The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-23
THAT LIBEL SUIT.
Continued from Page -

as a basis for argument The court
then took a short recess.
Coleman on the Stand.
F. L. Williams then took the witness
ard said:
Was the Rowett report complete
report? p
1T covered OILY 81 of the counties of
Did you send a reply to Governor
Bailey?"
Il did,
What purported to be a carbon copy.
Of the reply was submitted. to which
the defense objected, on the ground that
it was not the best evidence. The OBJ
lection was sustained
Mr.. Coleman stated that he had com
menced suit against T. r Kelly to col
lect the shortages shown in the Morris
report.
What have you done about the
Grimes shortages 2"
I have gone over the report carefully
and am preparing to bring two suits
against Grimes, covering his two terms. -
What was there in the Abilene short
age that caused you not to bring suit %
The money was paid back into the
treasury. and I could not see how
civil action would lie. The same is
true about the Finney county matter.
There seemed to be a criminal element
in the Finney county suit, but l could
WAS any act done by you in connec-
ton with the Comanche county bond
deal to loot the treasury?''
None whatever"
Was there any conspiracy?''
Nothing of the kind whatever. The
matter was never talked over between
u.s."
was there any observance of secrecy
on your part?"
There was not"
Was there any pressure brought to
bear on Auditor Wells to compel him
to register the bonds %
There was not"
was there any meeting in Auditor
Wells office on the evening of August
11?"
There was not. was never present
at any meeting where the registration
of the Comanche county bonds was dis
cussed.'
Did any of you have anything to do
with Mr.. Godard's relation to the trans
action?"
7 know I didn't, and I don't believe
the others did"
did Mr. Godard make any promise of
any reward to you?'
HE did not
Did you receive any profit of any
kind on the transaction p
mot a single penny
did you make a new rule in re-
gard to valuation for the purpose of
enabling the school fund to purchase
these bonds?"
Il did not That question had never
been raised or considered. This was
the first instance where the question
made any difference / believed that
Comanche county had been largely
undervalued, and thought that either
valuation could be used
Did you go into a deal to reduce
the interest on those bonds2"
| found that Mr. PllV didn't have
the bonds, and couldn't get them, and
/ gave his proposition no considera-
| ton AS I understand that article, it
I claims that the school fund commits
/ sioners might have purchased the 6
/ per cent. bonds. The fact is that the
have purchased the s per cent. bonds
figure that the state gained consider
ably by buying the AZ per cent
bonds.
was there any question about the
validity Of those Comanche county
bonds2"
Not the slightest
did you bring any pressure to
! bear on Mr.. Wells to get him to keer
his records secret2'
II never did. It was never men
toned by me to anybody in Wells
office"
Mr.. Waggener's Crossexaisnantion.
Mr.. Waggener then reerossexamined
He said:
You say there was no eonspiracy2"
No sir
IF you agreed to buy this issue OF
bonds under wrong basis OF vaIua ton
was it not at least q constructive con
spiracy2'
IT was not wflful."
When you examined the financial
ability OF the county TO take care Of
these bonds did you consioer that 9. .oOs