Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-03-23
The Investigation.

The committee is composed of Sena-
tors King, Forney, billiard, Thacher
and Parker. No witnesses being
ready, the taking Of evidence did not
begin until Friday at Up m,, when
Hudson was put upon the stand. AZ
ter the ordinary form Of oath had
been administered to Major Hudson,
Senator billiard opened the examina-
ton by asking:
Did you write the editorial that
appeared in the issue of March 81"
The witness answered that he did
and was then ordered to state why he
wrote it. lie continued:
For weeks prior to the meeting of
the Legislature there had been ru-
mors reaching me relative to legisla-
ton against the gambling dens in
Kansas City, Kas. 1t was common
talk that this Legislation would be
prevented If possible in the interest
of these concerns"
Senalor billiard asked MIR. Hudson
to name some person who had men
toned the rumors to him. He re-
piled that he could not remember any
special persons.
Il did not pay much attention to
the talk" he said. After Senator
Taylor's bills were introduced | heard
more than ever, | asked Senator
Buchan what he knew about 1t, L
Don't know anything about the meth
DDS there. do not know who IS con-
Quoting their business here. 1 was
invited by that ring to take charge of
their business before this legislature,
and 1 told them that l couldn't afford
to do it, he said.
"The night of the ID, about 8
o'clock, John Motif and 7. Ii. Coney
came to my room at the Copeland no.
tel and stated that they had some IN
formation that it was important for
me to know"
"AIotfitt stated that he and Judge
Fitzgerald had been to see Governor
Lewelling and had related to him
certain facts in regard to efforts of a
certain ring of Kansas City gamblers
relating to his appointment and to
legislation, and they urged him to
bring about an investigation to ward
off the disgrace that would follow a
publication of the facts. He said
that in and during the conversation
with the governor, he the governor)
acknowledged that he knew money
qad been paid to parties for legisla-
tive purposes. He said thd governor
did not state who had paid the
money, and l think, he said, that
Lewelling that the money had been
paid to Legate, but | am not sure
about that. Coney corroborated
what Motfitt said. Mofitt said he
was a friend of Lewelling and did
not want to be mixed up in 1t. He
said he was afraid he was in the
hands of q 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 $I,500
was paid. Upon being made aware
of the contest against Taylor's bill I
drew the conclusions stated in the ed
itorial."
The following colloquy ended Hud
sons testimony;
Question Did you ever say any
thing to Close or Little about the
matter"
mo, Sir"
Did you know except what Mofitt
said, that the charges were true?'
mo, sir"
Upon what you have SAID then you
based your edtorlal?"
Yes sir"
lis there anything further you de-
sire to say"
u think not"
Senator King asked the witness if
he had any direct knowledge that
Gov. Level ling said that money had
been paid, to which he replied:
Nothing except what was said to
me by Motfit."
Have you any knowledge of the
parties that this money was paid to-"
Nothing except Legate's word for
it,"
Mr.. Hudson on the witness stand
and Major Hudson in his editorial
chair seem to entirely different men.
1t makes lots of difference whether a
man is sworn to tell the truth, or is
pledged to print all else but the truth.
Like many other Investigations this
one shows up many men in a very
poor light, and many of them here
tofore prominent political workers.
Nothing SO far has been introduced
that duplicates Governor Lewelling,
Attorney General Little, or Fred. j.
Close, against whom the charges of
the Capital We're made.
.~---a..-s-uAN-l4-ass7sSs-S-.a.s
The religious convictions, or lack
of convictions, of the editors of the