The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-30
is THIS REFORM?
PETE KLINE, THE LOTTERY SHARK
EXPOSES LEWELLING.
lie Paid Thousands to tie Cover
nor Through the Medium of
Fred Close.

His Private Secretary, Colonel Taylor
Of Wichita, Attorney General Lit
tie and the Others, Kline harges
Had no Hesitancy IL Fixing the
Matter Up Nicely-Man Appointed
asaDeputy Soon Wears Diamonds
and Spreads.
Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.
TOPEKA, Kan, Sept. 29-Peter Kline.
the policy man, has written a l tier to
Hon. Edwin Taylor of Edwardsville, Kan,
exposing all the Transactions he has had
with the Lewelling administration. 1t is
probably the most sensational and dam
aging document that has ever been pub
lished against any Kansas administration.
In his letter Kline says:
"In December, 1893, met Mr.. James F.
Legate and had a lengthy conversation
with him in regard to affairs in Kansas.
The conversation had was about the legis.
lature. He told me that the house of rep
resentatives was Republican, but that be
was anxious TO have the Populists control
the house. He said he had seen men
enough TO know that with money he
could put the control in the hands of
the Populists. After many conferences he
| told me be wished to raise money to &C.
compIish that object. l asked him how
much he wanted or how little he could get
along with. He finally said 5000 or
$4,000. asked him how could be BEN
Gifted.
| HE PAID OVER THE MONEY.
He replied: THAT was for me to say.
not him" l asked him if l could be pro-
tected in my policy business. He said
| that he had the assurance OF the governor
| that l could control the appointment of he
police commissioners Ate: consideration
told Mr.. Legate would pay $1,000 provid-
ed could dictate the appointment of two
of the police commissioners of Kansas City,
Kan, and that the other should cot be I'M
| friendly to me, and that | should have a
lead pipe cinch" of all gambling, lottery
and saloon privileges in the city. He told
me that could do this. paid the g, 900
in the presence Of Mr.. II. f. Akers.
Akers was my attorney. The money was
in the form of Cashiers check.
All that was told me by Mr.. Legate
about his authority was afterwards re-
| peatedly confirmed by Mr.. Close. private
secretary of the governor. The persons to
be appointed were all agreed on. The ap-
pointment of these men was not made
end l grew uneasy. 1sent my attorney to
Governor Lewelling in person to find out
why they were not appointed. The gov
ernor assured him that the
appointment of these men would
be made in a short time. l was
them satisfied. Still they were not ap
pointed. l soon met Mr.. Legate and he
said to me that the governor and his
friends wanted him to raise more money,
but as the governor had not made the APP
poiument of the commissioners agreed on,
he advised me not TO give any more money
until they We're appointed. Finally by
appointment by wire, / was to meet At
torney &c neral John T. Little. Judge S.
S. Sharp and James Legate at the Bios
som House in Kansas City. No., the first
week in February.
PoPULISTS DEMANDED MORE MONEY.
Sharpe and Legate came to me, think
on the afternoon of the fifth day, but Mr..
Little did not arrive until was compelled
to leave because of business engage
ment. Mr.. Little came after had gone
and had conference with Legate and
Sharpe. After this conference Legate aud
Sharpe both came to me and informed me
that Mr.. Little had said that if | would
pay 81 500 more money the original con-
tract would be carried out to the letter
Upon this assurance, l took the 81, 500 in
cash aud went TO Topeka myself. Isaid to
Mr.. Legate that before gave up the money,
l desired to see the governor in person
and to receive from him assurances that
the agreements would be carried out
With this suggestion Mr.. Legate see med
pleased and left. saving that he would see
the governor and report After a while
he Came back and said that the governor
declined 10 see him, but would send MIR
Close, his private secretary, over to the
Union Pacific hotel in North Topeka,
where | was stopping and the place where
IL was agreed that We should meet,
aud instruct him what to say.
Very soon Mr.. Close came in aud
sail that the governor thought it not
prudent for him to see me and had
instructed him (Ciose) TO say that il
the money was turned over 20 Mr.. Lsgate,
the contract hereto fore made about the
s, 900 would be carried out. He made hrs
whole statement positive by saying the
governor had instructed him 10 say just
what be did and he said this in the presence
of Mr.. Legats and Mr.. Akrrs, NV attorney,
who had met there by appointment
LEwELLING READY To VETO IT.
II took the money cut of my pocket and
held il in nv hand. Close took his pencil
and piece OF paper out of his vest pocket
and took down the names of the men who
were TO be appointed police commissioners
at Kansas City, Kansas. ! then said to
him there was danger of the lay
Tor lottery Oil passing and Mr.. Close
assured me that IL the bill did pass he
would guarantee that the governor would
veto it. He said mat he wanted il dis
tIuctly understood that the governo would
stand by his friends. l then paid the
money To Mr.. L.-gale.
After the legislature adjourned Mr.
Close frequently called at my Office and
discussed these matters with NE aud gave
me numerous excuse for not carrying out
. ;ne agreement made in consideration OF
the money advanced by ME. During this
time Mr. Close introduced me 30 Mr..
Hathaway, assistant hank examiner
under Ms Bgeidenthal, and about
that time one Of the PopuiISc
state central committee. Mr.. Hathaway
came 10 me frequently aud demanded
money. aud / gave aim over 500 81 differ
eut times after the governor mad failed
TO carry out tue contract with me IS 20 my
protection in the lottery business IN Kan
sas City, Kan.
REFERRED HIN TO COLONEL TAYLOR
"Mr. Close. his private secrstary, by sps-
ciai appointment met me on Sunday at the
Midland hotel ia Kansas City, Mo. aud
made a new deal with me by which he was
{ 10 DroTect me IN the cities OF AtchlsoU,
ezeeas sss7ss