Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-04-13
LOTTERY BRI1ERS.
The Kansas Investigating Committee
Takes Further Evidence.

6NoAh ilIls Man, hpiAA - AN
committee appointed by the Kansas
legislature 10 investigate the charges
Of the Topeka Capital that corrup-
ton fund was sent by the gamblers,
lottery and policy men 10 Topeka to in
nuence the appointment Of police com
missioners and TO defeat legislation,
began its sessions at the Ryus hotel in
Kansas City, Kan, at II o'clock yes
terday. All the members Of the com
mittee were present except Senator
billiard, Of Fort Scott, who is quite i'll.
Eleven witnesses have been sum
moned TO appear before the committee,
and all were present except Rep
resentative Burgard, OF Wyandotte
county, p. w. Kline and Nelson Acers.
Probate Judge George ]. Monahan,
OF Wyandotte county, was the first
witness examined. lie was asked by
Senator Thatcher 10 tell what he knew
Of the influence brought 10 bear on
members of the legislature to defeat
the Wyandotte county fee and salary
bill. lie said he knew Of no money
being used for that purpose. He went
10 Topeka himself 10 talk with the rep
resentatives about the fee and salary
bill and TO use honorable means 70 de-
feat IL. Judge Monahan also stated
that about all the Wyandotte officials
went TO Topeka, but he knew Of no or
ganized effort being made TO kill the
bill, or OF the use OF money for that
purpose.
Al Baker, proprietor of one Of the pol
icy shops near the state line In Kansas
City, Kan, was the next witness. His
statement produced a sensation. In re-
ply 20 the question as 20 what
knowledge he had Of money being used
by the gamblers, lottery and policy
men TO defeat Senator Taylor's bills
Baker proceeded TO tell OF the meet
ing Of policy men held at p. w. kline's
Office in the IIeist building in Kansas
City, Mo-, 10 devise plans and TO raise
funds to defeat the bills. lie was not
present at the meeting, but his partner,
Carey was there and by Carey the wit
ness had been told that Kline had asked
the firm TO put mp Sl00 Baker said
that so far as he knew all the gambling
house proprletors, the owners OF policy
shops and lottery offices were In the
scheme, probably thirty or thirty-hve
in all.
"What was TO be their mode Of at
taclf2" Senator Thatcher asked.
~ don't know exactly" Baker said,
but concluded that they were going
10 buy up the representatives"
Asked II that was all he knew OF the
affair, Baker said that II was not and
lie proceeded to tell of an interview
with p. w. Kline. Kline had told the
witness that something would have 70
be done and that they would all have
TO put up" or the bills would be
passed and the whole business wiped
out. A day or two after that converse
ton, Baker said he went to Kline's
policy shop on Central avenue and
was introduced TO mysterious
stranger known US Baker. The strang-
err was described as being about 40
years old and weighing about 225
pounds. Baker, the policy man, said
he was anxious 10 know how much
money would be required. lie thought
that the bills could be killed for about
$4,000, but the mysterious stranger who
boosted of his long experience in hand
ling legislative matters said that "a, 900
would not be enough 10 grease" the
machinery. Baker said he never could
learn who the stranger was.
On cross-examination by j. A. Hale,
Baker stated that Kline used an expires
sion to the effect that he had paid for
the police commissioners and that he
wanted 10 use them, and that no other
policy man could run in Kansas City,
Kan. He could not afford TO put up
$3.50 month, but Kline, with an in
come of $4,000 day from the sales of
policy tickets, could well afford II.
George CRADLE testified that he was
an inn-keeper. 1t was expected To
prove by the witness that he was q
jointist, who had paid 800 to fund TO
be used in the Kansas legislature. lie
said he did not know OF any money
having been raised for any purpose
whatever. When asked by Senator
Parker IL he had ever talked with Sam
McGonigle, county clerk, about raising
money TO defeat the court OF common
pleas bill, the witness talked In rather
= confused manner, and attempted TO
evade the question. Finally he blurted
out in a rich German brogue: mo
Gonigle said, 4 will not pay q
cent"
Gruble said he went to Topeka 10 see
Representative Burgard, who said when
asked 10 oppose the bill that he must
square himself with his constituency.
He denied that Burgard wanted money
or that he offered any. Senator Parker
wanted to know whether the witness
had not stated on his return from To-
pclia that 5000 had been raised TO defeat
the common pleas bill. He denies hav-
ing made the statement TO anyone.
A. l.. Burger, auditor OF Wyandotte
county, denied that he had been solio-
tied 10 contribute money to defeat the
fees and salaries bill. He did not
know of money being contributed, but
heard some of the officers say that they
would be willing TO contribute money
TO defeat it. The probate Judge, district
clerk, sheriff and county clerk went to
Topeka to lobby against the bill. One
afternoon the witness was In the coun-
ty clerks Office and there was con-
sultation Of the county officers. II was
agreed that they should not pay any
money to defeat the bill. II was com
mon talk among them that the bill
had been introduced TO make the
officers come down and they were very
mad
On cross examination Burger admit
ted that he had had conversation
with Pope Barker about the bill to
abolish the office OF auditor in Wyan-
dotte county. Mr.. Barker stated in
that conversation that he thought some
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