The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-31
WAITE EXONERATED.

DENVER, Aug 3L=Cnited States Com
missioner Hiusdale heard testimony for
the defense today in the hearing on the
charge against Gov. Waite. President
Mullins of the police board, Chief of Po-
lice Armstrong and Police Matron
Dryer of conspiring to withhold from
ex-M atron Likens letter for her. The
court room was crowded
Gov Waite was the first witness called.
He declared he had never had anything
to do with the matter whatever
and was greatly surprised when he
learned he had been charged with
an unlawful act He never had any
conversation with any person for the
purpose of entering into conspiracy for
any purpose.
The letter in question was handed to
me to read" he said. land l had to take
il in my hands to do SO. l Immediately
returned it to the person who handed it
to me and this is my entire aud only con-
nectiOn with it. 1t might have been a
forgery for all / knew, and il did not at
tract my attention to any extent, as l
/ Chief of Police Armstrong is most GER
tainly mistaken in his statement that he
! got the letter from me-
Il do not think it wise for the fire and
| police board to remove Mrs. Likens from
The position of police matron, and OPP
\ posed it in every way l possibly could
l have known Mrs. Kate Dryer, the
I present matron, for a number of years.
/ She called upon me frequently regard
\ ing the removal of Mrs Likens, but /
never gave her any encouragement and
| discouraged all propositions she made to
this end
After Gov Waite left the stand the
/ prosecution called some witness who
could not be produced yesterday.
Mrs. DIR. Love, leading member OF one
! of the local charity organizations OF
\ which Mrs. Likens is also member,
after reading the letter published by Mr.
Mullins casting reflections upon the
character of Mrs. Likens, called upon
Governor Waite and asked for the rea-
sons for Mrs. Likens' removal.
sl1e said'' Mrs. Love testified ''the re-
movaI was not because she was a Repub-
lican but because Of a letter which had
been received compromising her char
acter. The governor gave me letter to
Chief Armstrong, requesting him to let
| me see the letter, but when presented II
the chief, said he did not have the let
Ter and sent me to Mr.. Mullins.
MIR. Mullins refused to show me the let
ter. but said 1t was very compromising and
sufficient to cause Mrs. Likens' removal
from office The impression 1 arrived at
from my conversation with Governor
| 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. lie said ne had
known Mrs. Llkens since childhood
and never before had ne heard single
word spoken against her character
On reading the charges made by Dennis
Mullins he went to the city hall to Inves-
tigate. Mr.. Mullins in a pompous man
ner informed him the letters and proofs
in his possession showing up the char
acter OF Mrs Likens were very strOn z
but they were not yet ready to be shown
to the public.
During his conversation with Presi
dent Mullins, Mr.. Mills said he charged
him with bringing religious matters into
this prosecution, and Dir. Mullins did no
deny the charge.
Chief of Police Armstrong was re
called for the purpose of contradictinq
the testimony of Mrs. DR.. Love, but fail
ed to do so.
Both sides then announced their case
closed
Attorney Sales Of counsel for the de-
Tense moved that the case be dismissed
for want of jurisdiction. His motion was
denied by the commissioner
The prosecution arraigned the accused
most severely, charging that Mrs. Kate
Dryer and President Mullins were the
leading conspirators in this case, bul
that Chief of Police Armstrong and Gov
Waite. in allowing themselves TO be useC
in the carrying out Of the purpose d
these two, were equally guilty whether
they acted innocently or not.
At the conclusion of the argument
Commissioner Hinsdale rendered Iii
decision as follows: "These four de
fend ants are charged with offens'
against two sections of the laws relating
to conspiracy and the taking and re
tanning of letter belonging I
another. 1t is shown by the evi
dence that letter did com
to the city hall, the envelop
of which was addressed to the Polio
Matron' but the letter itself was ad
dressed to Mrs. Likens
Mrs. Dryer, as one of the matronE
had a perfect right to open and read thi
letter, but should have at once delivere
it to the person to whom it was addresse
instead of taking it to the chief Of police
1T has not been clearly shown that Their
was a conspiracy between these defend
| ants to injure g. rs. Likens, but the retain
ing and Withholding Of the letter froI
! her was clearly q violation Of the law.
while Governor Waite read the lette
and had it brought to his Office, he coul
not help this aud the evidence againi
him is so doubtful to showing that
retained the letter or had anything to d
with it being withheld from Mrs Liken
. that cannot consider him guilty Of an
I offense against the law.
The other defendants, however, r,
tanned the letter for a long period
! time and evidently used its contents
/ the injury of Mrs. Likens. so far as tn
defendants Armstrong. Dryer and Mu
Inns are concerned. / Will hold them
the United States grand jury in the SUI
Of $500 each, and the defendant w ali
}. is hereby discharged"
!, Business suits
: That will surprise you for $500 mad
> m ordar at Olof Ekbaro,a nnar0har