The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1893-04-15
DAMAGING TESTIMONY.
Evidence of Pa trick Coney Before the
Kansas BoodIo Investigation.

Evidence of Pa trick Conoy Before the
Kansas doodle investigation.
KANSAS CITY, Kan, April l2.-Be-
fore the Kansas doodle invc Stigating
committee yesterday afternoon, Pat
rick Coney, n lawyer of Topeka, who
brought the information to the Capital
about Doodle in the lcgi stature, said
that just after the supreme court had
passed on the constitutionality of the
two rival houses, John Mofiit came to
him and asked him to go to room "a at
the Copeland hotel, where he could
prove that money had been paid to be
used in defeating certain bills before the
Legislature This room was occupied
by III. &. Baker of Salina. After he had
gone to the room Mof1it declared he
had positive information that 81, 50h
had been paid through Mr.. Kline of
Kansas City to james +. Legate to Sc
cure the appointment of a police com
missioner and a police judge in Kan
sas City, Kan. Part of it Moffit stated
had gone to Fred J. Close and part to
Attorney General Little.
81 did not place much confidence in
this statement" said Mr.. Coney, 'be-
cause from my knowledge of Mr.. Le-
gate l could not believe that any
money which had ever come into his
hands had ever gone to enrich any
body else. 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 believe that Lewelling had re-
ceived any of the money. l told him
If he was friend of Lewelling's there
was only one course for the governor to
pursue and that was to demand pub
lie investigation. If he does not do this
it will damn him and his party. If
he does do it and proves himself in
nocent it will make him much bigger
and greater man. Moffit said that was
his opinion, and he would take me to
man who would prove that his state
ments were true. He took me down
stairs and introduced me to Judge
Nelson +. Acers. | think | know the
exact language Acers used. 1t was
this: 1T is true. l know that 81, 500 was
paid James +. Legate. If you want
any favors at the governors Office you
must first come and see me- and he
ran his hands in his pockets and pro-
duced roll of bills.
81 then walked off with Mr. Moffit
and said: This is Governor Level
lings opportunity. If he is innocent,
he can demand a public investigation
and it will make him the strongest
man in Kansas. IL he is not, it will
effectually damn him and his party"
Mr.. Coney then stated that he and
Moffit went to Judge G. w. Fitzgerald
of ST. Mary's Il close friend of Governor
Lewelling's and related the circum-
stances to him. Moflit and Fitzgerald
next called upon Governor Lewelling
at the Chesterfield hotel and Coney
remained at the Troop hotel to listen
to their report of the interview 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 Moflit and
he had called Governor Lewelling
into Il private room and told
| him of the statements made. Gov
ernor Lewelllng said that no money
had been paid for that purpose. The
money had been paid to Mr.. Legate
for Legislative purposes Judge Fitz-
gerald said that during their
interview and afterward, Gov
ernor Lewelling treated the whole
matter indifferently. 1t was supper
time and all three went to supper.
Governor Lewelling left his usual place
at the table and sat with Fred j. Close,
his private secretary. After supper
Fitzgerald and 'Moflit approached Fred
Close and told him of the statements.
Close said: "Supposing it is true, what
are you going to do about it?"