The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-21
SERIOUS CHARGE.
George w. Wheatley is Declared
an EmbeZZler.
Grave Statement Published by
the Arkansas City Traveller.
AFTER INVESTIGATION.
Editor Eckert Says Congress
sional Candidate Is Guilty.
Appropriated Funds of Column
bus While City Clerk.
Should Withdraw From the
Race, Declares Eckert.

Arkansas City, Kan, Feb. 21.@The
Traveller of last evening publishes full
history of what it alleges to be the facts
in the case wherein c. w. Wheatley is
charged with embezzling the city funds
of Columbus while city clerk. Mr..
Wheatley was the Republican candidate
in the Third district two years ago for
congress and is again seeking the nomi-
nation. The Traveller says editorially:
In this issue Of the Traveller may be
found the report of E. c. Moore, editor
of the Cherryvale Republican, and Il.
W. Eckert, editor of the Traveller, after
an examination Of the receipts, letters
and apers in the possession of eX-May-
or John Wiswell, relating to the charges
made against George w. Wheatley dur
ing the campaign of 1900. Three other
Republican editors who supported Mr..
Wheatley most loyalty, were invited TO
assist in the investigation, but Mr.. Moore
was the only one who accompanied us
to Columbus. Two of the others could
not go on account of business matters
and the third replied that he is opposed
to Mr.. Wheatley's denomination because
he had by his 'dignified silence for
feited any supposed claims that he
might nave upon the Republicans of the
district.
The examina ton was made purely
and only in the interests of the Repub-
licans of the district and of the state of
Kansas. None of the candidates for
congress knew that the investigation
was even contemplated, therefore it can
not be said that it was made in the in
tereSt of anyone Had the official docu-
ments in ex-Mayor Wiswells possession
proven Mr.. Wheatley innocent, a report
to that effect would have been made
and given the widest possible publicity,
but unfortunately. the records do not
justify such conclusion. If we could
have seen any possible chance for Mr..
Wheatley to explain away the oral and
written evidences against him, Mr..
Moore and the writer would not have
made the report that we not only felt
justified in making. but were in duty
bound to give to the public.'
REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION.
To the Republicans of the Third Con-
gressional District:
1t is known by nearly every reading
and working Republican in the Third
congressional district that charges were
made against George w. Wheat1ey of
embezzling city funds alleged to have
been collected by him while city clerk
of Columbus, Cherokee county, Kansas.
1t will also be remembered that Mr..
Wheatley and his friends said that the
money was paid to one Bob Lee, who
was city marshal at that time.
This was denied by those who opposed
Mr. Wheatley's election and the voters
were in the dark concerning the real
facts. AS Mr.. Wheatley is a candidate
for denomination the undersigned Re
publicans who supported Mr.. Wheatley
in 1900. having been informed that Hon.
John Wiswell, ex-mayor of Columbus.
is in possession of letters, receipts and
other evidence of Mr.. Wheatley's guilt
called on Mr.. Wiswell Saturday even
ing, February 15 and asked the priv
ilege of examining these documents.
After considerable persuasion Mr.
Wiswell finally permitted US to ex-
anime the papers, some twenty-three
in number, and it is with regret that
we are obliged to admit that the evil
dence revealed by the documents ex-
amined verify and establish, substan-
TALLY the truth of the charges repea ted
ly made by the Columbus Courier dur
ing the campaign of 1900
Receipts for occupation and dog tax
were examined and being familiar with
Mr. Wheatley's signature, we pro-
nounced them genuine aud in his own
handwriting We also saw several let
ters from Mr.. Wheatley in which he adj
mitted his Indebtedness to the city for
sums collected while city clerk, and
asked 1eniency from Mr.. Wiswe11 and
said that it would be useless to sue as
his bondsmen would be obliged to pay
it and one of his letters closes; Il hope
you will get the money over there, for
| have been worried nearly to death
over this thing, and am ready to swear
that 1 will never hold an office of any
kind again.
G. E. MOORE.
Editor Chefryvale Republican.
T. w. ECKERT,
Editor Daily Traveller.