The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-03
PATRICK CONEY's BOND
E'or the Release of s'Gold Brick
Gordon.
HOW THE DOCUMENT WAS OBTAINED.
}. IA. Hudson's O. Il. Joined to >. II.
MuIvane's Endorses the Bond.

MuIvane's Endorses the Bond.
1t was an amusing smile that played
over the features of Chief Justice David
Martin yesterday afternoon when County
Attorney Harry Stafford and Lawyer Joe
Waters in their arguments of the gold
brick swindling case, told how George
Gordon, the gold brick man worked the
innocent Jackson county farmer. The
other judges also smiled occasionally
and IN fact every person in the court
room, even Judge Eldridge the bailif
smiled and he is supposed to be there to
preserve the dignity of the court.
The judges probably would not have
smiled SO blandly if they had known that
Gordon is out of jail, not on the cash
bond first deposited, but on a bond signed
by weltknown local politician, Mr.. P.
IL Coney, and that even the defendants
lawyers do not know his whereabouts.
When Gordon's case was first appealed
to the supreme court, lawyers ]. q.
Waters aud w. c. Webb, representing
Gold Brick Gordon, went before the court
and said they wanted a reasonable bond
fixed, and they would furnish cash
bond.
The court fixed $4,000 as the amount
of the bond, and authorized the clerk,
Mr.. c. ]. Brown, to attend to the matter.
The lawyers for the gold brick man
marched down to the clerks office and
counted out $4,000 in cold cash and the
order was filed out for Gordon's release
until his case would come up before the
supreme court.
very short time after the bond was
filed, Captain Waters appeared at the
Office of the clerk of the supreme court
with application for d reduction of
Gordon's bond from $4,000 to $500.
With this application WAS presented a
notice signed by H. c. Stafford, county
attorney, agreeing to the reduction of
Gordon's bond. This action of the coun-
~ attorney relieved the court from any
responsibility and the reduction was
allowed.
1t was then that Captain Waters sug-
gested to the clerk of the court that if
it was agreeable to him he and Judge
Webb as attorneys for Gordon would
take up the cash deposit and file regu-
lar bond.
Mr.. Brown says he told them that
would be all right if they would file
good bond. as he would rather have a
good bond filed away than the cash.
When it CO me to filing the bond Cap
tain Waters told MIR. Brown that they
Gordon's bondsman and asked if he
would be acceptable.
MIR. Brown SAYS he replied to Captain
Waters: Yes, 1 know Captain Coney
very well, but if he is to make the bond
l will have him examined as TO his quail
ifcations"
Captain Waters replied that they
would satisfy the court that the bond they
proposed to tile was ali right.
r.
being gone a short time returned with a
letter from the editor of the Topeka
Capital endorsing Mr.. Coney as a bonds
man. This letter was as follows:
TOPEKA Kan, April 2, 1895
Hon. c. J. Brown. Clerk Of supreme Court:
My DEAR oIR:-ln reply to request
of Captain Waters to state what l
know of Mr.. P. H. Coaey's financial cir
cumstances permit me TO say that l know
of my personal knowledge that he has
real estate and personal property in his
own name, one-half of which is &c of
ihcumbrauce to the amount of $4,000 or
more. Yours very truly,
J. K. HUDSON.
Mr. Brown says that when this letter
was presented with the bond he told
Captain Waters that he would do any
thing for Major Hudson personally. but
that this bond was an official document
and he wanted to protect the court.
Captain Waters said he could very
easily satisfy him that the bond was all
right and asked Mr.. Brown if ne con-
sidered J. R. Mulvane authority on
financial matters. Mr.. Brown replied
that Of course Mr.. Mulvane was all right.
Captain Waters then took the bond
away and brought it back again, this
time with an endorsement from the
president of the Bank of Topeka. The
endorsement was, however. written on
the back of J. K. Hudson's letter in pen
ell, and was as follows: 81 think this o.
&. J. r. Mulvane."
Underneath Mr.. Muivane's signature
there also appeared the following in pen
Gil:
/ think bond o. T. H. c. Stafford"
Mr.. Brown says he then went to Mr..
Safford's office to see him personally
about the bond. Mr.. Stafford told him he
had endorsed the bond and thought it
was all right.
The boad was then accepted and
placed on file aud the money was turned
over 10 the lawyers.
The lawyers have their fees whether
Gordon is convicted in the supreme
court or ordered released
Mr.. Brown told STATE JOURNAL re-
porter that he understood Judge uazen
was dspleased with the manner in
which Gordon's bond has been reduced
and the way he was released And he
said he wanted the story told straight SO
that if there is any blame attached TO it,
the right parties may be censured
A well known Topeka lawyer says there
are lots of transactions just like this one
in Kansas courts.
SNAP SHOTS AT HOME NEWS.