The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-07
CALLS GRAND JURY.
Judge Mullins VIII Have Denver EIec-
ton Investigated.

Denver, Col. July 7--District Judge
John I. Mullins, sitting in the criminal
division of the district court today,
made an order calling a grand jury to
investigate all city and county offices,
and such other matters as may be
submitted to the jury Declaring both
the sheriff and coroner to be interested
in the matters to be Investigated the
court appointed special officers to draw
the jury.
Judge Mullins order is as follows:
1T having been brought to the at
tention of the court through the pub
lie press and from honored and respect
ed citizens of this city and county Ihat
frauds of the srossest character We're
perpetrated at the recent election. held
in this city and county for the election
of city and county omcers and the sub
mission of certain franchises to the vote
of the people at said election the court
has deemed it imperative to call
grand jury. From the information the
court has received it has been deter
mined that such grand jury shall in
vestigate the officers and Office of the
district attorney within and for the
Second judicial district, the sheriff,
coroner, treasurer and assessor and
their office in connection with said cleo
ton frauds, and since it is further
brought to the attention of the court
that these officers together with certain
other officers. entered into and We're IN
collision to protect yiOlat0rS of the cleo
since the court has been requested from
numerous sources to have all other city
and county officers and their Offices in
yestigated. the court being now sufh-
GENTLY advised in the premises does
hereby call a special jury to investi-
gate said matters and such other mat
ters as may be submitted to said grand
jury.
trict Attorney George A. Stidger, but
it is understood he win do so when the
grand jury Is empanelled.
Before calling the grand jury, Judge
Mullins in a lengthy statement review
ed the proceedings in his court in the
petition of the league for honest cleo
lions for the appointment of a grand
jury to investigate alleged franchise
frauds at the city election and the re
moval of the sheriff, coroner ard dis
trict attorney. He said
The showing of the honest elections
league was such as to warrant the court
in finding that the greatest frauds were
committed on election day of May 10,
last; that a bold and brazen attempt
was made to steal the election and on
the face of the returns succeeded by
debau ching of the ballot box and the
corruption of public officials in steal
ing valuable assets of the community;
that public officials charged with the
ferreting out of crime and the punish
ment Of criminals we're either parties
to this outrage or were so negligent in
them particips criminis.'
Judge Mullins announced that he
would hold in allegiance the petition of
the honest elections leagues attorneys
for leave to withdraw their request for
a grand jury as the supreme court had
issued a supersedeas in that case. He
called the grand jury Of his own mo-
ton.
Il do not desire to appear as flying in
face of the writ issued in the recent
case" said Judge Mullins. but as
understand the law the supersedeas in
the league case is only conclusive as
to that particular case
The call for a grand jury is return
able next Thursday. Attorneys for the
corporations whose franchises are at
tackled assert that Judge Mullins has
violated the intent of the supreme
courts order and it is assumed they
will appeal to Chief Justice Gabbert to
take action in the matter.