him?
a Ia Wichita.
Q, About what time?
4. i think it was in March 1890.
Q. What business If any, was Robert
F Wilson in at Wichita at the time, If
you know
A. He stated that be was engaged in
the paving business,
q What business was he in in the city
OF Wichita if you know when you became
acquainted with him.
A He was trying to get the paving
contract of Douglas avenue.
Q. Do you know whether he obtained
THAI cOutrSctl
y He did.
q From whom did he get the contract;
A. He got the contract direct from the
CT V of Wichita
q. State what conversation you lad IL
any before he obtained this contract rela-
tive to getting it,
\. II i, impossible for me to state ali
the conversation had with him.
q Did you have more than one con-
veIsatiun with hims
~ Yes sir
@ Give as near as you can the first con
you had with him GU that sub
ject.
A Mr.. Wilson was introduced 10 me
10y Mr.. CoRkling of the Chicago and Rock
Island Railway company. Mr.. Conkling
him TO me a. friend Of his,
snd asked me TO assist Mr.. Wilson in Sc
curing this contract, a. the company