The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-30

Treasurer Atherton being drunk.
It will now be in order for Treasurer
Atherton to have Mr. Montgomery make
another affidavit and tell which time he
told the truth.
The JOURNAL has a vast quantity of
evidence corroborative of the statement
it published April 20 headed Shocking
Sight"
The Affdavits.
The following atfidavits are offered by
State Treasurer Otis L Atherton as
proof that he was not drunk on the after
noon of Sunday, April II:
Sterne's Affidavit.
State of Kansas, Shawnee county, s.s.
[. w. E Sterne, being first duly sworn,
declare that l am resident of the
city of Topeka and have been for
fifteen years. l know Otis L. Ather-
ton, who is now treasurer of Kan
sas. On Thursday, the 25th day
of April, 1895, The STATE Journal
contained an article in reference to a
state officer being intoxicated on the
streets of Topeka on Sunday, the 21st
day of April, 1895, and since the publica-
tion of said article | have been informed
that the said Atherton was the party
referred to. The article said that the
state officer at the time referred td8Was
endeavoring to reach the Santa Fe train
that leaves Topeka at 6:05 p. III. On said
Sunday, April 21st, 1895, Otis L. Ather-
ton came to my house between o'clock
and 4:30 O'Clock p, m, and remained
there until at least 5:35 p. III. During
the time he was there Mayor Fellows
came in, and we talked together at the
foot of the stairs opening on Kansas ave-
nue. until the said Atherton left | am
positive about the time he left, for the
reason l was sitting ON the steps be-
side Atherton and he looked at his
watch and said he would have to go
because he had to catch the Santa Fe
train for AtchisOn. He being very near
sighted l noticed his watch as he put it
close to his one eye and know that
the watch showed the time to be half
past five. After looking at his watch he
Immediately got up and went out of the
door, In a moment afterwards he re-
turned to the door and spoke of some
thing he had forgotten to mention be-
fore and then went up the adjoining
stairway and in a very short time he came
down the stairway with his overcoar and
valise. He stepped to the edge of the
sidewalk and looked up the street
as though he was looking for a
car, and then turned and walked rapidly
towards the Santa Fe depot / most
earnestly desire to say that while said
Otis l. Atherton WAS in my house he did
not exhibit any sign of intoxication or
of having been drinking anything intox-
icating. l believe he was absolutely
a sober man when he left there, which
could not have been over three or four
minutes from the time he was reported
as being in grossly intoxicated condi-
tion. W. E. STERNE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 29Lh day of April a. D. 1895
f. S CRANE Notary Public
Term expires February 30, 1896.
Fellows Affidavit.
State of Kansas, Shawnee county, s.s.
l, G. A. Fellows. being first duly sworn
declare and saw that | have read the atfi-
davit made by Senator Sterne, and that
l am the Mayor of Topeka referred to
in that affidavit.
met Otis L. Atherton at the house of
Senator Sterne at the time aud place re-
ferred to in his affidavit l was with Mr..
Atherton for about an hour Immediately
before he started for the Santa Fe depot
to take train for Atchison. | sat very
close to him and there was not the slight
est faint of liquor upon his breath. l am
positive that ne was absolutely sober,
and do not think he had drank a drop
during the day. There was nothing in
his manner or talk that could lead to any
other conclusion. He talked to US long
er Cnan ne had intended ana rushed
away to reach his train in a great hurry.
know Mr.. Atherton intimately and
am certain that there was nothing unu-
suai in his conduct on the day the STATE
JOURNAL charges, unless it may have
been his rapid walk in the direction of
the depot
c. A Fellows
Subscribed and sworn to before me,
this 29th day of April, 1895.
F. S. CRANE, Notary Public
Commission expires February 20, 1896.