The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-03-24
BooBLE INVESTIGATION.

Examination of Maj. Hudson aad Others
Connected With the Topeka Capital
Newspaper Charges-A Bride For a Vote
For United states senator.
TOPEKA, kan. March IS-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 m in the senate chamber, but
practically nothing was done until d m J.
h Hudson, editor Of the Capital, who was the
witness most wanted was not present and
after waiting an hour and q half for him the
committee adjourned until afternoon
AT 2:l5 p N. 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 10 the meeting OF the legis-
lature there had been rumors reaching me
relative to legislation against the gamblin.
dens in Kansas City, Kan 1t 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 Sd-about Q o'clock, Mr.. John Mofitt and
Mr.. p H. COney came 10 my room at the Cope
land hstel and stated that they had some in
formation that it was important for me to
know"
In reply TO Mr. Dillard's question concerning
the personality of the men, Mr. Hudson said
that Moffitt is railroad Man and a demo-pop
and an outspoken friend Of Gov. Lewelling.
Coney is pension agent in this city.
Mr.. Mofitt stated that he and judge Fitz-
gerald had been to see Gov. Lewelling and had
related 10 him certain fasts in regard to efforts
OF certain ring Of Kansas City gamblers relat-
ing 10 his appointment and TO legislation and
they urged him to bring about an Investigation
10 ward OF the'disgrace that would follow pub
lication of the facts. He said that in and during
the conversation with the governor, he 0he
Covernor) 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 I think, he said,
that Lewelling knew the money had been paid
to Legate, but 1 am not sure about that Coney
corroborated what Mofitt said Mofitt 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 lot o: men who would ruin
him unless he got out Of the trouble lie also
said that Close AMI Little were present when
the last d,hoJ was paid Upon being made
aware of the contest against Taylor's bill 1
drew the conclusions stated in the ed torial"
After Just an hour on the witness stand Ed
itor Hudson gave way.to Representative Cub
bison of the Douglass house, who testified that
he knew nothing IS 10 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.
The police commissioners, said Mr.. Cubbi-
son, have nothing to do with the gambling
houses, and can't see why money should he
paid by the gamblers for voice in their APP
pointment" lie added that Whitman. the
publisher OF the Gazette, had never said TO him
that money could be had for the defeat OF the
lottery or gambling bills but said he had heard
that the gamblers had between y4.01J and s, 10
TO be used for the defeat Of the Taylor bill
Representative McAleney testified that he
recommended the appointment Of Mitchell and
CUNNINGHAM because they were indorssd By
the county central committee He had heard
that money was raised for legislative purposes:
first $50 and later $1,000 All raised from
gambling ana policy men
y 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 ap7ointm mt of chief
Of police and certain other officials