The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-01
CHARGES BLACKMAIL.
W. c. Edwards Explains His Attitude
in the Suit Recently Filed
Against Him

The Journal a few days ago referred
to suit filed by Mrs. NJ Z. jenkins
against ex-Secretary of State W. c. Ed
wards The petition filed contains
charges which are not complimentary
to Mr.. Edwards and certain papers
have taken advantage of this case to
make capital against him. Mr. Ed
wards has employed TrOutman & Stone
to defend the case and has placed in
their hands correspondence which
shows the anlmus OF the proceedings.
On November 10, 1897, Mrs jenkins
wrote MI. Edwards a letter in which
appears the following:
Against the advice of my attorney
and business friends, I have determined
to write you once more in regard to the
land transaction between US. Ny reas-
on for so doing is, that 1t is hard for me
to believe that you are not a man OF
honor. cannot understand, especially,
when you are hoping and I suppose ex-
pecting to go into the campaign in the
near future. Certainly no better docu-
ment could possibly be put into the
hands of your enemies than this suit
VIII develop for there is a good deal to
say about the transaction that is not
very creditable, to say the least, and in
self defense if you force me to bring
suit against you I must go to your enc
mics, not to the men that will expect
favors from you, in the future. have
a friend among the Populists of Kansas
who is anxious to take the case. IN
| less you write me soon that you Will
settle the matter paying me legal in
| terest for the money, you will simply
| ests.''
To this letter Mr.. Edwards replied as
| follows;
| Il am greatly surprised at the con-
| tents of your letter and your threats at
! blackmail saying that you viii call out
| your POpuliStic Dogs of War, my enc
| mics &c, unless I take your land off
| your hands at once, paying you for the
| same. 1t is true purchased for you.
| way back in 1898, a $50 acre tract Of
| land clear of membranes, and you
! To1i xrv11f 1frah
| considered a very low price at the time.
| never received a cent through this
| purchase, but to make sure that the
| land was choice tract, at my own eN-
pense 1 went to Dodge City, Kans-. In
| April, 1888, hired livery rig and drove
| out and all over the land This trip
| cost me at least $500. 1 thought at
| the time 1 was doing you great kind
| ness and that in a short time the land
| would appreciate very much in value
| and that you could make some money
| Unfortunately for all of us Kansans
| the year 1898 with the three succeeding
| years, brought US drought and hot
! winds During 1892 and 1898. Mr.. Hud-
son of your own city and L sold several
| tracts of land, not near as valuable as
| yours, or as eligibly located. at more
| than twice the price paid by you.
| Owing to the drouth of the past few
| years, the railroad company owning the
Montezuma line took up it's tracks ana
| removed its depOtS which I could not
have foreseen. Now that Kansas IS once
more passing out from under the clouds
! of drOuth and low prices there is no
reason why any 160 acres of land in the
| state of Kansas. as well located as
| yours is not worth all that you have in
vested. I wrote you last spring while
| you were in California, regretting my
/ inability to buy this land of you and ex-
pressing the hope that the time would
/ soon come when you could realize fully
on same.
Il want to impress upon your mind
| that political ambition of mine, viii
| cause me to accede to your threatening
| demands. If you have any legal claim
| against me know that any court in the
| state of Kansas will give you a proper
| judgment and if you prefer trying to
| seek such a judgment rather than wait
| until you can sell the land, or I can
! aid in so doing, which am still anxious
! to do, you have my consent to so pro-
/ ceed, much as 1 would dislike to be
I troubled with such proceedings
| You sent &Or me time and time
again, every time that I happened in
| your city and when I was visiting the
1 Messrs. Boyd & Son at your house, you
I asked me if could not find you a good
160 acres of land for $500, as that was
all that you had to invest.
Il am still hopeful Of the future but
/ when I consider that fortune aggre-
/ eating nearly a fifth of a million has
been wiped out during the past ten
} years and that 1 am still under water,
1 must say that I shall look forward to
the day, be it ever so far in the distance
! when can smile cOmplacently and say,
1 That I am no ones debtor
| While I have been unfortunate nv
| self, still have pride and confidence
| in my state and know that every so Of
| ten she has on her wedding garments
/ and astonishes with her resources the
| nations of the earth