The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-14
TESTIMONY.
Unanswerable Evidence BrOugh t
Out by Witnesses
Sworn to Tell the Truth About
COmanche Deal.
THE CHARGES
Made by the State Journal In
the Transaction.
Secrecy, Night Work and Haste
Were All Enjoined.
CONFIRM THE CHARGES

Untruths were literally scattered
around Topeka this morning in connec-
ton with some depositions the editor
of the State Journal saw fit to have
taken yesterday in connection with the
libel suit brought against him for 49,
900 by the state school fund commits
sioners of Kansas.
Not word appeared in this aper last
evening about these depositions They
We're not taken for the purpose of ere
ating material for a sensational news
item, although they do contain just
that sort of material.
Some people appear to regard a $45,-
900 libel suit as a good deal of joke.
If these people were compelled to pay
attorney fees, travelling expenses and
incur numerous other expenditures of
time and money to defend a case of this
importance it is quite apparent that the
serious aspect would be evident.
Is there a merchant in this city
who would not be disturbed about suits
of this magnitude brought against him
self? If the proprietor of this paper had
any notes or money obligations out to
rany one, does the reader think that the
filing of such suits would not hurt his
The State Journal years ago was once
refused a car load of paper, of which it
was in need, on account of an unjust
district court item involving but $780,
We got the car of paper but from a
firm that was not alarmed.
The reader must not assume that the
party conducting this paper is at all
worried or troubled about this $45, 900
libel suit brought against him because
the truth was told about an iniquitous
bond deal concerning tainted securi-
ties that have recently been placed in
the sacred scholo fund.
The State Journal never felt more
comfortable over a libel suit in its his
tory than it does over this one, but we
will admit it keeps us busy with the
other work at hand.
Bear in mind that the State Journal
has no time to perSecute any one we
have time, however. to defend our
selves to defend the state school fund,
to expose corruption, official negl1-
gence and questionable transactions of
public officers, Democrats or Repub-
Hcans.
This paper demanded dispositions yes
terday for its own protection Briefly
there was. nothing in all the dispositions
which we are afraid to print in these
columns, and which cannot be used in
these columns, except one sentence,
wherein a vile name was used and
under any circumstances.
We want to take the reader into con-
fdence and say that some startling evil
dence was given yesterday. The editor
of this paper has been we'll aware that
it was never the intention of the state
school fun commissioners to permit
their case to be tried at an early date;
in fact, he doubts if it was ever the
intention to permit the case as one in
the state school fund commits
sioners ever to be tried
He had made serious charges in his
paper. The charge was made that by
some sort of an arrangement between
T. T. Kelly and A. A. GODDARD a pur-
chase was made of doubtful Comanche
county bonds, which were unloaded
upon the school fund. This state
ment was Indignantly denied by Mr..
Coleman, Mr.. Burrow and Mr.. Day
hoff, as plaintiffs.
The state Journal furnished the
proof of its statement. See sworn
testimony of the Kansas City bankers
printed Friday, October Z, in these
columns.
1t became evident that these cases
might be permitted to drag along until
valuable witnesses would leave the
country, be spirited away, or even die.
1t became evident that while the de-
fendant is ready for the trial of this case
and the court was ready to try it this
coming week, that unless we took
things into our hands and defended
ourselves we might not have an op-
portunity to substantiate the state
ments by witnesses under oath and
sworn testimony, in connection with
the Comanche county charges.
We tried to subpoena c. r. Richey, |
assistant state treasurer, Tuesday af- |
ternoon, as we regarded Mr.. Richey an
important witness. At the treasurer's
office it was said he was sick. He has
now disappeared from Topeka. We
were unable to get him yesterday as
A witness.
Yesterday our lawyers compelled
certain state officers to bring their rec
ords, swear by them, and give their
evidence.
The testimony of Irving Cole, chief
clerk of the auditor of state. of j. M. |
Nation, assistant auditor of state, of
II. B. Kelly, bond broker, of c. c. Cole |
man, attorney general, and of L. L.
state superintendent of pub |
ic instruction, was taken.
In as much as q garbled, incomplete |
md untruthful report has been printed |
md circulated in this city, the State |
Journal has decided to give in full this |
evening the testimony of one of the |
witnesses and, as above stated, we |
would not hesitate to print the testi- |
nony of all the other witnesses in full, !
expect as to the one sentence.
In the article in the State Journal the |
.harges Were made that the Comanche |
county bonds were registered at night |
hat great secrecy and haste were eXer-
Used and enjoined. and that efforts |
we're made to keep the State journal
rom seeing public records covering |
public transactions by public officers.
Mr. I. L. Dayhoff, NE. c.. c. Coleman
md Mr.. ]. r. Burrow publicly over
heir own signatures and the signatures
# their attorneys, denied each and ev-
ry one of these statements.
Here is the proof of every one of
hem, and the State Journal does not
,hange a word of the testimony. 1t
$ printed word for word below. Every
word of it was yesterday listened to by