The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-28
TODAY, LAST DAY TO REGISTER!

objections he could bid as high as ne
thought best. and we would still approve
| the purchase. 1t was bid in by Mr.. VIII
son for s2.475. The returns of the United
States marshal in an action in the United
States court, No. 592, show that the land
was bid in by ID. A. Wilson. chairman of
! the board OF county COMM ssioners of
| Sedgwick county, Kansas" Immediately
after the sale Mr., Wilson asked me If l
would consent to his taking the land at
his bid. s2.475. saying that he did not have
the money that day. but would pay in a
| few days. ! refused to consent, and a
few days after he again asked me re con-
sent, saying he had the money and would
pay the cash and let the county out Of
the deal I still refused. and said 10 him
that the only way 7 would consent TO a
/ sale Of the land was by public auction. 20
the highest bidder, and then and there
expressed the opinion TO Mr.. Wilson that
/ he, as a member of the board, had better
not buy anything from the county, even
at public sale. He cid pay the costs in
the case with his personal check, and
seemed determined TO get that land, and
only lacked Mr.. Sealocl's and my consent
TO do so. If there ever was time when
he had II in his name, or that he could
| legally have held it, l do not know st.
After the sale by the county to party
living near the land. the county attorney
and the board. all members being pres
ent talked over the question of deciding
the land. and il was agreed mat It was
best that a deed should be made by z. A.
Wilson, chairman OF the board of county
commissioners of Sedgwick county, Kan
sas; also that Mr.. Wilson and wife should
join in the deed in order 20 cover any
possible objections that might be made
hereafter TO the right of the county OF
purchase or sell the same.
If Mr. Sealock and myself ha! consent
ed TO Mr.. Wilson's taking the land at his
bid, who would have. at this time. the
$525 profit in that deal? rom Fthe the
efforts made by him to secure it for him.
self, / certainly thought he wanted 10
make the profit. and 1 thought IL my du;v
to protect the county, and preserve the
land in the county's name, and sell IT as
it was done.
Therefore in consideration OF these
facts. it is false that he saved th2 county
1925 in that deal by reason Of his turning
it over 10 the county when he could have
had the profits in - himself.
In the matter OF whether or rot -,gned
a contract or letter between him AMI Mr.
Harmon and myself before election, MI
Wilson says:
Il have no means OF knowing whether
Mr.. Howard signed that letter. but do
know he made some promises to Mr. Har-
mon"
/ admit II. I made promises to many
people in my district. to the effect that IL
l was elected I would protect the inter-
ests OF Sedgwick county. and do all in
my power to promite its material inter-
ests in every way, giving the county the
best business administration in my power.
/ further promised I would promote har-
mony, where possible. between contending
factions working in unison for a common
purpose. as I supposed, for the good of
the county. That 1 promised to do any
overt act is false. When confronted by
you, Mr.. Wilson, in Mr.. Dennys private
office, you demanding OF me something
of me I did not feel il my duty to per-
form. you threatened me with trouble for
not performing my promises. replied to
you. go ahead with your trouble. You
cannot buIldoze me-" Judging from what
has been done, you are keeping your word
as to making me trouble. You have GER
tainly forfeited whatever good feeling
should prevail between US. having at no
time since the meeting in Denny's private
office taken back the threats made to
me.
Mr.. Wilson, in your answer TO Mr.. Kies'
question, as to why you employed a man
from Indiana to hunt up untaxed prop
erty, when competent men are plentiful.
you say:
Simply because no competent home
man offered 10 do it. This man did, Ac-
cording 10 the statement of City Assessor
KnOblauch, this man from Indiana has
put on the tax rolls nearly $500. 900 worth
of property that was not on the rolls be-
fore. This property when taxed will
tighten the burden of taxation on the peo-
pie of my district. l will leave il to the
people of my district to say whether
was right or wrong"
The above statement is not only mis-
leading. but absolutely false in nearly
every particular. Mr. Knoblauch IS en-
tirely competent. Mr.. Guthrie is an ex-
pert. Perhaps there are twenty more.
and certainly there are five hundred moro
in Sedgwick county more competent than
the man who came here 20 do the work,
and who was 50 ready TO settle on
cash basis and get out, as he does in
other counties over the state. The work
that was done under that contract has
been in the possession OF Mr.. Knoblauch
ever since that Indiana man left. and
there is not one particle OF truth in the
statement that anything hat he did went
on TO the records Of Sedgwick county; but.
instead. Assessor Knoblsuch had in addi-
ton to all that this man had, complete
abstract OF all untaxed property that
could be found. and from said abstract
the county clerk has added TO the tax
rolls whatever has been added in that
line.
For the truth Of this statement I refer
all inquiring parties 10 Mr.. Knoblauch or
Mr.. Guthrie Of the city OF Wichita. All
Of the material facts mentioned above
can be proven by me, and I stand ready
and willing to do the same to the salts
faction OF any reasonable person
]. Z. HOWARD.
COM. SEALOCK'S STATEMENT
Wichita. Kan. Oct. "A. 1888.
Mr. J. z. Howard, Wichita Kansas.
Dear Sir: In answer TO your inquiries
regarding my undersJh handing OF the Do
ran land matter, Will say that under
stood that Mr. Wilson bid for the land