Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-11-14
R0BINSONS Ex0NERATED.
Ciay County Grand Jury Submits Its
Report on the Liberty Whip
ping Case.

LIBERTY. MO. Nov. 13.-(SpeciaI) The
clay county grand jury has submitted its
report on the Robinson whipping case.
some time ago John B. Robinson pruprie-
t0r or Hotel Arthur. who is We'll known in
Kansas City. having engaged in business
tnere, was taken by force from the hotel
at night by band of regulators and
escorted to the cemetery and whipped. On
the matter the grand jury submitted a
port which confeSseS inability to catch
CRIMINALS. regretting the same very much.
and AT the time exOnerates Robinson from
wrong doing citizen. The report os
ihe grand jury is of peculiar interest and
is as follows:
To Hon. Elbridge J. Broaddus Judge Of the Circuit
Court of Clay County, Mo.
sir:-Having been recalled to the court and spe-
ciaiy charged by 10 thoroughly investigate the
action of certain unknown parties who. o the night
Of the 9th day of November. 1898. broke into the
hotel known as the Arthur house. and after nria;
ore or two pistol shots. took John B. Robinson.
proprietor thereof out to the cemetery and whipped
YOU upon the matter
We .iave made what think vas 4 careful.
Through and panstaking investigation this de-
icrabie ahair having examined some twenty-five or
thirty witnesses Our purpose was twofold: First
TO discover and inct. If possible cowardly per
peaors of this most dastsrdly outrage; second. ta
thoroughly ascertain the in which the Ar
thur house has been run by Mr.. John b. Robinson
ana his wife, and. IL any evidence all Oh
tsinable upon which 10 base Indictment. indIet
him ana his wife for maintaining disrrputabie
house.
Upon the first branch of our inquiry. to ascertain
the names of those who committed the outrage
ferred 10. We are sorry TO that have failed
solve the problem We have Investigated the quss-
tion thoroughly but the evidence before does
justify finding Indictment. nor does 1t tend to
incriminate anyone We have examined all the evil
dence ohtainable from every source. following
clue that might throw light on the subject and have
gone TO the bottom Of all the testimony within
reach, but all has failed to reveal the OF the
guilty parties. We. therefore unable to return
bill against anyone for this onense. which was
high-handed and outrageous that words properly
charaeterIins it, and enough to fully deseribs
il. are not fit to be seen in this report.
Upon the second branch OF our inquiry. namely as
TO the guilt or innocence of Mr.. John b. Robinson
and his wife, and as TO their management of the
hotel. We have this to say: We have made an ex-
ceedingly rigid and severe investigation into the
question in the hope that might hnd some ground
or cause for justification however slight 1t might be.
for the attack made by those so-caled and selfap-
the house had been so disreputable in Its manage
to afford excuse for the preparation OK
such crime We hnd that there s nothing what
TO support charge. either directly or indi-
Tecty. by implication. against Mr.. Robinson or
his wife. We have Investigated the question -
Thoroughly that are satisfied beyond shadow Of
doubt that had been the slightest Irregular
ity in the conduet of Mr Robinson or his wife. or
in their management of the hotel. would have
discovered it, and. had we done 80, would have
indicted them We even chased down all vague and
hesrsay ruInors about alleged bad reputation Ot
the house-we found them to be based on nothing.
We therefore desire TO say that Mr.. Robinson and
his wife have been and unfortunate victims
of most cruel outrage. He has been treated worse
than the stray running at large upon the streets,
his VIE gooo name haS i,s Dan h I'M i.o .Is M
almost into spssms and have had cast upon their
heretofore promising future blight and stain whiea
nothing erase.
We deplore the action o; those unknown parties
and rsprehend their conduct in the strongest
In our opinion nothing has occurred in
which has east such a blot upon the fair Of
our county and injured our reputation has this
terrible anair. Respectfully submitted.
THE GRAND JURY.
By FIELDING KENNEDY. Foreman.
There Is no indication that Robinson con-
templates leaving town and the regulators
will also remain