The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-30
WHEW! WHAT A LIE!
Exclaimed Secretary of State
W. G. Edwards
When He Read F. c. Mont
gomery's Affidavit
Concerning the State officer
Drunk on Kansas Avenue.
IT WAS MONTGOMERY
Who First Told Secretary
Edwards the Story
Practically as Published in the
Journal"
HIS AFFIDAVIT FALSE
Or His Story to Secretary Ed
wards False.
HIS AFFIDAVIT FALSE
Or His Story to Secretary Ed
wards False.
In a Question Of Honesty Mr..
Edwards UnimpeachabIe.

State Treasurer Otis L. Atherton ap-
pears to have put on the coat which was
made to fit drunken state officer and
proclaims himself the man indicated in
the STATE JOURNALS article of Thurs
day, April 25th. The JOURNAL did not
publish the name of the state officer who
was drunk on Kansas avenue on Sunday,
April 21st. but Mr. Atherton says he is
the man "who was meant" This is Mr..
Atherton's affair, and if he considers
himself the state officer indicated, he is
justified in producing whatever evidence
he can to disprove the statements.
Mr.. Atherton has published in this
mornings paper three atfidavits to prove
that he was the state official referred to.
State Senator Sterne and Mayor Eel
lows, who are on Mr. Atherton's bond,
publish affidavits that Mr. Atherton was
not drunk on the afternoon of Sunday,
April 21st.
The most remarkable affidavit, how
ever, is one made by Frank c. MOntgom-
cry, Topeka corresponi nient of the Kansas
City Journal, and one of the owners of
the official state paper
Mr. Montgomery assumes" a great
deal His affidavit is as follows:
Hontgomery's Affidavit
State of Kansas, Sha vince County, S.:
+. c. Montgomery, being first duly
sworn, on his oath deposes and says:
assume that l am the Kansas City news
paper correspondent alluded to in an ar
ticle in last Thursdays Topeka JOURNAL.
AT about fifteen minutes to 6 O'Clock on
Sunday afternoon, the 21st instant, l met
State Treasurer Atherton about in front
of George Cranes establishment on Kan
sas avenue. He was hurrying down the
street at great speed, when | nailed him
with the question: "HeIlo, where are you
going so fast?"
Without stopping he responded: ST
have got to catch the Santa Fe train for
AtchisOn."
"Better take a street car" responded,
'or you won't make it."
There was no street car on the avenue.
and Mr. Atherton hurried on with the
remark that he would take one if it
overlook him. There is absolutely no
truth in the statement that 81 attempted
to get him on passing street car"
have known Mr.. Atherton more
or less intimately for about eigh-
teen years. There was nothing in
his appearance on the Sunday in cues
ton which led me to even question his
condition as 10 sObriety. He had one eve
shot out in battle and can see but dimly
with the other, aud it is known to every
man who knows him that his walk is not
frea from that indecision always to te
found in the partially blind, but l am
certain he did not stagger while in my
sight nor did he show anything in his
gait out of his accustomed manner.
l have certainly reported nothing con-
trary to this statemen: to any one. and
am totally at loss to know how the story
started that l believed Mr. Atherton was
intoxicated, and that l endeavored tc
save him from public exposure.
F. C. MONTGOMERY.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this goth day of April. 1895.
F. S CRANE, Notary Public.
Term expires February 29th, 1896