The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-03
AN EYE WITNESS.
Commiss sioner Wilson Tells the Story OF the
I.ewclling-Peck Trouble.
from the Topeka Journal.

George L. Douglass is in possession OF
and exhibited for the first time last night
at Wichita the original copy OF the agree
ment by which bloOdshed was averted last
winter. The document was written by
George r. Peck and was signed by Gov
ernor Lewelling.
1t was in his closing argument in his
Joint debate with eX-Speaker Duusmore,
that Douglass waved the original paper
over his head and in his most graphic
manner said that Governor Lewelling
made midnight visit on Feb. IT, TO
room where he met and talked for several
hours with George r. Peck, general sollci-
tor of the Santa Fe railroad; and that
Governor Lewelling while there asked
Peck to put in writing the proposition
which he thought the best; that Mr.. Peek
thereupOn wrote the proposition winch
left the Douglass house in undisputed pos
session of representative hall; ana That the
governor then signed Mr.. Peck's PROPOSE
ton and forwarded it to him CDouglass) as
speaker
The State Journal is today exclusively
in possession of ali the details OF this re-
marka ble midnight interview:
1t was in the Office of J. c. Wilson, clerk
of The United States district court. In the
Federal building, corner OF Fifth street
and Kansas avenue between the hours OF
aud o'clock in the morning OF the l'th
of February, in the presence OF George II.
Peck, J. G. Wilson and Colonel Alien Sells
that this agreement, by which bloodshed
was averted last winter, was signed ny
Governor Lewelling.
"These are the facts in the matter,
said Mr.. j. G. Wilson to the State journal
reporter today. 'It was the night of the
biz snow when everybody in the city was
excited The CoDeland was swarming
with deputy sheriffs, aud the militia were
ali around the state house. | went up to
the Copeland after supper. l could not
get in at the front door on account Of the
crowd, and went around to the side en-
trance. Just AS | went ill | met George X.
Peck. who was standing in corner of the
corridor We talked q few minutes about
the threatening situation, as everybody
else was doing. and We both agreed that
something should be- done at once If blood
shed was TO be averted.
Peek suggested that il he could get
Lewelling away from those people little
while he might manage to talk some sense
into him, Peck said he had met the gov
ernor on several occasions and was salts
fled he could do something II he could
only get to see him. l suggested that Ad
Sells would be as good man as any TO
get the governor away from his crowd of
advisors. We then walked over to Peck's
Office in the Santa Fe building and we
called ND the Chesterfield by telephone
and asked if Sells was there.
"We we're told he was at the police CON-
missoner's room in the city prison. We
then went down on the street and got into
John McBee's hack aud drove down 10 the
CITY prison. | got out, as Peck did not
want to be seen. and went up to the COM
missiouer's room, put Sells had gone. We
then drove down to the Chesterfield. and l
went in aud asked the clerk II Sells was In
the house He said mo, he had no come
back" Willie Sells WAS in the office, aud
t,ya s.ft ftRar J.
said he thought he miSht Ue at the room
of the Ananias club.
"Just as | was passing out or the office
old Jim Legate, who Was sitting there
apparently half asleep, but who always
has an eye open for an odd scheme. brush
ed up 20 me and said Say, Joe, what's
up; any scheme on foot ? l replied:
Nothing: Just wanted TO get policeman
appointed THIS satisfied Jim, and l
walked out. / got III the hack again and
we drove up to the Ananias club rooms.
I went in aud found Ad. Sells playing
cards With crowd OF fellows. l wills
pered in his ear that Mr.. Peck would Ike
TO see him outside, and he picked up his
hat and overcoat and followed ME out.
He got into the hack with Peck, and
while it stood there on the street Peck ex-
plained to Sells what be wanted.
I'VE talked the matter over fully and
decided to get the governor to go to my
Office in the federsi building. II possible.
That was neutral ground and about half
way between the Chesterfield aud the
COPELAND, the headquarters OF the two
uo!itical parties interested. We then
drove down TO the Chesterfield and Sells
went in.
He went up to see the governor and was
gone about twenty minutes. he was gone
so long that we thought the jig was up.
When he came back ne said the governor
was in bed. but hs Was getting up and
wou,d soon be down. He said the gov
ernor AZ first refused TO come and said he
had been warned not 10 go out thgt night
a, his life had been Threatened sells
sured hi m that lie would have protection
aud he finally Concluded TO come. When
he came down be anu sells got Ia the hack
with us aud We drove up 10 the fe1Iersl
building. We drove around 10 the rear
entrance and went up through the post
Office. Ii was about II O'Clock when We
were fiBally In my oNlSe "itn aIt tue GooEs
securely locked.
Mr. Peek opened tie matter 5T asking
the governor II he nad Issued al order that
1ay for the clearing 0i Representative &c bali
nica had been published IN the journal
that evening The governor denied having
issue! such an order, but After we showed
him COPY Of the State Journal he admit
ted thai may be he bad signed HE order.
Peck then talked 20 the governor
about the dangerous situation. aAe ex-
ola1r,es 10 hin, lhst we were on tke verge
ot y civil war aud one sasi hFed BY a9F
individual no matter gh1. ~eGid p.unse
rs into a fearful warfare The governor
talked the matter over. Il wss argue! on
.ssrn sides Peek said be Was willing sss
axe his reputation rs . lzwye. That tie