Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-01
WAITE ACQUITTED.
Not Implicated in the Likens
Letter Business.
THE GOVERNOR GIVES HIS ACCOUNT

Simply Read a screed That Was Handed
Him Without Knowing Where 1t Came
from; and Did Not Think 1t Important.
Efther-Miss Dwyer and the Other Two
Held to the Grand Jury for Further In
Jury.
DENVER, Sept. 1.-Governor Waite was
the first witness heard on the second day
of the trial of the cause in which the gov
ernor is charged with being particeps
criminis in the violation of the privacy of
The mail. The court room, as might have
been expected with the governor on the
witness stand in such case, was packed,
everybody anxious to hear what the gov
ernor had to say. He repudiated any
knowledge OF the way the letter came into
the hands of the officials He declared he
had never had anything to do in the mat
Ter whatever, and was greatly surprised
when he learned that he had been charged
with an unlawful act. He never had any
conversation with any person for the pur-
pose OF entering into conspiracy for any
purpose.
Simply Read 1t and Handed 1t Back
The letter in question WIS handed to
me to read" he said, land had to take it
IN my hands to do so. / Immediately re-
turned it to the person who handed it to
me, and this is my entire and only connec-
ton with it. 1t might have been "a forgery
for all know, and it did not attract nv
attention to any extent, as considered it
OF little Importance. Chief of Police Arm
strong is most certainly mistaken in his
anf hnf ha h.
l did not think it wise of the fire and po-
lice board to remove Mrs. Likens from the
position of police matron. and opposed it
IN every way | could. l have known Mrs.
Kate Dwyer, the present matron, for n
number of years. She called upon me
frequently regarding the removal of Mrs.
l4ikens, but l never gave her any en-
couragement and discouraged all PROPOSE
tions she made to this end"
What Waite Told Mrs. Love.
After Governor Waite left the stand the
prosecution called some witnesses who
could not be produced previously. Mrs.
Dr. Love, leading member of one of the
local charity organizations of which Mrs.
Likens is also a member. after reading the
letter published by Mr.. Mullins, casting
reflections upon tine character OF Mrs.
Likens, called upon Governor Waite and
hSheu AoT Tie TeaSOnS Tor Mrs. IlkeDS'
moval. ''IIe said,' Mrs. Love testified.
the removal was not because she was a
Republican but because of "a letter which
had been received compromising her
character. The governor gave me a letter
TO Chief Armstrong requesting him to let
me see the lette-, but when presented it
the chief said de did not have the letter
and sent me to Mr.. Mullins.
Mullins Wouldn't Show the Letter.
MIR. Mullins refused to show me the let
ter. but said it was very compromising
and sufficient to cause Mrs. Likens' re-
moval from office. The impression ar
rived ut from my conversation with Gov
ernor Waite. Mullins and Armstrong. was
that the removal was made because of this
letter and not for the purpose of cutting
down expenses, as alleged by the police
board"
j. Warner Mills, a leading Populist, was
placed on the stand. He said he had
known Mrs. Likens since childhood, and
never before had he heard "a single word
spoken against her character. After read
ing the charges made by Dennis Mullins
he went to the city hall to investigate.