The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-04-14
1T BEGINS TO SMELL.

1T BEGINS TO SMELL
The Doodle investigation, in relation
to the use of money by the Kansas
City gamblers TO secure the appoint
ment of police commissioners friendly
to them, has been resumed this week
and has furnished some highly inter-
esting reading. 1t will be remember
ed that Major Hudson mentioned Pat.
Coney as one of the men who first told
him about the scandal. Mr.. Coney
told his story Tuesday, and, it seems
to land the dirt pretty close to the
Governors chair. Mr. Coney said
that just after the Supreme court had
passed on the constitutiOnality of the
two rival houses, John Moffit came to
him and asked him to go to room 81 at
the Copeland hotel, where he could
prove that money had been paid to be
used in defeating certain bills before
the Legislature. After he had gone
to the room Moffit declared he had
positive information that 81 800 had
been paid through Mr.. Kline of Kan
sas City to James +. Legate to secure
the appointment of a police commits
sioner and a police judge in Kansas
City, Kan. Part of it Moffit stated
had gone to Fred J. Close and part to
Attorney General Little.
did not place much confidence in
this statement" said Mr.. Coney, abe
cause from my knowledge OF Mr.. Leg
ate could not believe that any money
which had ever come into his hands
had ever gone to enrich anybody else.
l told Mr.. Moffit as much, but he said
he could prove it by one of the men
who saw the money turned over to
Close. He said that he did not be-
lieve that Lewelling had received any
of the money. l told him if he was a
friend of dwellings there was only
one course to pursue, and that was to
demand public investigation. 1.-The
does not do this it will damn him and
Ills II OOCC uO IL 1uO DlONCS
himself innocent it will make him a
much bigger and greater man. Moffit
said that was his opinion, and he
would take me to a man who would
prove that his statements were true.
He took me down stairs and introduce
ed me to Jud ge Nelson +. Acres. l
think l know the exact language
A cres used, 1t was this: 1T is true.
l know that $500 was paid James f.
Legate. If you want any favors at
tn Governors office you must first
come and see me- and he ran his
hands in his pockets and produced
roll of bill.
~ then walked off with Mr.. Moffit
and said: This is Governor Lewell-
ing's opportunity. If he is innocent
he can demand public investigation
and it will make him the strongest
man in Kansas. If he is not, it will
effectually damn him and his party"
Mr.. COney then stated that he and
MOffit went to Judge &. w. Fitz-
gerald of st. Mary's, close friend of
Governor dwellings,, and related the
circumstances to him. Fitzgerald
stated that he did not believe that
Lewelling had anything to do with
the money, but that if any man con-
nected with his Office had taken bood-
lie money he should be at once ousted
from his position, MOffit and Fitz-
gerald next called upon Governor
Lewelling at the Chesterfield hotel
and Coney remained at the Troop no.
tel to listen to their report of the in
terview with the Governor. In about
one hour they returned and reported
to him.
Judge Fitzgerald said: at is too
true. The whole thing is rotten to
the core. They are gathering in the
chestnuts from every source" Judge
Fitzgerald then told him of the inter-
view with the Governor. Judge Fitz-
gerald stated that Moffit and he had
called Governor Lewelling into a pri-
vate room and told him of the state
ments made. Governor Lewelling
said that no money had been paid for
that purpose. The Governor was in
formed, however, that money had
been paid to Mr.. Legate for Iegisla-
tive purposes. Judge Fitzgerald said
, that during their interview and after