The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-17
MCFARLAND QUITS
Won't Appear Before the Police
Committee.
Writes a Letter Setting Forth
His Reasons.
HIS FORMAL CHARGES.
Asks That They Be Presented
to City Council.
Councilmen Howe and Bergund-
thai Refuse to Serve.

Tonight al o'clock the mueh-talked-
charges is scheduled to begin. at the
office of Chief Donovan. at the police
station.
Dr. Mcfarland has refused to present
his evidence to the committee, and will
not attend the meeting.
Samuel T. Howe and w. S. Bergund-
thai have both refused to serve on the
investigation committee. OF the six
members of the committee appointed by
Mayor Parker. only the police commit
tee and Councilman Geo. Neil will at
tend the meeting tonight.
Chairman Griley of the police COM
mittee says that the investigation will
proceed without Dr.. Mcfarland. and
that whatever evidence the police de-
9artment desires to introduce viii be
heard.
The following letter was sent yester-
day afternoon to DR.. Mcfarland by
Chairman Griley:
To the Rev. J. T. Mcfarland:
GU are hereby notified that the conf
nittee appointed to investigate the
charges made by you against the police
DEPARTMENT of the city of Topeka from
the pulpit of your church on TIE 18th
day of January. 1903 will meet to pro-
coed to inquire into said charges at the
Office OF the chief of police at the city
prison on Tuesday, the 18th day of Feb
ruary, 1903, at 8 o'clock p. m. Of said
da@-
You are respectfully requested to be
present. together with any other per
son or persons you may choose to bring
with you to give testimony before said
committee We desire you to produce
any and all evidence you may have i'll
support of said charges. and trust that
you will be present at said time ana
place
In case the time set by the commit
rQr
please notify US when you can meet
with the committee. and an adjourn
ment viii be taken to such date.
The investigation will be open to the
PIT die, and you may have counsel to
represent your interests if you wish.
JOSEPH GRILEY, Chairman.
Dated this 10th day of Feb, 1908"
A1cFARLAND'S REPLY
In reply to his communica ton, DR..
Mcfarland today sent the following let
ter to Mr.. Griley.
Il am in receipt of your notice re-
questing me to appear at g o'clock this
evening before a committee appointed
by Mayor Parker to investigate certain
charges which I made on the 18th of
January last against the police depart
ment of this city. Permit me to say
committees for the following principal
reasons Hsolsi
s"(1)- I shah consider the committee iii
its chairman, Mayor Parker, and in that
the police committee. so hOpelessly pre-
JUDGED and so cardinally implicated in
the very charges to be investigated as
to be disqualified for and incapable of
making fair inquiry into the truth
Of my complaints. [ consider the most
serious charge which [ have made
against the police department to be the
one which arraigns the police force with
being in collision with and the protectors
of the joints and gamblers of the city.
This IS something which bears SO di-
rectly upon the good order and morals
of the city that it is more far reaching
and damaging in its influence than any
thing else that the police department
has been guilty of. This too has been
so open and notorious that it must be
apparent to every intelligent man that
the mayor and police committee approve
of such conduct, if it is not by their di-
rectiOn. To the mayor and his police
committee the police force is subserVi-
ent, and to them it looks for its orders
and directions. If this charge is true
the mayor and this police committee are
more guilty of misconduct than their
subordinates. 1t must occur to you that
an attempted investigation of my
charges by this committee placed in
control is, to put it mildly, a notable
piece of effrontery. and if carried
through could be nothing other than a
farce.
s(2). In the second place, even if
should recognize this committee it is
without authority to summon witnesses
and compel testimony or to protect such
witnesses as might voluntarily render
testimony before it.
"f3). But thirdly and chiefly. in order
that an investigation may be had which
will be judicial and authoritative. I
have today filed with the city clerk a
formal statement of my charges against
the police department. requesting that it
be presented to the council at its meet
ing tomorrow evening.
j T. M'FARLAND"
The formal charges which DR.. Me-
Farland refers to in his communication
are practically the same as those which
he made some time ago from the pull
pit Of the First Methodist church, with
the charge of gambling omit "a, and
the charge of cruelty added. DR.. Nc
Farland refused to make public these
formal charges, stating that they are
intended for the city council, and should
be first presented TO that body.
Samuel T. Howe, who was one of
the committee appointed by Mayor
Parker. wrote a letter Tuesday to
Chairman Griley declining to serve
with the committee. He had previous