The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-05
GRAND JURY
DISMISSED
BY BURF0RD
Indictments Were Few and
Far Between.
APPLY SCOTCH VERDICT
There Was Plenty of Guilt but
Not Enough Evidence.

Guthrie, 0. T, April 4.-After returning
more indictments this morning, the Logan
county grand jury which has been in ses-
sion since the adjournment of the terrific
rial legislative assembly was dismissed by
Chief Justice Burford at 1870 O'Clock this
afternoon The jury made it's final re-
port, expressing the belief that undue in
fiuence had been used with members of
the legislature. Some OF the indictments
returned yesterday were of minor i'm
portance The details regarding the other
indictments have not been given out, but
it is practically certain that no indict-
ments were returned against persons in
connection with the legislative investiga-
tion except Charles Knox, of Perry, now
under $1,000 bond. 1t is not probable that
the warrants will be served on the indict-
ments recently returned until next week.
Chief Justice Burford, in dismissing the
jury, stated that it was a notorious fact
that persons in accepting bribes while
acting for the people, would not hesitate
to protect themselves as much as possi-
bic. He is in favor of some method by
which lobbying and lobbyists can be done
away with.
The report Of the grand jury in part is
given as follows:
we have taken up and investigated
such matters shave been presented to
US, or have come to our knowledge, and
have done as in our best judgment seemed
right and proper in the premises
I'VE have IN
your instructions We have gone extern
sively into the matter of the investiga-
ton of the charges of improper influences
having been brought to bear upon the
Sevedth legislative assembly, and In our-
Suance OF that Investigation we have
called before us large number of the
mebers of that body as wen as all other
persons whom we have had reason t0
think and believe might have knowledge
or such improper influence We have
made careful examination of such wit
neses as came before us and we are of
the opinion that improper methods have
been attempted and used by so-called
lobbyists to influence legislation in this
territory, during the session of the
Seventh legislative assembly,. Much evil
NSi4NC mas DtcH DeIOTG IlaC Lobbyists
were here for the purpose of influencing
legislation and in our opinion have in
huenced legislation. But in our opinion
sufficient evidence has not been before US
van anting US in the bringing of indict-
ments against any others except those
alread yacted upon. Many rumors have
come 10 US Of influences of an improper
kind, and because of said rumors a cloud
rests over some members of the assembly
ard We believe that more care should o.
taken by members of this legislature in
the doing away with lobbying in or near
the legislative assembly. in order that
the possibility of charges of that kind
@hich have come to us as rumors wou! /
be, TO large extent, avoided.
I'VE have further to report that we
have acted on the matter of slot machines
in 1. way, which in our judgment if the
officers of this county do their duty, will
forever rid the county of these machines
which do so much injury to the people of
the country and especially to the youth.
JAMES L. DEMAREE, Foreman.
&c. A. BUTCHER, Clerk"