The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-22
MAJORS is HERE.
Cherokee County Attorney viii
Make a Fight.
Wants to Take Ericsson and
Armstrong Back for Trial.
He TELLS HIS STORY.
Says That Two Men Solicited
Bribe From Him,
Made Proposition to Sell Eyi.
dence Against JOintists.
HE TELLS HIS STORY.

county Attorney A. L. Majors of
cherokee county will fight the bribery
case brought by his county against
ericsson and Armstrong, the state spe-
Gia5 agents, to finish before Probate
Juoge Schoch tomorrow when the at
torney general applies for a writ of
habeas corpus to release these two
agents from the custody of the Chero-
kee snerlH Mr.. Majors has a story
20 tell and side to present in regard
to the charges of bribery that have
peen made back and forth recently
he mas retained Judge Hazen of this
city as counsel to assist him in the
trial of the cases. both here and in
Cherokee county.
Mr.. Majors declared today that he
wanted the two men, Ericsson and
armstrong, brought at once to Chero-
kee county, where they would be given
q speedy trial. That is the place where
thelr alleged offenses were committed,
anr that is the place where they should
be tried, thinks Mr.. Majors.
Mr. Majors stated further that the
efforts of Ericsson and Armstrong to
lmpllcate him in a bribery scandal
were so coarse as to be ridiculous.
why, those fellows sent me word"
ne said. that they wanted to see me.
told them to come to my Office. They
came and there made proposals to sell
out their evidence against Cherokee
county jointists. They said they were
out with both the governor and the
attorney general I neither believed
nor disbelieved them I told several
their offense, and finally concluded to
see how far they would go.
They conferred with a committee
representing the jointists and proposed
to sell out for $4,000. They came
down in their price to $3.50. The com
mlttee laughed at them and went
away one by one and left them sitting
alone in the room. Then they got
scared and made a hike for Topeka
and laid the matter before the attor-
ney general in order to be beforehand
with me, for they knew that I would
do so.
Wants Trial in Cherokee.
think these men should be
proughr 10 cherokee and tried on a
charge of attempted bribery. Their
enarges against me are ridiculous.
ana at the same time they are unjust
and unfair. To try this case in Shaw
nee before a probate Judge is also
untalr Let the men give bail before
the judge for their appearance in
Cnerokee county for instant trial"
Inc attorney general has filed
custer proceedings against Mr.. Majors
| on the charge of failing to enforce
the prohibitory law in Cherokee coun-
y. Following the filing of the suit,
Ericsson and Armstrong, special
agents, first in the employ of the gov
ernor, and later in the employ of the
attorney general, made affidavits be-
fore the latter official charging Ma
Jors with being implicated in efforts
| to bribe them to DESTROY evidence thew
/ had against Cherokee jointists. Then
came a warrant from Cherokee coun-
ty, issued by a justice of the peace of
/ Weir City, charging Ericsson and
Armstrong with bribery. Attorney
General Dawson took the part of his
agents and proposed to defend them.
| Governor Stubbs also instructed the
attorney general to defend the special
agents. The attorney general applied
to the probate judge of Shawnee
county for writ of habeas corpus to
release the men from the custody of
| the Cherokee sheriff before he had
arrested them. The application for
the writ will be heard in the probate
court tomorrow morning, at which
time it is expected that Ericsson and
| Armstrong will surrender to the
sheriff. Probate Judge Schoch is the
| only judge in the city at this time.