The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-11
TURN ON LIGHT.
General Demand for iThorOugh
Police Investigation.
Air Is Filled With RumOrs Of
Doodle.
TALK OF GRAND JURY.
Many Believe One Should Be
Called at Once.
Think That 1t Is Only Way to
Get at Facts.
SOME EARNEST TALK.
Police Judge Hamilton Asks for
an Inquiry.
Says That Things Have an
Ugly Look.
Think That 1t Is Only Way to
Get at Facts.
Says That Things Have an
Ugly Look.

Ugly Look.
There was one general topic of con-
versation in Topeka today. especially
among those who are connected in
some way with the city government.
The sensational exposure Of police
methods made in Saturday afternoons s
State Journal is what everyone is in
terested in.
Will a grand jury be called to con-
slider the charges, and investigate
many other rumors which are being
circulated? 1t seems to be the general
impression that something of the sort
should be done. 1t is about the only
way that the truth can be brought out,
and the matter sifted to the bottom.
Sunday afternoon, the Committee Of
Two Hundred held a meeting at the
office of Stebbins & Evans. S. G. Stew
art, chairman of the committee said
today:
1T was the regular meeting of the
committee. There is nothing to be
made public about it. 1 have nothing
to say"
c. V. Wolf attended the meeting. 1t
is said that the committee was inclin-
ed to urge Mr.. Wolf and Mr.. NTcCollum
TO bring a libel suit to test the truth
of the charges. When asked whether
he would bring action of that kind Mr..
Wolf said:
Il do not think I will do so. 1t does
not seem to me that anything win be
gained by such a proceeding, and the
idea does not strike me as good one"
H @. Larfner, chairman Of the city
committee. which doomed Wolf for
councilman. says:
5a- ~
charges. They are made by two dis
reputable liars, and the story is libel
on its face
]. G. slonecker, another Wolf sup
porter, says: 1T is a - lie. There
is not a word of truth in it,
r. B. Weieh says: They might
stand UP d row of men like Frank
Bates clear from here to the river, and
I wouldn't believe them all if they ut
tered things like this against the char
acter of any man of reasonably good
repute."
S. G. Stewart says: These men
ought to bring action If the story is
not true"
DR.. w S. Lindsay says: 81 think
these charges merit investigation. I
don't have the highest regard for tes-
timOny from man like Frank Bates,
If what the papers say about him is
true. Yet I admit that it is from
such sources that such evidence must
come. A good deal would depend on
Bates general reputation for truth
and veracity.''
Judge Hamilton Condemns.
Police Judge Clad Hamilton, who is
IN a position to know better than
anyone else, perhaps, the way things
have been going at the police station
and who is a Staunch friend of law
and order, says:
II must say that things look rotten.
1t looks as though there was some
thing crooked going on. OF course
we must expect to get evidence of
such things from rotten sources. Per
sonaHy I have never seen anything
wrong at the police station. But it
seems to me that not enough atten-
ton has been given to the big joints
They have been allowed to run.
These are the places the police should
sit UP nights to catch. 1t seems a
little bit queer to me that we should
have tried 200 cases since I have
been down there, and only succeeded
in sending two men to jail. 1t looks
very much as though it was either a
case of Doodle or inefficiency."
BergundthaI Uncertain.
Mayor Bergundthal seems to be a
little uncertain today as to what he
viii do, though he still processes great
confidence in McCollum's integrity
He said today when asked whether
he would dismiss McCollum.
Il don't know what I will do.
shall wait and consult with the new
police committee. which will be an
pointed this evening. AS nearly as I
can figure out, the charges do not in
volve Chief McCoIlum. They seem
to be directed at Mr.. Wolf. Bates
does not charge that McCollurn got
the money, and McCollum denied to
Frank Lynch, Bates attorney. that he
mad taken the money. I can't see that
McCoilum is implicated, and I don't
propose to assassinate a mans char
acter until / know what I am doing -
Grand Jury Investigation.
There has not been a grand jury cali
ed in Shawnee county since the spring
OF 1886 when the grave robbery cases
were tried.
While II would possible to have crinai-
nal proceedings brought against tho
accused under the statutes prohibitine.
the accepting of bribes, the grand iurv
method would be the only way to get
at the bottom of the case. The DenaI-
ty for accepting bribes by a city on
cial is a fine of from $500 to 81 600 i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary from
one to seven years. or both
"A grand jury must be called sbv. q. ne
tition of at least 400 people. The peti-
tion is presented to the judge of the
district court who summons Is Jurors
in the same manner that petit Jurors
are called. The 10 grand jurymen can
call as witnesses any body they please.
and the county attorney assists them
in the examination of witnesses. Thew
have the right not only to probe for
the special offenSe in mind at the time
the investigation began but they can