Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-18
wATTLEs DENIES THE CHARGES
Says He Has Kemmerling's sworn
Statement 90 Opposite Facts.


Statement 90 Opposite Faets.
President G. w. wattles OF the street
railway company has issued statement
on behalf of the company in which he
says he has a sworn statement from John
Kemmerling which Is exactly the opposite
from that given to the Omaha Bar asso-
citation, on which that association passed
resolutions at It's banquet Saturday even
ing. condemning the company for alleged
bribing Of jurors.
Mr., Wattles says he personally had the
books OF the company gone over at the
time OF the Kemmerling investigation TO
see IL any money had been spent as
charged and that nothing on the books
showed any such expenditures.
Following is the statement Of Mr..
Wattles;
ITO the Public-The Officers OF the
Omaha a Council Bluffs Street Railway
company read with regret the resolutions
of the Omaha Bar association charging
the company with being guilty OF Inn
proper conduct and asking that proceed
ings be instituted in the name of the state
TO forfeit its franchise.
All should he Heard.
ut is a well recognized and funda-
should not be condemned without being
first given an opportunity to be heard
The street railway company was not
given any notice nor an opportunity to
make defense TO the Wholesale charges
promulgated in the resolutions. An ex
parte proceeding OF that sort can scarcely
be expected to meet with the approval OF
a fair minded public.
"A group of lawyers should be the last
body of men TO be guilty OF the offense
OF passing resolutions which are scandal
Gus In their nature, and which materially,
and presumably must have been Intended
20 prejudice the public against the COM
pany, rather than a justifiable- investiga-
ton OF the truth OF the charges.
1.-THE Omaha 4 Council Bluffs Street
Railway company has always endeavored
to deal honestly and fairly with the pub
lic and 60 make a candid statement
and explanation OF any matter about
which the public has any reason TO COM
plain. In the management OF the bust
ness OF the company no money IL dis
bursed without a voucher being pre-
scented therefor. and approved by the gem
eral manager. and no voucher has ever
been approved where there was any
knowledge or means of knowledge that
tho moneys were not properly and law
fully expended. In every instance where
any rumor has reached the company
Of a suspicion OF any wrongdoing in
the claim department an investigation
has been Immediately had and In each
Instance IL was found upon Investigation
that the report was untrue In fact
Guilty OF Contempt.
a. ~.
case at the time OF his arrest the fol-
lowing facts were brought out; lie was
found guilty OF contempt Of court. not
because the street railway company had
either paid OF authorised the payment to
him OF any moaey. but because he was
found guilty OF soliciting aud Of actually
accepting so paid to him. not BY the
street railway company. bat by an eIpIs-
sary sent to him as the result OF a con-
ference between two lawyers. one of
whom furnished the so.
Arthur Gross of the claim department
OF the street railway company was pro-
ceeded against ON the charge OF attempt
ing 10 bribe a juror. but upon the tria,
the Judge directed a dismissal OF the cas-
upon the ground that the evidence was
insufficient 10 Justify the submission OF
the question 20 a jury. That ought to
have ended this matter before a fair.
minded grOup OF lawyers.
Iavestigates Money sPeat.
AT that time the president Of the com
lpany caused a personal Investigation 20
be made OF vouchers TO satisfy himself
whether any money had been paid 20 or
| through the claim department. to Mr..
KemmerlinE or for any other improper