The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-10-19
PETE KLINE.
Attorney-GeneraI Little Shows Up
the Gang.
An Anidavf. Of the Lottery King Produced
Another Side to the Doodle Story
Some Facts Atsopt Gov. Lew.
ellinE's Accusers.

the following letter to the chairman of
the peoples party state central COM
mittee:
Hon. John W. Breidenthal, Chairman Of the
Peoples Party State Central Committee. To-
peka, Kan.
TOPEKA, Kan. Oct. 10.-Dear Sir: In the va
rious papers on Sunday, September 30, there
appears an article written by one Peter Kline,
In which he charges myself with others, with
entering into an agreement with him concern
ing the lottery business at Kansas City, Kan. 1
had intended to answer this letter sooner, but
before doing SO, wanted to procure the afida-
Wit made by Peter Kline during the inveStiga-
tion OF the charges preferred by the legisla-
ture. supposed that Kline's affidavit was filed
with the secretary of state, but being unable to
nnd 1t there, and learning that 1t was in the
possession of Senator King, one Of the mem-
bers OF the investigating committee, wrote
and telegraphed 20 him for it, the contents of
which herewith submit:
state Of Missouri, County of Jackson, S.
Peter w. Kline, being duly sworn, says that he
Is the same person that has been SO frequently
mentioned in connection with the subject mat
ter now being investigated by o committee ap-
pointed by the Kansas state senate that in
truth and in fact he, the said Kline did not
during the last session OF the legislature of the
V
other arrangement with Gov. L. d. Lewelling,
John 7. Little, Fred Close, or either of them,
or any person or persons representing them, by
which, in consideration of the payment Of
money, or other valuable thing, the appoint
ment Of police commissioners for the city Of
Kansas City, Kan, was to be influenced or
controlled or legislation prevented: that the
aboye-named gentlemen. L. d. Lewelling
John 7. Little, ind Fred Close, were
strangers to him, said afiant, never
having knowingly even SO much as
met either of them, before or during
the said session Of said legislature, excepting
the said Close upon one occasion, and that
meeting was not to exceed five minutes in
duration, and was without pre-arrangement
from or by me; that at said meeting last afore-
said the conversation was upon other subjects
than pertain to the appointment of police COM
missioner or the corruption of legislation: that
at no time or place did he, the said afiant
either by himself or through any person or per-
sons for or under his direction, pay, deliver or
turn over to said Lewelling, Little or Close, or
either OF them. or to any person or persons for
them, any money. promise or other valuable
thing or commodity, for any purpose whatever,
and no money was ever paid them, or either Of
them, in my presence, or to my knowledge.
p. w. KLINE
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day of April, 1893 JOHN c. STEARNs
Notary Public Jackson County, Missouri
ALstoI w iuIcf ScIdlOT 1aylOr, WnOm i see, re-
fers to me in the letter written by him to Pete
Kline, came to my Office and requested me to
go with him to see the governor. This did
Senator Taylor stated to the governor that he
mad come to talk about the appointment of the
police board Of Kansas City, Kan. The gov
ernor asked him whom he desired to be ap-
pointed. He stated that he wanted Stephen
Sharpe and Mr.. Beard and would like to have
Mr.. Worthington for chief Of police During
THIS time l said nothing concerning the ap-
polntment OF the two men whom Taylor was
urging the governor to appoint 1 was in favor
of the appointment of MessrS Cunningham and
Mitchell persons against whose reputation
had never heard word. 1 had a long acQuaint-
ance with Mr. QuarleS when he lived in John
son county on his farm. He was there recog-
niZed as an honorable, upright man. The gov
ernor Informed Taylor that he could not ap-
point Steve Sharpe to any place. Taylor left
the governors Office in a very bad humor, as
the governor gave him no encouragement that
he would ever appoint Steve Sharpe or Beard.
When the investigation was had in Kansas
City, Kan, did everything to have Kline ap-
pear before that committee though had never
seen him in my life. and never had any conuec-
tlon or business with him either directly or in
directly, or with any person for him. He was a
stranger to ne, and any statement which he
makes concerning any connection which had
with him or with his business is absolutely
false. never received q farthing from him. or
from any person for him, and no man can truth
fully make the statement that he ever paid me
farthing either directly or indirectly for Pete
Kline. or for any other person corruptly or for
any corrupt purpose, and demand that Pete
Kline disclose the name of the person by
whom he sent the money to me- and I de-
mand that the person by whom Pete Kline
sent the money come forward and make it
known, and denounce this whole outfit as a
set of character assassins. thieves and villains,
whom when they are selling these false state
1-,,N, 80
pieces of silver against so many ounces of
blood
AS far as Steve Sharpe is concerned I never
interceded for his appointment with Gov. Lew
cling, either directly or indirectly. 1 never
had anv transaction. business or conversation
with him at the Blossom house or elsewhere
concerning the payment of 81 500 or any other
sum. That statement of his is absolutely and
unqualffcdly false Some eight ten years
ago. was acquainted with Nelse Acres when
he candidate for congress in the
Second district. but have only seen him once
within ten years that 1 know Of never had
any transaction with him either directly or in
directly concerning Pete Kline or any of Pete
kline'S business. and any statement which he
makes connecting me with his and Pete Kline IS
business. is wilfully and premeditatedly false.
About two weeks ago Fred Close came to me
and told me that NelSe Acers had prepared a
statement which il he could not sell to US he
going to sell to the republicans. 1 told
Fred Close to inform Nelse Acers that 1 would
not give him one nickel for anything that he
had to sell. That If he had prepared a state
ment against me concerning the Pete
Kline business, he was at liberty to
sell it to the republican central COM
mittee if he wanted to-. 1 wish
to say that the man undertaking to connect me
with Pete Kline or Pete Kline's business, or
who states that ever had anything to do with
Pete Kline or his business, is no better than a
midnight assassin. The instrument prepared
by Nelse Acers and offered to Fred Close for
sale could only have been for the purpose of
blackmail, for Nelse Acers, when he wrote it,
knew that so far as was concerned, there was
not word of truth in it: that every line letter
and syllable was absolutely false address
this to you because I think you should know
the exact truth. Respectfully yours,
JOHN T. LITTLE,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT