The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-17
BY MRS. THORPE.
Her Statement About Police
Made Public.
Has Seen Nothing Disgraeeful
Herself.
TT WAS ALL A JOKE.
Story About the "MOb'' and
How 1t Started.
DR.. Mcfarland WithdraWs Part
of His Charges.


made public today by Mayor Parker
1t was anticipated by DR.. Mcfarland
who gave to the morning papers a
statement Withdrawing the charge Of
gambling and obscenity which he made
against the police force.
Mrs. Thorpe in her statement says she
has no personal knowledge Of gambling,
drinking or obscenity at the police sta
ton among the policemen. She also
says that the police station is not
friendly resort for the criminal element
BY inference Mrs. Thorpe's statement
means that the charge that Dolicemeh
are intimate with disorderly women un@
der arrest is true
Mrs. Thorpe also explains the ground
which Dr. Mcfarland had for making
the assertions that the police were pre-
pairing for a mob last Friday night she
also declares that in her opinion tne
present force compares faVorably Win
any that I have been connected With
since being matrOn."
A preliminary investigation Of the
charges made by Dr. Mcfarland held
by the police committee, composed Of
COuncllmen Weber, Griley and Blossom.
at the police station last night failed t.
bring forth any visible results. None or
the parties who were present at the IN
vestigatiOn seem anxious to talk about
At, but all who have been interviewed
say that another and fuller research viii
be on the boards next week. Mayor
Parker was present a. the investigation.
together with several police officers, tbs
chief and sergeants. Mrs. Thorpe was
requested to be present, as she was sus-
pected Of having furnished the infor-
nation on which Dr. Mcfarland based
his charges against the department. She
attended the inquiry and was ques-
toned, but says she is not ready to state
what took place.
Mrs. Thorpe has notifications in her
statement which do not exOnerate the
police OF the charges, but show that
some of the many Omenses charged were
not committed to her personal knowl-
edge. Following is Mrs Thorpe's state
ment;
In behalf of the wives and daughters
of the police officers wish to make
statement in regard to the charges re-
Gently made by DR.. Mcfarland against
the police department. 1t is to be deeply
regretted that the many have to suffer
bitterly for the misconduct of the few.
The scathing bitterness of these charges
has been such blow to these families
and to myself as few experience in q life
time. Families are distracted and un-
done. and to these Innocent as far as
possible reparatlOn must be made.
want to say that I am working from
1870 q. M to $40 D. m, and upon every
necessary occasion at night at the po-
lice station. and have access to every
department and room as my work re-
Quires. I can honestly and sincerely say
that I have never personally seen any
one gambling or drinking, neither have
4 seen any OF the ponce OIlceIS at the
police station in a state of intoxication,
with one exception, neither have I
heard personally any obscene speech,
neither is the police station a friendly
and frequent resort for the criminal ele-
ment. except in matters pertaining to
their trials, bonds or friends in Jail I
can also say that it is my opinion the
present police force compares faVOrably
with any that I have been connected with
since being matrOn, and with few ex-
ceptions the officers are men of honor
and integrity, and have always treated
me In a kind and gentlemanly manner.
AS to these exceptions their offences
have never been reported to the chief
or the mayor. I have not neither win
name one Of these men (some of
whom are not at present on the fOrcel.
for offences hitherto given but in the
future shall personally report any such
offence to the mayor himself for his
person investigation. In regard to Mrs
Nation. ! wish to say she is under my
especial care, and treated all right and
have no complaints to make of her
treatment by Otficers-as far as I have
seen The whole unfortunate matter
was preclDttated by a foolish practical
joke perpetrated by one of the officers
who rushed upstairs while the people
were yet coming and going from my
room the evening DR.. Mcfarland was
fined, saying. we are expecting a mob
here tonight, and we are ready for
them. We win give it to them hot
We have orders to shoot to kill
held and in the excitement and indigna-
ton OF such a (supDosed) state of war
the complaints leading to some of these
charges were made in private converse
tions- OF further charges than these I
have nothing to say.
MRS. L. E. THORPE,
Police AIatrOn.'
Mayor Parker was asked today what
Mrs. Thorpe meant by the closing SEN
tence Of her statement. "Of further
charges than these have nothing to
II don't know" said the MAYOR.
There's her statement We succeeded
in getting it after three trials. She has
evidently said all she wants to, and in
just the way she wants to-
the charges?'
IT don't know, but I think before we
get done with it DIR. Mcfarland viii
have all the investigation he wants.
he has commenced to try to crawl out
of his position already He has With-
drawn two Of the most radical of his
charges. He isn't half as anxious for
an investigation now as he was a while
ago The men whom he has slandered
are the ones who demand an investiga-
ton. They are the ones who have been
Mbelled. Tt don't do any good for Nc
Farland to withdraw his charges now
the damage is done"
The following is the statement made
by DR.. Mcfarland:
I wish first Of all to say that did not
prefer the serious charges against the
entire force I explicitly stated that
they were against part Of the force. I
appreciate the fact that some Of the
men concerning whom I know nothing
discreditable. were placed in an ernbar-
RAISING light. But this was unavoid-
able. as 7 could do nothing more than
make general exceptions. I am sorry
70 nave given pain to the members OF
the families, even Of the officers who are
guilty 7 have no desire to smirch any
ones character nor to do any one any
injustice.
At this time 7 am inclined to say that
perhaps I should withdraw the charge OF
gambling against the policemen, at least
WllLlng also for the present. at least. to