The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-14

them: 1T would be worth $4,000 to
him to have Governor Anthony
come to him and beg with tears in his
eyes,, and more to the same effect.
adding, sand Mitchell, the --- ----,
came to me at the Throop hotel in To-
peka and wanted me to appoint him to
some Office if l (Waggener) should be
elected senator Waggener named the
office but what it was l do not remem-
ber / made one more visit to Atchison
to meet Mr.. Waggener at the request of
James Dalbey in the same manner, Mr.
Waggener giving me pass and return.
At this visit it was told me that larger
sum would be paid if | would give such
testimony as he would direct. That was
the last time l saw him.
"WhiIe l was in St. Louis I received
letter in answer to some correspondence
had with r. 8. Osborn, asking me to
come to Topeka and meet him. / was
taken sick and could not go and on the
following Sunday Mr. Osborn came to
my house, 819 Springfield avenue, Kan
sas City. Mo-, and wanted me to give
him a sworn statement as he would
dictate. He stayed and worried me un-
til was obliged to tell him to leave the
house. During this interview he offered
me $500 to give him this statement, and
offered to double it, and also told me
that it would be worth $2,50O to me if
| would go to Washington and tell these
| things to President Cleveland, saying
| Senator John Martin would secure me
| private interview He offered TO go and
get the money to pay my expenses there.
| Mr.. Osborn told me long string of stuff
| he wanted me to repeat there and that
| he wanted me to swear to. In subse-
| quent interview at the Nationel hotel,
| Topeka, Kansas, the same propositions
were renewed. He wanted l should do
this as cheap as possible, saying as rea-
| son that this money came out of poor
mems pockets, naming Governor Level
| ling, Attorney General Little, Mr.. Close,
| John Hall, Mr.. Vincent and his own, and
I think one or two others. l went home
and on the following day received d
message from R. 8. Osborn requesting
me to come to Topeka at once.
81 went by first train, met Mr. Osborn
and Mr. Close in Governor Lewelling's
private office, and there made them a
statement, for which received ($100) one
one hundred dollars. with the promise of
the balance in the near future, which l
have not received. Mr. Close and Mr..
Osborn assured me, in the name of the
| governor and the executive council, that
| should have it.
"These men, Close and Osborn, said that
they wanted to down Mitchell and Anth-
ony, railroad commissioners, especially
| Mitchell
"(SlgnedA sB WEST"
Subscribed and sworn to this 2Jth day
of April, 1898. W. E. DOM,
Notary Public
NY commission expires June ID, 1894
In addition to this affidavit there was
fled with the senate committee copies of
kilograms from Secretary of State Os-
D D 70
and photographs of the hotel register in
ST. Louis where West stayed with the
Missouri Pacific officials.
| To STATE JOURNAL reporter ex- Com.
missioner VIM. Mitchell said: "The only
money ever offered me while member
of the board of railroad commissioners
was offered by Missouric Pacific agent:
in connection with the Union Terminal
case. One man who offered me money
was a Missouri Pacific attorney, another
was Missouri Pacific superintendent
, and the third man to offer me money in
behalf of the Missouri Pacific was state
senator who said he represented the
company.
"They were willing to pay any amount
they said, and offered me all the way
sell out, I don't know how much nigh
have got"
The members of the senate committee
seem to have believed what West said il
, his last affidavit rather than his supposed
death bed statement.
{ AS it now stands the public is still il
, the dark as to the real truth about any
, of the charges made in either of the at
fdavits. Is Mr.. West liar or is he not
, and if he lied, which time did he lief
J.. Now let the Missouri Pacific official
and the Union Terminal officials be call
ed before regular open legislative in
) vestigation committee and testify as t.
{ the facts in this matter.