The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-18
HAD A BLACK BOTTLE.
Witnesses Were Not Ready Today-Yes-
terday Afternoons Testimony.


terday Afternoons Testimony.
The Rogers investig eating committee
did not hold a session this morning, al
though all were present except some
/ witnesses that Mr.. Leland and Mr. Over
myer expected on the adjournment yes
terday. The recess was taken until $3.50
this afternoon. when they will likely be
here.
The complaining side expects to get
done tomorrow at the outside, and the
testimony for the defense will cover
/ period of several days, and the investi-
CATION will absorb good part of next
week
If the witnesses expected arrive this
afternoon, it is very likely a night SEES
sion will be held aud an attempt made to
clean up the testimony for the complain
ing side tonight
| About thirty witnesses for the defense
from all parts of the state are now on
their way to Topeka. and will be here in
the morning, Mr.. Rogers says.
At the afternoon session of the Rogers
investigating committee at the bank
commissioners office yesterday bevy of
witnesses was examined for the plaintiff
but no particularly damaging testimony
brought out Nearly all of them could
simply say that they had seen Mr.. Rogers
drink but very few were quite sure
tnoS udQ ever seen H.
Among others W. ]. Costigan testified
that he had played cards with Mr..
Rogers on the return trip from. the
Leavenworth banquet and that in his
opinion Mr. Rogers was under the infiu
ence OF liquor though he could walk
right and played a good game of cards.
| c. ?. Bolmar testified that at one time
| he had opened door at the state house
rather suddenly and discovered Mr.
| Rogers behind it with black bottle to
his lips.
Nicholas North, colored man who
| had been employed at the state house.,
told about cleaning out Mr.. Rogers COM
mittee room and finding empty bottles
therein. @
"How many bottles?" asked Mr. Over
nyer
Il don't know; lots of them"
swell, about how manyT"
sob, three or four"
show many moref"
! sob, few more"
"What kind of bottles were theyT"
"Some of them were mucilage bottles"
Laughter.
Il didn't ask you about the mucilage
bottles sir" said Mr.. Overmyer in his
| earnest way.
The testimony of George Crawford was
that he had seen Mr.. Rogers drink in the
committee room, while his son watched
the door to keep intruders out. AIr. Craw-
ford knew that Mr. Rogers had been sick,
but did not know whether or not he took
the whisky for medicine. A former wit
ness had testified that Mr. Rogers had
told him he used it for medicine.
Charles W. Barnes testified that he had
seen Senator Rogers at the Or emerie res
taurant one night at about o'clock, and
that in his judgment Rogers was intoxi-
Gated and hilarious.
]. NJ. Seares, a Kansas City lawyer,
said he used to live in Marshall county,
Kansas, and had known Mr.. Rogers foI
several years.
''SOon after l moved to Kansas City in
1885," said Mr.. Seares. II was back il
Kansas for time and met Mr.. Roger:
on Central Branch passenger train. He
was talking and swearing in loud voice
and | asked him to desist, as there was
lady on the car He did So and then be-
gan to abuse religion and the church il
a loud tone. | was much surprised wher
l heard that he had been made regent oil
the university"
Mr. Seares was the last witness exam
ined yesterday afternoon, and with his
testimony the examination ended till
1880 o'clock this morning.
The defense seems at a loss to know
how the prosecution got all its witnesses
for so many years back, and questions
are often asked by that side to find on
how it happened, but no light seems t
have been thrown on the subject vet