Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-28
PROGRESS OF THE SOLDIERS HOME
INVESTIGATION.
MANY VETERANS ON THE STAND
TESTIFY TO THE GOVERNORS KIND.
NESS AND CONSIDERATION.
No One Ever Knew of Inmates Being
"Bucked" and Gagged, or Forced
to Take the Gold Cure
Drunkenness Appar-
entity increasing.

I.eayenvorth, Kas., Nov. N.-(Special)
There was nothing sensational in the Sol
diers' home investigation, to-day. The en-
tire time was consumed in the examination
of witnesses for the defense. All the wit
nesses were inmates of the institution.
The first witness examined was Z. A
Trader, a clerk in the adjutant's Office. He
testified that Governor. Smiths conduct to-
ward the home inmates was at ell times
considerable and humane; that he was at
one time editor of the Reveille, a monthly
published at the home, which was pub
lished in the interest Of the keeley League,
and sold at cents a copy to the members;
that his salary as such editor was paid out
of the post fund; that the governors
treatment of the men brought before him
for trial and punishment was wise and
firm and that he ever had in mind hu-
marty and justice: to old men he was
especially considerate; that he never heard
of any member of the home being bucked,
gagged or placed in straight jackets.
Phillip Burke, a member of the home
since 1856 and who has been on the pay
role as policeman nearly all this time, said
the governor was Just like father TO
his children" in his treatment of the home
members. He never knew of any. one
being bucked. gagged or tied up by the
hands.
Charles Meek, another man op the home
police force, said that Governor Smith was
always very kind He never knew any
prisoners to be tied up by the hands or
bucked and gagged, but had seen men put
in straight jackets on a concrete floor.
Robert Scotland, also a member of the
home police force, gave similar testimony,
saying he had helped put prisoners in
straight jacket.
Herald Smith, another home policeman,
testified that he knew Francis Kennedy,
the man whom the prosecution claimed
had been treated very roughly in Smiths
office, and whose head was pounded against
the floor by the police. The witness said
the conduct of Kennedy was violent, and it
took four policemen to manage him. He
never knew anyone to be bucked or gagged.
He once had a prisoner who was noisy
and placed him in straight jacket; he
continued his noise and Sergeant Frink had
us tie cloth over his mouth. but he soon
worked it off, and We Ia him hollow 1t
out.
Robert Trail, George Redmon and George
Hoffiinger, all home members, testified to
the uniform good conduct of the governor.
Robert Hays, adjutant, said that all ap-
plications for admission and discharge
passed through his hands. and that he was
frequently in the governors presence, and
that he never knew the governor to mis-
treat a man who was brought before him
for treatment; that he knew Captain Hen
ry Jacobs; knew him. at the Dayton, o.,
home, and always found him TO be a nice
man, but during the last year he had
| thought that Captain Jacobs acted strange
ly; never knew of any members being
| bucked, gagged, or tied up by the hands.
William Marks, William Gillick, John
| Egan and Captain Mcdonald all testified
that Governor Smith was kind and consid-
| crate, and that they had never heard him
| order any member 10 take the keeley cure
| or the gate.
E. B. Wheeler, private secretary for Gov
ernor Smith, testified that his duties re-
| quired him to be with the governor during
| business hours and that the governor S
| treatment of the inmates was humane and
| just. He denied the statement made by
| from Usage Mission not eligible to member
| ship had been admitted to the home to
| take the Keeley treatment and introduced
| the books to show that such parties had
| been regularly admitted. He denied, also,
| that he wrote a letter at Major Shockley' s
! dictation when the latter was in command
| of the camp to Lieutenant Rice, Of the
| army, stating that TO more soldiers of the
army could be given the Keeley cure.
| A report which was made to the commit
| tee to-day shows that during the year 1890,
| prior to the introduction of the Kelley
| treatment. the average membership of the
| home was l S8 and that there were T2i
| arrests for drunkenness. For the year 1885
| the average membership of the home was
! 2,26I. while the arrests for drunkenness ag-
| gregated pa.
The committee expects to finish the in
| yeStigatiOn by tomorrow evening.