The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-13

jured in the fight at the sheriff's Of
ice last Friday night, was today ask
ed for statement concerning the
affair, and said: Il do not intend to
discuss the affair in detail until tell
it on the witness stand. L have re-
ceived a lot of unpleasant notoriety
over this case, and as long as it has
gone this far, L intend to push it to
the limit. see that every one lese
connected with it has made one or
more statements, but I shall reserve
mine until the right time. Then I
will make no attempt to shield myself
or make it any worse for others than
it is.
Il am still weak from loss of blood,
but will be out in a day or two.
81 do not want to discuss the court
house incident any further at this
time, but a thorough investigation is
what I want, and what 1 mean to
have
AS County Attorney schenck has
refused up to date to issue COM
plant against Ward and Wilkerson,
stand may mean that he will bring
civil suit against them for damages.
He refused to discuss the proposition.
Eaton After the Place.
A few of Col. J, D. Norton's
Monday afternoon, while the cere-
mony of esta bIishing a new sheriff
of Shawnee county was in progress.
When Col. Norton and his escort,
bearing John Wilkerson'S resignation
with the string tied to it, appeared at
the governors office, they were not
the whole thing. They were merely
among those present" Chief of
Police R. w. Eaton, with an ardent
following, was on the grounds, like
wise on the telephone. 1t is under
stood today that Chief Eaton was
reasonably sure Of getting the ap-
pointment. 1t had been reported that
John Wilkerson would resign, and
this added to the hilarity of the Occa-
sion as planned the day previous.
Eaton is reported to have stated to
close friends that he was just as sure
of securing the appointment as
though he had it in hand. His hopes
were further strengthened by the fact
that John Dawson, the governors
right-hand man, was for him.
When Col. Norton approached the
throne, he found Eaton's delegation and
one supporting DR.. H. H. Keith. All
the candidates in the coming election
had recognized tile advantage which
went with the appointment, and were
working accordingly Col. Norton, who
is so free from guile that he cannot be
termed an expert politician, trustingly
turned in the Wilkerson resignation
without the conditions. In few min
utes things looked so dark, and the
Eaton crowd was assuming SO much
prominence, that he began to wish he
had not been SO hasty. After Cover
nor Stubs had sounded some of the
leading Republican politicians by tele
phone and the Eaton hopes had faded
to a shadow. Col. Norton received the
desired commission. and returned to the
court house. Here he found a recall
from the governors Office, and went
back again, without pausing to be
sworn in by the county clerk. 1t was
here that the agony commenced. Those
who knew the queer turns taken in po-
litical deals and the strong pressure
being brought to bear by the Eaton
forces, feared the worst. The court
house contingent was highly elated
when the colonel returned. wearing his
usual smile. 1t appears that Governor
Stubs. in his haste to settle the mat
ter and clear his office of the delegates,
had neglected an important part Of
the transaction. He forgot to ask Col.
Norton whether or not he was a first
water administrationist. The fear that
tJv accident, some one who was not a
loyal Stubs supporter had broken
the sacred fence was annoying
until settled. The second conference
was satisfactory. The governor need