The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-05
BLACK CHARGES.
C0uncilnlen SwendSOn and Miller
Become Excited.
Charge Judge MagaW With APP
propriating Public Funds.
DEFENDED BY MERGAN
Says They Try to Blast Young
Mans Reputation.
All CounclImen Knew Who Took
the Money.
DEFENDED BY MEXICAN


newspapers. and the report of the police
committee which had investigated the
records and books at the police station,
were brought up and thOroughly aired
IN the council meeting last night. The
meeting got decidedly warm before a
motion introduced by Councilman
Hughes to have the police committee in
VeStigate the charges made by Chief
Stahl IN the papers was passed.
The police committee viii do the in
vestigating, and as Councilmen Swend-
son and Miller are on the committee it
is a safe guess that Judge AfasaAv will
not get the best of the report for they
both have declared IN open council that
they think MagaW is anything but a
good of1icer. and Mr. Swendson said he
thought Judge Magaw had taken the
money which it is known Jailer Grubbs
collected.
Councilman Miller started the BAH
rolling last night by demanding that the
report Of the police COMMITTEES be read
He seemed to be under the impression
that some one was trying to hide the re-
port. IT want to know what has been
done about the shortage that the police
committee found at the police station"
ne said, and / demand that the report
be read"
Mayor Drew had the report and gave
Il 10 the city clerk to read to the council
The report, which was written by Coun-
Gilman Roundtree, chairman of the com
m1ttee, was to the effect that the com
fnittee had Investigated the books for
tAAc AAtUntnS OF n November and IO6C0Tn Der
and that there We're many Irregularities;
that the accounts would not balance:
that when they called upon the Taller.
10 appear before them and explain the
matter. he resigned, to take effect two
hours before the meeting of the com
mlttee- The report also stated that the
committee found that Jailer Crubbs had
charged $3.50 as worked out when the
money had been paid in cash, and that
ne had charged up a more meals than
ne should have charged. They recon-
mended that his salary voucher be with
held until the shortage of S1535 was
paid The report Of the committee was
accepted after some talk about the
shortage feature, and then Councilman
Hughes introduced his resolution calling
Tor an investigation of the charges
against Judge MagaW by Chief StahI
shortage.
MT; Belts took the floor. and said that
ne thought an investigation should be
made Of the acts of Chief Stahl ssMr
Stahl il the head of that department"
said MIR. Belts, tand if there is to be an
investigation he is the one to be in
specLed. HE should be held responsible
for everything 4-the police station /
do not know Judge MagaW when / see
him. but do not see that he should be
held responsible for money that some
one else takes. If we are going to make
MIN responsible for the actions Of police
men, we should consult him about the
men we appoint
that all Magaw needs to be to be a full
hedged villain is the statement to that
effect by a councilman, said that Ma
gaW had taken the money. and that he
should be Investigated. He was salts
ned that the money was used by Magaw
individually.
Councilman Weber who is one of the
police committee, resented the charges
made by mr.. Swendson. and defended
Magaw. He said: Judge Magaw did
not take the money, and the committee
knows that he did not It is wrong to
say or to insinuate that he did The
committee knows that Jailer Grubbs
took the money. Magaw is not there
day and night, and he has never been
told to stay there day and night. The
1aller takes the money when the judge
is not there. and is supposed to turn it
over to the judge when he comes. This
has always been the custom at the sta
ton. as every member of this council
knows. IF Magaw is to be held respon-
sible he should have the money turned
over to him, and be held responsible for
what he receives, not what some other
officer at the station receives"
Mayor Drew said that Magaw was re
sponsible according to the law for all
the fines collected and that he should
have kept a closer account of the fines
collected by the jailer.
Mr.. Miller said that Judge MagaW
was the only man who should collect
money at the station and that he should
be held responsible. It have heard other
charges Inan TINS against the Judge.
have been told that when he was in
formed that the committee was going
to report that the affairs under his
charge were not conducted satisfactor-
lily, he said with an oath that he did
not care. He alone should be held ac-
cOuntable for this shortage which we
have found, He was almost as bitter
against MagaW as was Mr.. SWendSOn-
Councilman Morgan followed Mr. Nil
Ter and his talk took some of the bad
spirit out Of both Miller and Swendson-
He was angry at what he said was an
attempt to do Judge Magaw an injustice
and he told the counci1men so in so
many words. Mr. Miller had said that
he did not care what had been the Gus
tom at the station in regard to collect
ing fines. it was Magaw alone who
should be held responsible for the TAX
ing Of the money. Tt is custom which
makes law said Mr. Morgan, ftand
believe that Judge Magaw is a clean,
honest young man, who is interpreting
the law to the best of his ability. I
think there is more politics than square
business in all this russ. Are we trying
to throw disgrace upon this young man
lust because we do not like hin7 His
Jurisdiction is limited and he can not
do everything. We all know that wheth-
er we win admit il or not Why should
we try to make it appear that this
young man is thief as these men are
trying to do. would not be guilty of
this myself and I hope that my right
hand would WitheF before I would do a
trick like that. Why should we do this
unjust act to a young man who is try
ing to do right. Because he trusts an
other man IS he a thief2 It looks as
though that was what these men are
trying to do"
THE gentleman is trying to misrep-
resent me?ss said Mr.. Miller, Il am not
trying to injure any one am simply
trying to get at the truth. It is my
right to do this and insist that may
ask for information without being ac-
cused Of trying to injure any man." Mr..
Miller was sweating under Mr.. Mergap's
remarks and his voice trembled when he
spoke.
Councilman swendson then called for