Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-04-14
BRIBERY INVESTIGATIONS.

vigorously pursued by the Topeka leg
islative committee has already created
considerable excitement and it promis-
es to cause more as it progresses. We
herewith clip from the Topeka Journal
part of the testimony given by Warden
Lands and Senator A. j. Titus. It
does not place one l.. D. Lewelllng in
favorable light to say the least. Let
the investigation proceed. The people
are eager to learn the cause of the de-
feat of so many of the important meas
ures which were demanded last fall.
If any of our public servants have be-
come so utterly depraved that they
have no regard for campaign promises,
it is the right of the public to know
Just who they are and what the' consid-
eration' was. Gov. Leedy is to be- con-
graduated for the assistance he has
given the legislative committee in get
ting at the bottom of this matter:
Harry Lands. warden of the state peniten-
tiary, was the next witness.
Asked what he knew with reference TO alleg-
ed charges of bribery, he said:
"One day Lot Ravenscraft member of the
house, showed me note which had been tax
en- from a waste paper basket. 1t was in ref
erence to the school book bill. There was no
| address upon it, and no signature I do not
remember the contents of the communication
except that it said: Hold your forces in line
| 1t also contained the question. How about
| Rothweiler?"
Q.-IIave you any further information?
| A.-None that now recall.
Senator Householder hurriedly wrote q
| question and handed it to Mr.. Smelling, who
| said
Q.-ls it true that proposition was made to
| you. or have you any information that men,
| Der of the legislature made a proposition to
| you for the purchase of additional coal lands
| for the state penitentiary to be followed by a
| division of the profits.
Ayes, there was such Il proposition made
! to me verbally.
| Q.-What was the proposition?
AIN substance as you have stated it.
| Q.-Tell US what it was.
| A.-That such deal could be made if IT
could be made TO appear that there was neces-
sity for the purchase of land.
Q.-What did you say?
| Al doubted the statement because / did
not see the necessity for additional land and
| did not believe that the legislature could be
| induced to buy it.
| Q.-What was said concerning the division
| of the profits?
| A.-Nothing that 1 remember.
| Q.-Tell us what was said to you.
| Att was intimated to me that there was a
large amount of money in it if the deal could
| be made.
| Q.-How much money was said to be in it?
Al do not know exactly.
Q.-What is your best recollection?
Al think the amount was $4,000.
Q.-Why do you not remember more clearly?
A-The principal reason is that paid no at
tention to the matter. l did not believe that
| such a scheme could be carried out and l did
not interest myself.
Odd you hear anything more after that?
| A-No, sir. did not.
Q.-Who did you say it was made the propo-
sition?
Al did not say
| Q.-Why was the proposition made to you!
Al presume because was warden at the
penitentiary and should know if there was
really any necessity for additional land.
Q.-Will you say who made the proposition?
Al prefer not to.
What is the pleasure of the committeeY'
| said Mr.. Smelling, addressing Chairman Out
| calf.
I'VE desire the name of the man who made
| the proposition" was the reply
Twill you now name the MANI" continued
! Mr.. Smelling.
Al. D. Lewelling.
This statement caused every member of the
| committee to start, while very perceptible
appearance of surprise took possession of ey-
cry man in the room. Senator Householder
and Chairman Outcalt simply stared at Ian
| dis, who was Immediately excused.
Following is part of Senator Titus
testimony:
The one instance which came to my notice
was on March, 3 when X. H. Boyd came to my
desk, introduced himself and asked me If had
made up my mind on the stock yards bill. He
told me after some preliminary conversation,
| that his company would take good care of me
| If would stay with them on the stock yards
| bill. He said his company preferred the Hanna
bill to the Jaquins bill, the latter being partic.
| ularly obnoxious to the stock yards company.
| l asked him how much he meant, to which he
replied: 4 will give you cool $1,000 to vote
for the Hanna bill L told him to wait half an
hour. then went to the attorney general
| and was advised to take the money and lead
the man into the trap. l came back and told
DOyu u 20 10 committee room. He went in
to the hall. the room being occupied. We final
ly got into the room, where told him would
take the $1,000. He said when the vote is de-
ivered you will get the money He said the
practice of the company was to pay for votes
after they were delivered-not before. Boyd
told me that one other member, Senator
Hanna, had been given 81 900 to start the BILL
told Boyd that could not proceed without
first having the money. He said he would see
me again, and went away promising to come
back at 10 CLOCK, which was agreed to. 1t
lacked about ten minutes OF that hour when
Boyd left, and 80 far as know he IS not back
yet"
The above facts were developed by the sem
ate investigation, but Mr.. Titus presented
some new evidence on school book legislation.
telling how he had gone to the National hotel
In response to a summons, where he was asked
to secure the defeat of the bill which finally
passed.
"A new bill was shown me-" he said, land
the statement made that If its passage was
secured there would be something in it for
both of US. After some conversation 1 was
told by this member of the legislature that the
new bill would suit the people practically as
well as the bill which was pending
Q.-Who was the member you refer to and
held this conversation with?
Al. D. Lewelliug.
Q.-What else did he say?
Ale told me first that there was something
in 1t for me; second there was something in it