The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-18
FUNSTON ON THE STAND
Ex-Congressman Relates His Story of
the lola Dynanliting.

his own behalf He was the only wit
ness called by his attorneys in his de-
Tense.
Mr.. Funston fatty contradicted the
statements made by w. A. Wheeler,
the official of the lola Portland Cement
company, who gave the most damag-
Ing testimony that has been produced
against Mr.. Funston. Mr.. Wheeler
testified that he had heard Mr. Fun
Ston say on the streets last Monday
afternoon when the town was excited
over the blowing up with dynamite of
the three saloons, that he was glad
somebody had nerve enough to do it.
and the only regret he had was that
the saloon keepers themselves were
not in their places to be blown up with
their buildings.
"Mr. Wheeler was not only mistaken
in giving that testimony. 1t was worse
than a mistake" asserted the ex-rep-
resentative, on the witness stand.
THE gentleman's imagination is great
At one point in the examination Mr..
Funston was asked if he had talked
to Policeman Cannon in front of Nc
Claims store.
this thing here, he replied. bowling Co
Cannon. 81 remarked to the man I
was walking with, when we were near
the Coutant corner, that if these men
duty and the county officers had done
their duty, there would have been no
dynamiting. 1 intended that for Can
non. I wanted him to know what my
sentiments were"
How angry were you when you said
that?" Mr.. Funston was asked.
About angry as 1 am now"
How are you now?"
Just as cool as a cucumber replied
Mr.. Funston, amid laughter
Cannon said that a policeman
couldn't be everywhere continued Mr..
Funston. Il remarked that it was re-
markable when he was needed he could
not be found anywhere. 1 brought up
the fact that he ran my son in for be-
ing drunk and let the men who sold the
whisky pass. Cannon's reply was that
he did not do it; 1 was mistaken in
my man. I politely bowed and begged
his pardon for the mistake.
1t said I opposed any mobs there
that day. If there was any mobbing to
be done, I said 1 would be against it"
Ibid you say on that occasion: I
have no sorrow for the men on this
side of the street, as they have been
doing business there day after day for
years?'
'I made no such statement
DO you mean to say that you did
not say these things, or that you have
no recollection of saying them?" asked
the city attorney, r. e. Cullison, in the
cross examination.
81 know I did not say it,
You have a clear. recollection of what
| you did say on that day.?
Il think I have. Every man thinks
| his recollection is clear. l think mine
! is. Possibly 1 may have been mistaken,
| as any man might be. "sa ea 5s4-i=s-
| DO you remember of speaking or
talking to any crowd on that day?'
Il did not stop to talk to any crowd.
was not angry or excited, but was
rather inclined to joke with the fell
| lows. 1 asked them when I passed the
saloons, if Carrie Nation had been
here"
attorney, ''if your purpose in coming
to town wasn't to take the side of the
person, if found, who did the dynamit-
ing"
came with my daughter-in-law. /
brought her here to transact some
! business"
''Did you go to store in this town
and buy some large shot,"
'I did. sir"
II will ask you if you were not dis
| appointed because the dealer did not
have larger shot than BIB shot. and
didn't you say you wanted buck shot?'
''I did say that 1 wanted buck shot
| What 1 wanted with the buck shot was
to protect my property against q
threat that had been made to burn it.
Ibid you say in substance that ii
was good enough to Mr.. Dunlap, re-
ferring to the explosion?'
"I don't remember it; I may have
said it, I didn't say anything in favor
of the saloon men, you can bet on that
1 won't positively deny that I said it. >
Mr.. Funston said he was talking in
an ordinary tone of voice. II was
talking with Mr.. Dunlap and Mr.
Woods on the corner he said. cit is
strange they didn't hear the language
Mr.. Wheeler testified to. 1 saw Mr.
Wheeler standing on the sidewalk, fif-
teen or twenty feet away"
do you remember that Mr.. DUNLAP
said to you: I wouldn't say anything
of that sort now. 1t might create
mob ?''
MIR. Dunlap said to me that there
was- an order for everybody to keeI
quiet He was talking sarcastically
! and said not to talk above a whisper
What were you saying to acco
sion that remark"
. 81 said I had no sympathy or pity
} for the saloon keepers, but that wa
. sorry for the innocent people wht
had lost their property.
Were you saying that when Mr.
Dunlap said you might cause a mob 2
81 said that was against any mobs
that the courts could settle this ques
= ton. I said if there was any mob the.
would have to include me in the deal
that is, that / didn't want to mob tn
; man that blew up the saloons, nor tn
saloon men themselves"
: Ibid Mr.. Woods say he wouldn't sa.
: that now?"
; I'm reply to my declaration that
had no pity for the saloon keepers.
> was talking in a positive tone, not al
, angry tone. 1 was giving them SOM
) straight facts and putting them out b,
the yard
| Smoke Stack Fell on Him.
: Lexington. KY, July 18th
1 ie-4o 1r Val