The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-08
STIRS THEM UP.
City Council Excited Over Myers
Charges.
Say They Regret the Trouble
That Came Up.
TALK OF AFFIDAVIT.
Document in Detail as Filed
Before Council.
Attributes Sensational State
ments to Mr. MaunseII.


Gil with reference to the charges which
are contained in the AFFIDAVIT submit
ted by L. F. Myers last night in the
fight over the Topeka Electrical COM
pany's franchise. At least the trend OF
the expression Of the eouncilmen is set
ting strongly in this direction.
David Overmyer, counsel for Mr..
Naunseu, minated last evening that
some libel proceedings might be insti-
tuted and this morning when questioned
regarding any action of this kind. said:
"Of course do not know at this time
what VIII be done. The asHdavit was
very long, at least Is OF 20 pages, and
no man could form a correct judgment
without studying and reading it care
fully. This, I have had no opportunity
to do as yet. / insisted on the original
being left here so that it might be
present IL needed as evidence hereafter
There is evidently much perjury in itand
# the thing is worth following UP the
af1davit viii be here to speak for it.
self. OF course 1t is directed mainly al
Maunsen and I presume that it should
be for him to determine what course
he should pursue with reference to it,
I am very sorry that this sort Of
thing should come about" said the
mayor this morning. Il do not know
what action viii be taken by the cOun-
eli. I don't think the affidavit should
have been read last evening 7 think it
should have come up when the commit
tee was going to act on the franchise
and when the other side were ready to
ask FOR action on it"
L E. Myers makes the sensational
charge that he was practically maroon
ed here for ten days. That he could
not send telegram out nor telephone
TO his wife because everything That
he did was carefully watched. Il finai-
Is had the private telephone and the
code Of one Of these railroad companies
placed at my disposal before I could
tax with my wife in Chicago said he.
Directors Hold Meeting.
The board of directors of the Topeka
Electrical company met this morning
at the law office of G. W. Whitcomb
and passed a set of resolutions endors-
ing C. r. Maunsell. They are as fol-
lows
BE it resolved, That whereas. the
board Of directors of this company has
learned that an AFFIDAVIT signeJ and
sworn to by a spotter employed by one
i. z. Myers. was read before a commit
tee Of the city council last night by
said L. z Myers.
And. whereas, said affidavit was so
read for the purpose Of obstructing the
action OF said committee Of the city
council in granting franchise to this
company
And. whereas. this board of directors
understands that said affidavit contains
-A-N-A4 AADUAOuo AAl1LlCA.. directed at ana
against Mr.. G. r. Maunsell, who has
been active in promoting this company.
Therefore, this board, after an in
VeSugation Of the facts does most en-
phatically endorse the said c. R Maun-
sell, and expresses its mistaken conf
dence in him as an honorable man and
upright citizen, and it is the belief of
this board that said AFFIDAVIT is a tissue
Of falsehoods presented for the purpose
aforesaid Of interfering with the grant
ing of a franchise which can have no
other effect than to create connection
with the Topeka Edison COMPANY the
benefits to be derived from such com
petition being already apparent in the
enforced reduction Of rates by the To-
peiza Edison company
Affidavit Which Caused Trouble.
The affidavit which Mr.. Myers read to
the council committee last night follows
in detail:
state Of Kansas. Shawnee County. IS.
James ]. Moller Of lawful age be-
ING duly sworn on his oath says
1nat he is resident of Bingham
Canyon. Salt Lake county Utah That
ne e promoter of and dealer in
9toeks and bonds Of mining and indus
tEial enterprises. and that he some
times accepts appointments to act in
confidential capacity to investigate
questionable enterprises. That as such
prom otter and dealer in stocks and
bonds he buys and sells such securities
81 commission to reputable banking
and trust companies throughout the
country That on or about the 18th
day or May, 1908. he accepted an an
pointment to investigate the sood
fa1th OF one c. r. MaunseI in the pro
motion Of a proposed new electric
light plant to be erected in the CITY of
Topeka, Kansas, and that being inter
ested in the purchase and sale of
bonds and other securities as above
stated, he visited Topeka. Kansas. ar
irving there and registering at the
Ihroop hotel on May 2Oth: that on
ne morning Of May 21st he called up
the residence of Q. r. Maunseu and
arranged for a meeting with SAID
MaunseI in keeping with which ar
rangement. G. r. Maunsell and J. W.
o'Neil. both of Topeka, Kansas, called
on affiant at the Throop hotel on fha
morning of May Dist That said
Maunsell asked affiant to identify him
self as man of responsibility and
standing That af7ant produced refer
ences which Maunsell and O'Neil said
they would investigate by telegram
and otherwise. and later stated thai
tney found same to be entirely salts
factory. After satisfying themselves
Of atlantis responsibility. Maunsell
stated that the Bank of Topeka was
behind his enterprise and that he v.-a~
sure of getting a franchise as politics
was one of his stocks in trade He
also stated that he had the Mulvanes
in his deal and had a movement in
hand to purchase the city electric
plant and that the money was ready
for that purpose.
Mr. Maunsell further stated to af-
hant that he had been to Chicago and
New York in reference to caDital.
that he had been working very quietly
ana had kept everything out of the
papers, and that the Capital and JouP-
nal had promised to maintain silence
on the matter until the time came for
asking for q franchise, and that they
would then agitate underground wires.
MI. O'Neil stated that he expected
financial support from the Natural
Gas company, and that he was going
to New York shortly to see them in
reference to same. and that articles OF
incorporation would be filed within Z.
day or two.
Mr.. Maunsell further stated that he
had the large advertisers help with
-. ...-...-.. 81. tn. =. ..