Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-11
Boone TELLS a Story.
The County Attorney u &dgWitk Writes
General Little.
Stat. Ontiah in League With DENTISTS
and Gamblers.
HONEST MEN ARE THREATENED.
Governor kvellils Has Tied tho Count!
Attsrlsyi Hands.


'' ~" -
attorney Of this county has written .
letter Of importance to Hon. ]. 7. Little,
attorney general Of Kansas, which adds
another chapter to the exciting whiskey
war that has been going on here for a
couple Of week., and in which the state
authorities and the metropolitan police
department are arrayed against each
other. The Times correspondent has
secured copy Of this letter. true
copy, letter for letter and word for
word. When the letter was sent to Mr..
Little is not known, but the indications
are that it was sent within the last
forty.eight hours. Mr.. Boone, the
county attorney, was seen tonight and
be acknowledged having written letter
to the attorney general, but would give
no information concerning it. He was
elected on fusion ticket by the Popu.
lists and Democrats two years ago, and
received the highest vote cast in the
county, running ahead Of the governor.
The following is the letter:
Hon. John 7. Little Attorney General, Topeka,
Kan.
Ny DEAR Sm:-Owng to the fact
that affairs are in very chaotic state
here in Wichita l deem 1t my official
duty to lay o few facts before you as
my superior officer, and official adviser
and ask your advice in the premises.
By reason Of your being the official
adviser Of Governor Lewelling and the
matters to which l desire to refer CON-
ing under the supervision Of the attor-
ney general and Governor, I will speak
through you to the Governor. In order
to get the matter, 1 desire to pre-
sent for your information, fully be-
fore you, It will be necessary for me tc
60 back to May, 1893, and to the con
versation I had with Yourself aud Gov
ernor Lewelling. in reference to certain
injunctions which had been placed on
certain JOINTS in this city, Governor
Lewelling said to me at that time that
it was the policy Of his administration tt
close all the joints over the state, but
that the move had been made at Wichita
before he was quite ready. Upon the
same day. you will remember, l had :
consultation with yourself, in which
stated in substance that when evidence
was brought to me as county attorney
against the joints, that had no alter
native but to act and believed 1t TO be
my solemn duty under my official oath,
and YOUR approval Of my position in the
matter.
Af.er this conversation with you I had
another conversation with Governor Lew
sling at Hotel Chesterfield, in which
tho Governor said In substance; "While
the first step towards closing the joints
In Wichita was taken sooner than be
intended, yet it was the policy Of the
administration, and that then was 40
good Q time ~ any to move" The
Governor further said: "You go back to
Wichita, call the Board Of Police Com
missioners together, and tell them 1t is
nv wish, my desire and instructions,
through you, for them to do everything
in their power to assist you in every
way possible to suppress the liquor
traffic 10 Wichita"
The Governor further said he would
write the Board Of Police Commission.
ers an official letter confirming these in.
structlons to thom, through NO. When
l arrived home from Topeka I found
that Mr.. Dickson, chairman Of tho Board
OF Police Commissioners, and Chief Of
Police Cone, had gone to Topeka. I
waited until their return, at which time
Mr.. Dickson presented me with the fol-
lowing letter from Governor Lowelling,
to-wit:
WILLARD BOONE, COUNTY ATTORNEY,
Wichita, KAN
TOPEKA, KAN, May 7, 1S93.-Dear
Sir: Upon reflection I am convinced
that whatever is done by you which
shall in any manner be credited to the
account Of my administration should DO
done only in cooperating with the
Board OF Police Commissioners, and |
have decided to leave you free to do
what in your judgment seems best, as
they are on the ground and can under
stand all the bearings in the case. Mr..
Dickson will speak for the board.
Yours,
L. D. LRwELLINo, Governor.
You will observe that the governor
said in bis letter that MI. Dickson Twill
speak for the board" Mr. Dickson
said to me after Ihad read the governors
letter, that tho governor had recon-
sidsred the matter and had decided that
1t would be to the best interests Of the
administration TO lot the joints run, but
that no new ones should open up; and
that when one dropped out none should
be started in its place. Owing 10 the
fact that Governor Lswelling was q
personal friend and fellow townsman,
and was elected on the fusion state
ticket as populst at the same time
that was elected on the county ticket
as a Democrat and also knowing that
without the assistance Of the metropol-
tan police department ofthis city neither
the citizens nor myself could accomplish
anything, | was willing that the Board
oil Police Commissioners should do on
their own responsibility as they saw fit,
in so far that as il did not affect my
official duties under nv oath Of Office I
therefore told Mr.. Dickson that when
ever sufficient evidence was presented to
me / would certainly have to prosecute
and have done 50 in every instance, with
the result that the jury has convicted
in every case | have commenced and
tried. When commenced the first