The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-28
WHY HE FELL.
EX-C Commissioner Frank Foster
Gives His Reasons
Why He Was Removed From
the Police Board.
HAD PREPARED PLANS
To Have the Managers of the
Arion Club Arrested
For Violation of the Prohibi-
tory Law.
HE SAYSC.
Went to the Governor and Pro-
tested,
With the Result That He Was
Dismissed.
Judge HaZen's Name Among the
List Of Witnesses.
With the Result That He Was
Dismissed.
Judge HaZen's Name Among the
List Of Witnesses.

6A-HOilC9 commissioner FRANK roster
has some reasons of his own on the ques-
ton of why he was removed and told a
JOURNAL reporter what they were.
81 am satisfied" said he, "that 1 was
removed because 1 had determ in ed to
prosecute the Arion society for liquor
selling. One day Police Commissioner
Charley Holiday told me that he knew
that the Arion society was selling liquor
over the bar and violating the law.
He said that he was tired of
pulling the low down places and
allowing the big places to run. There
was no use, he said, in always pulling
the poor fellows without money and he
wanted to see the thing evened up lit
tie. He asked me not to say anything
about his stand and l would not do so
now had he not violated my confidence
byIgoiug to the governor and repeating
a private conversation. After we had
tolked the matter over it was left to me
to collect evidence against the society.
81 asked Wilkerson, who was then
chief of police, to send me someone l
could put in there to collect evidence
told 'Scotty' what / wanted aud he said
he would do the work. / told him that
he would be paid $150 day while he
worked. He went to work and went to
the hall at night. Soon he came to me
with list of witnesses and among them
were the names of Judge Hazen and
| large number of Others"
The memorandum stated that Judge
| Hazen had purchased beer at the Arion
| club on Feb. 21 and Feb. "a.
81 thought we had better wait to make
| the arrests until we had some evidence
against other places where liquor is
| being sold illegally, and l believe that
Charley Holiday went to Governor Nor
| rilI and told him what I had and
| what would be done with the Arions l
| also understand that the governor asked
| P. / Bone brake to diss uade me from
the move 1 was about to make Mr..
Bonebrake did call me in at one time
and asked me about the matter"
Mr.. Foster said that Mr.. Bonebrake
neither urged him to go ahead nor dis
suaded him. Mr- Foster continued:
| "Governor Morrill, also sent for
me, and 1 am firmly convinced
that his purpose was to ask me not to pull
the Arions but he did no: do it.
"He opened the conversation by asking
how matters were moving in connection
| with the board and | replied that as far
as 1 knew 1 thought everything was
| harmonious now that the chief of police
| matte was settled, that there were
few joints running but we were
after them. l said l thought that by the
end of the month we would have good
cases again them. He replied that is
right. l want the laws enforced, but do
it in the way to produce the least fric-
| tiou.' l took this latter expression to
refer to the Arion matter, but did not of
course know. At this interview the gov
ernOr did not intimate particle of dis
satisfaction. It was the only time l
have spoken to him since my appoint
| meut.
~ afterward told Charley Holiday
about my interI ie with the governor,
and have been told that he Immediately
went to Governor Morrill, and told him
what l said, which was that if he had
asked me not to pull the Arions l would
have asked him to go to h. The con-
versatiOn with Holiday was of a private
nature and he had no business to go to
Governor Morrill, and tell him what ]
said.
sit was Holiday that started this
thing and then he used it against me,
and since he has done that / do not
feel bound to keep what know a secret.
81 am we'll satisfied that the reason
Governor Morrill, removed me was be-
cause he knew that l have evidence
! against the Arions and intended to have
them pulled. The intention to make a
case against the Arions reached the So
ciety somehow for some time ago Scotty
Kane came to me and told me they would
not let MIN In ana tnat none out MEM
bers were admitted. Then the influence
on the governor was commenced and il
terminated in my dismissal"
Mr. Foster said that he was satisfied
that DR., McCabe had nothiug to do with
his removal II wish 10 say further" he
continued, shat I have done nothing
concerning my duties that have not beer
expressly authorized by the board"
Judge Hazen. whose name was men
toned as a witness, was seen but did no
care to talk about the matter. Eyes
understand he had my name," said he
''He will probably not bother people
much, any more"
Try US on collars. We can max,