People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-24
The Doodle Investigation.

TOPEKA, Kan, March ls-The senate com
mittee appointed to investigate the charges
against Fred J. Close Attorney General Little
and James F. Legate, in connection with the
appointment OF the members Of the new board
Of police commissioners Of Kansas City, Kan,
met at 10 n in the senate chamber, but
practically nothing was done until ? p. m
At 2:l5 p IN. Maj Hudson appeared before
the committee and produced a copy Of the Cap
ital containing the editorial that led TO the in
vestigation The oath having been duly ad-
ministered, he testified substantially as fol-
lows:
For weeks prior TO the meeting Of the legis'
lature there had been rumors reaching me
relative to legislation against the gambling
dens in Kansas City Kan II was common talk
that this legislation would be prevented if pos
sible in the interest Of these concerns"
Senator billiard asksd Mr. Hudson to name
some person who had mentioned the rumOrs TO
him He replied that he could not remember
any special persons
"The night Of the 2d-the article appeared on
the 3d-abOut o'clock, Mr. John MOfitt and
Mr.. p. H. Coney came TO my room at the Cope
land hotel and stated that they had some in
formation that it was important for me to
know"
Mr.. MOtfitt stated that he and Judge Fitz
gerald had been to see Gov Lewelling and had
related to him certain facts in regard to efforts
OF a certain ring of Kansas City gamblers relat-
ing to his appointment and to legislation, and
they urged him to bring about an investigation
toward of thedisgrace that would follow pub
LEGATION Of the facts. He said that in and during
the conversation with the governor, he (the
GOVERNOR acknowledged that he knew money
had been paid to parties for legislative pur
poses. He said the governor did not state
who had paid the money and l think, he said,
that Lewelling knew the money had been paid
to Legate, but am not sure about that COney
cOrrobOrated what MOfhtt said. Moffitt said he
was friend of Lewelling and did not want to
be mixed up in it He said he was afraid he
was in the hands OF a LOT OF men who would ruin
him unless he got out Of the trouble He also
said that Close and Little were present when
the last $500 was paid Upon being made
aware Of the contest against TaylOrs bill l
drew the conclusions stated in the editorial
After just an hour on the witness stand Ed
itor Hudson gave way to Representative Cub
DloVA VI tuC DOu5IdSS uOuSci WIN lCSLlHtu ludI
he knew nothing as to the truth or falsity Of
the Capitals charges, and that he was never Of
fered any money for his influence to secure the
nomination of certain persons as police com.
missioners for Kansas City.
Representative McAleney testified that he
recommended the appointment of Mitchell and
Cunningham because they were indorsed by
the county central committee He had heard
that money was raised for legislative purposes;
first 800 and later $1,000 All raised from
gambling and policy men.
81 have changed my opinion about these
men, he said, and have found they are not
proper persons for the position because they
would not carry out the central committees
wishes in regard to the appointment of a chief
Of police and certain other officials"