Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-19
CONSPIRACY CRIES THOMAS
Accused Postmaster Trying to Weave
Fabric of Defense.
LAWYER DISCUSSES SITUATION
Either Charges Are True or Many
witnesaes Are Guilty of Perjury,
which IL Not TenRbIe,
Says ShOtwelI.

In face Of sworn sffidavits that he
forced subordinates into making cam
paign contributions by holding out prom
ises Of salary raises TO them, Postmaster
Thomas Is still offering stubborn resist
ance to the testimony piled up against
him. During the last two days he has been
the central figure in the inquiry, and still
Secretary Moss and Inspector Iindland are
not done with him. Determined to push
the investigation to the end without the
loss OF time or testimony they have con-
cluded to continue their work throughout
today with Thomas on the stand
From all accounts It is apparent that
Thomas is attempting to build up de-
fense by representing that Tillotson ana
others who have testified against him en-
tered into a conspiracy to cause his re-
moval Speaking OF this phase of the
controversy Franklin A. shotweil, attor-
ney for Mr.. Tillotson, says:
General Denial Presumed.
Because Of the nature Of the inquiry
It is impossible to know exactly what Mr..
Thomas has had to say. 1t win be as
sumed, however, that he has denied tina,
he has been guilty Of pernioious political
activity and that he did not receive con-
tributions from employees In the office;
and 1t is assumed that Mr.. Thomas will
declare that his subordlnates entered into
a conspiracy to remove him from office.
But these defenses are not tenable for
this reason:
''That the postoffice employees could not
In the face of circumstances have formed
such a conspiracy for the reason that when
Tillotson preferred his charges with the
Civil Service commission he had talked
to only two wttr ssses. The statements OF
these two wltnessts have been corroba-
ted In every particular by other employees
who have nothing to gain by giving per-
jhred testimony against MT Thomas
Definite Action Certain.
In summing up the situation Mr.. Shot
we'll says;
THE conclusion Of this testimony demon
strates that II Mr.. Thomas is innocent
the employees of the postoffice have com
mitted perjury, and II Mr. Thomas is per-
mitted to hold his position It Will be i'm
possible to permit the employees who have
testified to remain in the postal service.
The Civil Service commission must either
find Thomas guilty of the charges pre-
ferred by Tillotson or the employees must
be held guilty OF perjury"
6oinE INTO the uetails OF the caSe MT
| Shotwell continues: The testimony as
adduced before the Civil Service secretary
and postoffice inspector and which was
secured through the efforts OF Mr., Tillot'
son has completely proven that Mr.
Thomas was perniciously active about
election time. The testimony OF the Ne
braska postmasters in connection with
that of Judge Sutton and postoffice EN-
ployes demonstrates also that Thomas
missused his office.
The testimony of Kelly, Connoran
Burger, Kaltiere and Westerdahl show
that on Noverber, last year, Mr.. KELLEY
collected political contributions in the Post
office building. and the testimony OF Kel
ley. Woodland. Burger and Connoran prove
conclusively that the money was paid q
Mr. Thomas"