The Saint Paul globe., 1897-01-23
KANSAS CITY LEXOW.
Work of the Legislative Committee
Taken Up in Earnest.

Work of the Legislative Com mItfee
Taken Up in Earnest.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Jan. 22.-''Lex-
owing" was begun in earnest here this
morning, when the house committee of
seven, appointed to investigate the al
legged corruption existing in the local
police department, began it's work
REPRESENTATIVE Winfield S. Pope, of
Jefferson City, acting as chairman, got
the committee together in large par
lor at the Midland hotel. Col. VIM. r.
Nelson, proprietor Of the Kansas City
Star, was called before the committee
as the first witness, the Star having
published many cases of alleged un-
restricted gambling and Sworn up
other cases Of improper police dOings.
Col Nelson's testimony was in the ma
ture Of a reiteration Of these charges.
Following him, Mayor James M. Jones'
whose previous term as police judge
put him in touch with gamblers and
the police force or it's workings, was
called.
Mr. Jones told of the effort to sup
press gambling and of the open talk of
police protection. Soon after his cleo
ton to the mayoralty, he said, they had
asked the late chief Of police Irwin
to cooperate with him In suppressing
then submitted a resolution to the
board of police, citing the boss gam
bier, Ed Findley, especially, and ask
ing that the chief be requested to take
action. Police Commissioner Fyke
had objected to Findley being singled
cut, and the order was made general.
Put still no action was taken by Chief
Irwin.
Here Mayor Jones detailed how Com
missioner F'yke had dismissed sixteen
Republican policemen of good repute
Il charge" continued Mayor Jones,
that these men were dismissed for
political purposes only" Next, the
mayor recited the summoning before
the board Of SalOonkeeper Christie.
Jones, as a member Of the board,
brought charges of keeping a gambling
house against Christie and asked that
his license be revoked. During the ex-
animation, Christie insulted the mayor
repeatedly, with no show of restraint
from the other members Of the board.
who finally overruled the mayor and
refused to revoke the license
Mayor Jones next produced several
policy tickets which he had bought,
and on the strength Of which convic-
tions, pushed by himself, had been had.
In several instances the mayors course
Of information was tartly questioned by
Chairman Pope and the defense and he
| finally retorted:
We'll, when I came before this board
you told me that you wanted informa-
t1on along the lines of the resolutions
you read to me. Now am here to give
you information. ] will give you names
of persons who saw the gambling and
know Of those who saw it. L sent some
of these men out to investigate, myself
Now, do you want this information OF
nCt?"
The defense still objected repeated
ly, claiming that the witness evidence
was not conclusive and the mayor gave
q lengthy list Of people whom he said
would substaniate his statements Later
| Chairman Pope ruled that witnesses
were entitled to counsel. Up to this
| time no summons had been issued for
the witnesses whom Mayor Jones had
named, and he sprung a sensation by
| saying:
81 will, then, as mayor of Kansas
! City, and a member Of the police board
! and witness, take part in this investi-
| cation. [ will examine the witnesses
I will now ask that the witnesses on
the list be summoned"
Chairman Pope hastened to explain
| that the mayor misunderstood him,
Mayor Jones said he would stay with
the investigation.