New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-01
KANSAS OFFICIALS ACCUSED.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST POPULIST
STATE OFFICERS.
LOTTERY AND POLICY MEN TELL OF THOUSANDS
PAID TO GOVERNOR LEwELLTNG AND
OTuERS FOR PROTECTION.

PAID TO GOVERNOR LEWETLTNG AND
OTHERS FOR PROTECTION.
Topeka. Kan. Sept. 3O.-The Republican state
Central Committee today gave out letter writ
ten by Peter w Kline. a notorious lottery ana
pocy-shop man. Of Kansas City, telling Of the
sum Of money paid by him to representatives,
Governo. I.eweng and to Attorney-General
Little in person for prot -cting him In his Illegal
business on the Missouri state line. kline's
experiences with the Populsts dates back to De-
ccmbo-. 1892 a month prior to the advent Of the
new administration. At thar time ne alleges
that he was approached by James F. Legate,
who had taken prominent part In the fopuhsl
campaign and informed that in consideration
of the payment ~ 1000 - him. that he 'Kline)
,v,uld ha nernittei To name the Police Commis-
sioners for Kansas cry. Kan. and that the Gov
ornor would appoint them. Later he saw
Fred J. Close the Governors private secre-
tary. who informed MIN that Legate
had the authority 10 negotiate the proposed
deal and that anything that he promised for the
Governor would be carried out. Upon Close 5
representation he paid the money 70 Legate,
.xpecting tha, when the Commissioners were ap-
pointed he would have n monopoly Of the gam
bling and lottery business IN that city Tne ap,
u1lntiuants were not made AT the time agreed
upon. ana " +. Acres. an associat" ot hllrr.
called upon the Governor for an explanation ana
was assured that the Commissioners would be
appointed In a short time This promise was
moi fulfilled. ani finally Legate again called
upon Kline and told him that the Governor
would require the payment OF an additional
81 800 before he would act
Kline procured the money and came 10 To-
poEa to see the Governor personally. but In
stead Of meeting the Governor he again mot
Close. and with him Attorney-General Little
and Icgate. Again Close assured him that the
matter would y. all right when the additional
money was paid, and H. thereupon handed the
81 500 over 10 l.egnt" for the Governor ana AT
tornev-C;eneral After this Close often visited
Kline In his office in Kansas city. always oner-
ing excuses for not having the appointments
made and at iast made n proposition 10 kIfe
To secure for him the exclusive gambling ana
Iottery privileges in the cities OF Atchison Lea
vonworth Fort Scott and Wichita for con-
sideraton of $1,000 month Legate accepted
this proposition. and Tnid clos" 800 on account
but never received the privileges. At TINS
time Mr.. Adkins appeared upon the
scene. He was an employe OF khhe
In one Of the latter's policy shops. was very poor
and received for his services $40 month. lie
said ne was a relative of the Governor. ana
went 10 him with a proposition to pay So'oov a
month. the money 10 be contriputed ny the ot-
terry companies for protection by the state oHi-
cials Adkins was referred 20 II. L. Taylor.
state oil inspector. Adkins was appointed dep
uty oil inspector. and is now rich man, living
I'm one Of the best houses In Kansas CITY, ana
the owner OF a large amount Of valuable prop
erty He Is considered the king OF the lot,
tory men and gamblers. from whom he is alleged
To he collecting $1,000 monthly.
Kline finally became convinced that the State
authorities had no intention Of keeping their
PROMISES with him. he entered into corre-
spondence with the Louisiana Lottery Company.
which was anxious TO have the Kansas city
lotteries go out Of business and made con-
tract with the company to have them driven
ont Of the State for $4,000. OF this sum- $1,000
was paid down and ne sent $4,000 Of II to the
Attorney General. who shortly after began pro-
cec,lings in the courts against the lottery men.
but he never pushed them. and they were soon
dropped Kline says that the Attorney Gen
eral acknowledged the receipt of the $4,000
and approved OF the written contract which
he had made with the Louisiana Lot
terry Company. which provided that or
the $4,000 Little was to receive S2o.oo0
Kline says that the prosecutions were dropped
because the local lotteries raised bigger
pot" Several other minor deals are told or
hy Kline in his letter. 1t Is asserted that the
Republican State Central Committee paid Kline
and his partner. Acres. $500 for the letter and
atiidavits Three weeks ago Acres and COM
RAMON came to Topeka, and. telling Chairman
Rredentha Of the documents prepared by Kline.
said that they could be suppressed on payment
OF 81. 900 Breidenthal declined to consider the
proposition. and they came again last Wednes-
day when the State officers were in the city.
The Governor and Attorney General also de-
clIned To deal with them. and yesterday Kline
and Acres had n private meeting with Chair
man Leland OF the Republican Committee. the
result Of which was the exposure given out to-