The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-07
OUT IN THE OPEN.
Enemies Of w. I. Vernon Make
Charges Public.
Give Text of Telegram to Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
AFFIDAEITS ARE OLD.
They We're Made in the Year
1901.
Ofense Charged Was Committed
in 1898.
AFFIDAYITS ARE OLD.

W T. Vernon's emphatic denial of
the charges of immoral conduct made
against him, and the slap-stick attack
on Vernon's enemies by the Hon. Nick
ChiIes, has stirred up the aforesaid
enemies to action. and they have
made a public statement of all the
charges which have been fled.
The thing which started the
trouble for Vernon was a telegram
sent on Christmas day to President
Roosevelt. 1t was signed by nine To-
peka negroes, and was as follows:
1.-The appointment of w. T. Vernon
to any position will not reflect credit
ably upon the citizens of this state,
nor will it be approved by the masses
of colored people of this section of
the country-Rev. J. S. Burton, 1114
West Twelfth street; Rev. c. S. Fish
back, 1901 West Twelfth street; w. T.
Mcknight, 1915 Lincoln street; C. W.
Hamilton, lilo West Tenth street,
Rev. B. c. Duke, 1921 Buchanan
street; ]. E. Douglas. ITO Buchanan
street; c. Long, 943 Morris avenue;
w. B. Bryant, 721 Locust street; H.
T. Grandpre."
Close on. the heels of this telegram
a bunch of afidaYitS embodying the
St4eAA S5Co W Gl { sent Out. 4A6IE were
four afhdavits in the collection. One
was given by Emma Brown, the COM
planning witness; the others were by
Villa Brown, her sister, and G. W.
Brown, the father of the girls.
The events complained of occurred
in Lawrence in 1898, but the aft
davits were made in 1901, when the
Browns were living in Geary county.
Since then the Browns have ali
moved to DanVille, ILL.,, where Mr..
Qzarr4 to
Emma Brown was, at the time of the
alleged affair, in Lawrence, a teacher in
one of the colOred schools. Vernon was
there attending a Baptist convention. 1t
is claimed that Emma Brown, villa
Brown, her sister, Vernon and Rev. Will
liam Peck, Emmas affianced husband,
versity buildings. Vernon and Emma
Brown went up TO the top floor of Fra
zler hall while Villa and Peck sat on
the steps down below. Emma Brown
claims that while on the fourth floor Of
Frazier hall, Vernon maitreated her, and
then forced her to promise to keep Sc
cret Vernon left the same dav for KAN
sas City, and after he left Emma told her
story to her sister, Peck and her father.
Peck saw Vernon and had u talk with
him, and then wrote a letter to Emma
Brown, telling her, it is alleged. that Yer
non had admitted MS guilt, but that her
pest pan would be to keep the whole
thing secret copy of this letter was
sent to. President Roosevelt, along with
the affidavits.
It is now claimed that Peck was work
ing in conspiracy with Vernon to save
him from prosecution, and that Vernon
put up large sums of money to keep the
case from being brought to trial.
1t IS further charged that in 1900 at EN-
porla, during a Baptist convention. Yer
non arose to make d speech, and that
Rev. 6. w. Brown, who happened to be
there. faced the audience and declared
that Vernon should not speak except over
his dead body He then told the details
OF the alleged Lawrence scandal and the
claim is made that Vernon confessed the
whole affair, and asked for the prayers
of the audience
Mrs. Emma Gaines. H. T. Monroe dep
uty county clerk, and w T. Mcknight,
all well known Topeka colOred people,
are cited as having heard this confession
Nernon's enemies say that Mrs. Gaines
and Mcknight are going to make affida-
Wit to this. but that Monroe will nos do
so because he is running for office.
There are some peculiar things about
the charges against Vernon. One is that
the affidavits against him were not made
until three years after the alleged crime
another is that the Rev. VIM H Peck
makes no affidavit. The only ones who
have so far made affidavit are the mem
bers of the Brown family.
The nine Topeka colored men who sign
ed the protest against Nernon'S appoint
ment are very indignant that Nick Chiles
should call them the scum of the earth
and similar names.