The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-16
Is He FIT?
William Rogers, Regent of the
State University,
Called Before the Committee of.
Investigation
Charged With Being Bolster
Ously Intoxicated
IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
Said to Have Used PrOfane and
Obscene Language
In the Presence of Ladies at a
Hotel.
THE PLEA IS MADE
That the Committee Should Not
Inquire
What Mr.. Rogers Does in
Private Life.

The investigation of the charges
brought by Cyrus Leland against Regent
William Rogers of the state university,
began at the bank commissioners office
this morning at eleven o'clock.
The defense was not perhaps exactly un-
prepared when Sen. S. o. Thacher, who
with Judge c. E. Foote is the defendants
attorneys arose as soon as the investiga-
tion began and entered a motion for
quashing right there the further pro-
ceeding of the investigation that shall
declare whether or not Senator William
Rogers is fit person to be on the board
of regents of the Kansas state university
The investigation was to have begun
at four o'clock yesterday but owing to
the absence of Representative Lambert
and Alexander Warner, members, the
committee adjourned till today at nine
o'clock This did not better matters
very materially however for Mr.. Warner
had succeeded in mixing up his dates to
such an extent that he had concluded not
to be present till four O'Clock this after
noon and the committee had to wait on
him for two hours.
Mr. Rogers was on the carpet early
and was not visibly affected. He shook
hands with each member of the commit
tee and with his lawyers, and joined in
the pleasant conversation on irrig alton,
the weather, the absence of Mr.. Warned
and the obstinacy of committees in gen
eral with degree of warmth and jollity
that left no suspicion of his mental suf-
fering if he had any. He
walked the floor part of
the time, stood talking with different
ones and sat at times with his legs cross
| ed and an active cigar between his lips
! He was about the last man you would
have picked out from among those pres
ent if you had been looking for the ac-
cused.
Cyrus Leland, Jr., whose name is
signed to the charges in the case, was
also early, and during the wait for Mr.
Warner, put in his time chatting and
going out into the air to look for Mr.
Warner, and occasionally saying Il few
things on the side to his attorney, David
! Overmyer.
Two long tables had been placed in
| the bank commissioners outer office in
L shape, and at one of them sat the com
mittee, with Chairman Nilcoxson in the
middle, and at the other sat the attor-
| neys.
Mr.. Rogers and Mr.. Leland oc-
cupied opposite sides of the
room, and the former sat in
his chair with his legs crossed
most of the time and pulling at his in
evitable C, gar. There was no decrease
IN his weight or his rotundity and he
laughed heartily when Mr.. Thacher ac-
cused Mr.. Overmyer of drinking cham
pagne at the Baker banquet and Mr..
Overmyer admitted it.
In his motion to quash the indictment,
Judge Thacher re-read the charges.
There were three of Observation-Disclosures
immoral and indecent conduct and in
competency.
The charge of immoral and indecent
conduct was accounted for in the petit
ton by the statement that on the 10Th
day of March, 1895, Senator Rogers had
been in beastly state of intoxicatiou
at the Chesterfield hotel in To
peka, and that he had used profane
language at that time in the presence oi
ladies and been otherwise boisterOus in
conduct. 1t was charged also that he
drank and kept intoxicating liquors il
his committee room during the session ol
the legislature, while he was there as
senator, and that his habits of life rem
dered him unit and incompetent to serve
on the board of regents of the state uni
versity.
s'Mr. VIM. Rogers private life is not ir
question before this committee" SAID
Judge Thacher "Mr VIM. Rogers life
and habits as senator are not in ques-
tion before this committee You are
here to investigate the habits and life Of
Mr.. Rogers as member of the board Of
regents only. What he does in an IN
official capacity you are not here to con
slider. The law does not ask you
to investigate his private habits. 1t il
not your business to inquire what he may
or may not do when he is not serving the
state in the capacity of regent of its uni
versity. What he does or does not in his
private life can make no difference tt
you as a committee to investigate wha
he does as regent I ask you then t.
dismiss this investigation.
Mr.. Overmyer had the table in front o
him piled with books and papers anC
long lists of citations and they were care
r fully arranged when he arose to reply.
His speech was lengthy and like Judge
Thacher he read the law and cited th'
legal aspects of the case
''You have no right to dismiss thi
case," he said. "You have no right t