Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-13
MILDLY BEBUKED FOR HIS REFUSAL
TO TESTIFY.
ATTEMPT TO FINE HIM FAILS
A VICIOUS AND UNWARRANTED At
TACK By MR. POPE.
The Prosecuting Adprney Accused of
Being an Associate of Wiley o.
Cox and Joe shannoh-oth-
er Members Speak
for Mr. Lowe.

Jefferson CITY. Mo- March l2.-CSpecialD
Prosecuting Attorney Frank N. Lowe. Of
Kansas CITY. arrived in this city at 2:iD
O'Clock this morning. lie went alone TO a
hotel, where he obtained room without
registering and retired without delay Just
after breakfast. he was taken into custody
by order of Speaker Farris. and soon after
the house convened in morning session he
was arraigned to answer TO the charge of
cortempt in refusing 10 answer questions
put 10 him while testifying before the
house Lexow committee in Kansas City.
Speaker Farris introduced Mr. Lowe to
the house. and after telling him of the
charge against him asked him If he de-
sired 10 say anything in explanation of his
contempt OF the authority OF the house.
Prior 10 this time, Mr. Lowe had occu-
pied seat beside the speakers chair. but
when he arose TO make his response ne
moved a few PAGES and took his position
beside the chaplain. Dir. Lowe said that at
the time he refused TO answer the ques-
lions put to him by the members of the
Iexow committee ne believed that he was
right in doing So under the law. but since
The court TO which he had appealed had
decided he was wrong he had voluntarily
come 10 Jefferson City TO appear before
III. bar OF the house. He was there, he
SAID. to abide by any action the house
might take. and 10 suffer any penalty it
might see fit TO impose upon him.
Representative Pope. chairman of the
house EeNow committee. arose at the con-
clusion Of Mr.. Loves speech and made a
vicious and apparently uncalled for as
Fault upon him. He said the house ought
10 deal lightly with Mr. Lowe. because
nature had not endowed him with much
sense or manhood. After dwelling for
some time upon MIR. loves alleged men-
tai and moral shortcomings, Mr.. Pope
charged him with being an associate of
Wiley o. Cox and Joe Shannon. and with
having been an associate Of Ed Findley,
Jim PenderEast and Billy Christie His
association with these men. Mr.. Pope said,
had been responsible for the present un-
enviable condition of Mr.. Lowe.
Mr.. Pope's tirade had an effect contrary
10 what ne expected. for IL caused many
members of the house to feel friendly to
prejudiced against him. Messrs- Bohsrt.
O'Fallon and Barrett arose and defended
him. saying that they had known him for
thing 10 his discredit Mr.. Sweaney and
others also spoke in Mr.. loves behalf
Mr.; Martin. of Barton county. said that
house and should be taught a lesson. He
believed small fine would be the proper
penalty.
After all the members of the house who
desired to make speeches had done so. Mr..
Lowe again addressed the house He said:
II am thankful to the members of the
house who have kindly spoken in my de-
fense. i came here as prisoner. and I
now occupy the same position as prisoner
in court of justice. While IL may be a =
fact. as the chairman Of the house commit
tee has stated. that nature failed to give TO
me a very large endowment of brains or
sense, yet / am not before YOU asking TO
he excused because of any defect OF that
character. / am not here as criminal
nor am pleading for pity. J. came before
you saying that was mistaken in refusing
10 answer the questions of y0Hr commit
tee. I do not believe the members of this
house will approve of the insult and abuse
heaped upon me by Mr.. Pope. While ma
ture may have been unEind to me. stIIl
have too high sense of justice to take ad-
vantage of his position TO seek to humiliatc
any man simply because / could do so. |
believe that any man who would do so
have done much for him. yet il was so long
ago that he has forgotten all sense of jus
tice and trHe manhood"
Mr.. loves closing sentence was greeted
by cheers from all parts of the house, and
1t was at least two minutes before the
speaker could obtain order by pounding
upon the desk with his gavel.
Mr.. Hall moved that Mr.. Lowe be fined
rs. and Mr.. Martin. of Barton county
moved as a substitute that he be fined s25
and costs and reprfmanded by the speaker
MIR. Siclces offered an amendment strik-
Ing out the fine. which was adopted. The
for his contempt of the authority of the
house and discharged him from CUSTODY
Upon motion of Mr.. Clarke. the special
committee that made q. partial investiga-
tinn of the corruption IN the Kansas City
police department was discharged
Thus ended the great Lowe contempt IT,
cident. 4.st,