The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-20

announced in a speech in the court room
that the old commissioners were as
much on trial as Jack Davidson.
The assistant attorney general and
Lieurance seem to have started out with
the idea that the old commissioners
gave the police orders to allow all
CONTESTS to run their places openly who
would pay a certain stipulated price
each month and they thought all they
had to do to esta blish that fact was
to put Chief Massey and Detectives SUIT
ton and Woods on the witness stand.
These efficient officers when they were
put into the witness chair did not swear
to any such thing. Even the threaten
ing presence of Bill Campbell and Lieu
rance who are supposed TO be in pos
session of the big ak which sewers Off
cial heads in the police department did
not induce them to make any such
statements on oath for the only rea-
son that it was not true.
People who know only a little bit
about the working of the police depart
ment marvel at the ignorance OF Camp
bell and Lieurance in police matters.
And then to be compelled TO admit that
these men can issue orders to the police
If 1t were not for the good sense of the
concession of efficiency.
Insurance and the assistant attorney
general were more than Disguised when
they put Officer Sutton on the witness
stand anu in answer TO question pro-
pounded by Colonel Sam Amidon he
promptly admitted that he could not
tell the difference in beer and hop ale
by seeing it in a bottle. There is not,
perhaps, liquor dealer in the city who
can tell the difference but Lieurance
thought Officer Sutton ought to know
Just before court adjourned the assis-
tant attorney general called for John
Martin and Amidon and Conley pro-
duced certificate from DR.. Oldham
which stated that Mr. Martin was sick
and unable to attend court which caus-
ed the gentleman from Bengal to set
up most terrific howl.
DR.. Oldham is reputable physician
but the assistant attorney general said
he would not take the word of any doc
tor in case like this and he wanted
DIR. Oldham brought in and put on oath
50 that he might question him in re-
gard TO John Martins sickness as he
had reason 10 believe that he was play
ing posSum
He stated that he preferred to have
two doctors go and examine Mr.. Ma
han, but just how doctors singly could
be unreliable and untruthful when ia
ken two together he failed to state.
Colonel Anidon stated TO the court
that he hoped Mr.. Mahan would be
able to attend court today but if he
was not he said he would agree TO let
the doctor who was on the jury go and
see him and report to the court.
The assistant attorney general
promptly agreed to this but upon refiec-
ton he said that might put the juryman
in an unpleasant position and he
thought somebody else would better be
sent.
The attorneys kept pretty straight
but once when the assistant attorney
general renewed his bluffing tactics Mr..
Conely mildly insinuated that the as
sistant general did not occupy very
exalted position in his estimation.
The best point gained by the defense
during the day was that the police rec
ords when introduced could not be ex-
planned but must stand on their own
merits.
In the Kunkle case Judge Reed al
lowed Police Clerk Adams to explain
the hierogiyphics but ne said on more
mature deliberation he made up his
mind that it was an error and he
should reverse it in this case.
The record without this explanation
VIII be about as Ineligible as a Chinese
proclamation to the jury. The assist
ant attorney general sees this and he
blames Judge Reed for it all.
Some gentlemen were relating yester-
day that the gentleman from Bengal the
previous day had walked the floor of
the Kansas National bank like a Gagged
lion and roasted Judge Reed to a brown
finish and pronounced him one of the
most infamous characters that ever oc-
cupied judicial position.
1t was claimed that this story was
put in circulation by the enemies of the
assistant attorney general and on its
face did appear a little fishy as it was
not supposed that a practicing attorney
would try to bring the court into disre-
pute, but a reporter for the Eagle called
at the Kansas National bank yesterday
and the officials said the story was true.
1t is now believed that the Davidson
trial may last for two weeks as the as
sistant attorney general breads the
outcome feeling certain that he will not
gain a conviction. A prominent Rock
ford township farmer said yesterday II
the object of these prosecutions was 10
make the tax payers sick that they
might as we'll stop now because they
were awfully sick Of this whole bust