The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-08
OF ARMS.
Exciting Scene in City Council
Chamber.
Mr.. L. E. Myers Springs a Sem
satiOnal Affidavit.
MAKES UGLY CHARGES
Claims C. E. Maunsell Is Traf-
flcking in Franchise.
Ugly Statements Are Attributed
Co Him.
HOLIDAY is ANGRY.
Charges Myers With Writing
the Accusations.
New Electrical Company Bone Of
Contention.
Claims C. E. MaunseIl Is Traf-
flcking in Franchise.
Ugly Statements Are Attributed
TO Him.
Charges Myers With Writing
the Accusations.
New Electrical Company Bone Of
Contention.

Charging an attempt to trade on q
franchise for an electrical company
known as the Topeka Electrical com
pany, of which c. R. MaunseH and J.
W. O'Neill are the promoters. which
is pending before the streets and
walks committee, L. E. Myers, b T.
Sunney, of the Edison Electrical com
pany, and T. F. Doran. their attorney,
introduced a sensational affidavit Of
James J. Moller alleging an attempt
to corrupt the council with Doodle
and peddling their hoped for fran
chise about the country. before tie
streets and walks committee last
night.
The affidavit besmirched the name
of every member of the council but
were supposed to have been 2ur-
chased, and implicated the present
employees of the Edison company in
a plot to aid in wrecking 1t by giving
away information to MaunseI for fur
thering the new company. all Of
which statements and many others as
vicious are purported to have peen
told to Moller by Maunsen or By
O'Neill.
Moller was engaged by Mr. Myers
directly to discover what he could con-
corning the plans of MaunseI and the
new company. He was engaged some
time in May and came to Topeka dur
ing the latter part Of that month ana
the first Of June He was supposed to
have been in Topeka for about two
weeks. He stopped at the Throop
hotel. He originally hailed from
Bingham Canon, Utah, and gives his
profession as a stock and bond dealer
Arranging for the disposal of stocks
and bonds of enterprises TO reputable
banking and Investment companies on
a percentage basis.
While here he was under the iTa-
mediate direction of MI Myers who
stayed in the background and who
kept on all of his movements. Upon
the completion of what was considered
sufficient evidence MOller swore to an
affidavit.
On arriving IN Topeka MoIler sought
Maunsell out and asked him concerning
the backing of the proposed new COM
pany and its prospects. He said that he
was often employed as an agent in the
disposal of bonds of companies of this
nature to banking houses and was in
terested for this reason in the new cleo
trio company The affidavit of MoIler
then goes on and states that MaunseH
endeavored to interest him in the com
pany That both OsNeill and Maunsell
came to him at the Throop hotel and
D
tion purposes and that he IN turn was
to share in the promotion stock equally
with MaunselI and O'Neill and that he
was to have the position of secretary
and treasurer. This is in short the cir
cumstances and incidents which are
supposed to have led to the relations
existing between the three.
The streets and walks committee took
up the matter. of the Topeka electrical
franchise the last thing in the evening.
Mr. Overmyer, Mr.. O'Neiu and Mr..
MaunselI were present representing the
new company. For the Edison Electri-
cal company were B. E. Sunney, l. f.
Myers and T. F. Doran-
Mr.. Overmyer Immediately asked
that action on the franchise be post
boned, as his clients were unpre-
pared to take it up at that time M
Doran then appeared before the com
mittee and stated that they wished to
say something relative to the appli-
cation for a new franchise; that they
had some statements TO make con-
ceruing the company. Mr. Oyermyef
protested. After wrangling back and
forth over the introduction of the af71-
davit which Mr.. Myers sprung per-
sonally, Mr.. Holiday learned that his
name was implicated in the affidavit
and demanded that it be read The
committee on streets and walks then
decided that it should be read Fol-
lowing the sensational charges, terms
and epithets Of a burning nature
were thrown at eaCn oIneF Dy the m
terested parties. The lie was passed
several times
Mr.. Holiday stated that the man
who had written the af1idavit was a
dar and a perjurer and he stated fur
ther that he believed every word had
been penned by Myers himself and that
Moller had not written IT. After a
struggle the affidavit was filed with the
committee
on the request of Mr.. Overmyer that
he be given the original copy Of khe
ahidavit in order TO bring libel pro-
ceedings and its refusal by Myers
Myers offering to give hi ma carbon
copv the committee asked for the
original copy. Mr. Myers refused.
Mad clear through, Holiday arose.
II want to say that they are q set of
mean, contemplate towards. a set Of
blackguards If they refuse to file this
ahidaVit with the committee. They
1 should never be allowed to darken the
doors of the council chamber again
and come whining with their COM
plants"
Mr. Sunney says to leave it. There
/ it is said Myers fiinging the affidavit
from where he stood to the COMMITTEES
table.
Mr. Myers stated that he did not be
| 1ieve any of the statements contained
in the affidavit which impugned any
| thing on the honor of the councilmen
| nor any of The men mentioned asids