The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-23
BOUGHT HIS
SUPPORT.
Editor of the Wathena Star
Testifies That Stuart
Paid Money to Newspapers For
Supporting Him.
COMPELLED ANOTHER
To Support Him by Threaten
ing to Prosecute
The Editor For Blackmail If
He Dared Oppose Him.

The principal thing testified to in the
Stuart-FaIloon contest investigation
yesterday afternoon was that Judge
Stuart had used money and threats to
secure the support of newspapers ed
itorially. There was no testimony to
show that he had purchased the in
dividuaI votes of the editors.
Immediately after dinner the senate
allowed Mr.. Stuart to file his answer
10 the allegation of Mr. Falcon, and
gave the opposing side until this morn
ing to file a reply. The senate then
proceeded with the taking of testimony
an the case
Thirteen witnesses who had been sub
poenaed by Mr. Falcon were sworn,
and Pool Grinstead, editor of the Wath-
ena Star, was placed on the stand.
Grinstead is the man who is alleged in
the answer filed by Mr.. Stuart to have
received $500 from Mr.. Falcon for his
support.
Mr. Falcon examined the witness
himself. Capt Waters conducted the
cross examination
After a few preliminary questions, Mr..
Falcon asked:
Were you approached by anyone
after the convention which nominated
Judge Stuart?"
Il was; by George Manville, postmas-
ter at Wathena-"
DO you know who is the political
boss of DOniphan county?'
This question created a smile. and
was objected to by Mr.. Stuart on the
ground that it assumed that Doniphan
county had a political boss. On motion
of Senator Lewelling, the objection was
sustained. Mr.. Falcon then asked:
When ManvilIe approached you did
he give you any directions?"
Yes"
LAS a result of those directions. what
did you do and whom did you see?"
Met Mr.. Stuart at Troy and came
with him to Topeka on a Rock Island
train
Did You have any conversation with
MIR. Stuart on the train2'
Yes. Mr.. Stuart said he wanted the
support of my paper in the campaign
and wanted to know why I wouldn't
support him. told him 1 was dissatis-
fled with the judicial contest and other
political matters in Doniphan county in
which 1 had been mistreated. Mr.. Stu
art said he was not responsible for my
mistreatment but he was willing to do
what he could for me and was willing to
see what Mr.. Leland was willing should
be done"
Did he tell you how he came to be
running for judge or what arrange
ments he had made with Leland?"
He said he had been to see Leland
and see if his candidacy was satisfac-
tory to him. At first Leland would not
give his consent to his running but af-
forwards did So
What did Mr.. Stuart say about
county PRINTING!
He said he had no control of county
printing but that Leland had, and he
thought Leland would divide it between
my paper and the Troy Chief. If 1
didn't get the county printing he said
he himself would give me S50-''
Did you see Mr.. Leland?"
Il did after I reached the Copeland"
What did he say?''
Mr.. Leland first stated that I had
gained his disfavor by opposing the
man he wanted for judge. He said he
was not used to having any Republican
oppose the man he wanted for judge or
any other office in Doniphan county. He
didn't like opposition up there and
didn't want it to happen again, and he
was wiling to help me if 1 would help
them"
Yes. he said the county printing had
never been done for less than full legal
rates in Doniphan county and never
should be, and that 1 had given the
Populists and Democrats campaign
thunder by offering to do it for so per
cent He then said he wanted harmony;
ff would support Stuart he would go
to Troy the next week and see about
getting my share of the county print
ing"
Did you have any other talk with
Mr. Leland on this subject after
wards?''
Yes. told him I had had a CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Perry, one of the coun-
ty commissioners, who had told me that
they didn't want to divide the county
printing as it would make trouble with
the other Republican papers, so they
had decided to award me the contract
for furnishing the blank books for the
county. He told me what I could get
the books for from bookbinders and
that 1 could put my bill in to the cOun-
ty at 200 per cent profit. Mr.. Leland
said he had made that arrangement
with Mr. Perry
Did Stuart ever pay you any
money!"
Yes. he gave me $40 for supporting
him.
Mr.. Grinstead also testified that he
had been sent to Robinson by Mr.
Stuart to pacify Roy Aries editor of
the Robinson Index, who was demand
ing something. Aries said that Stuart
had paid him only $25 and it would dam
age his paper much more than that if
he supported Stuart. He told GrinStead
that he wanted assurances that Stuart
would make up what he would lose if
he supported him. and that he was
holding his paper to hear from him. Mr.