The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-18

Ericsson, however, directed her what
i to say to me, right in my presence, an6
| there was no attempt made to make
| me believe that the charge was true
Ericsson then asked both myself and
Mrs. Thomann to sign certain state
1 ments and afhdavits. I did not want
| TO do 1t, and neither did Mrs. Tho
mann, but he assured me it was al
| right and that they would never be
used except by this lawyer to bluff the
| judge, and under no circumstances
would they be used for any other pur-
| pose.
4 never met E. c. Wilcox until the
day l was arrested in this case That
day Ericsson introduced him to me
saying; This is the man we have been
working for Wilcox said: I am glad
TO meet yOu-' He said: L will stand
behind you and pay your attorney fees
and all expenses and wages right
straight through the fight
lie never asked me if my affidavit
was true but said he wanted me to
stand pat. After that and about the
time of their trial 1 told Ericsson that
Wilcox looked to me like GUTTER.
and that 1 knew that he, Ericsson,
was not able to pay wages right along
Ericsson said then that he had Will
cox behind him with plenty of money,
ana for me not to worry.
Then after that Wilcox and Eric
mldnlsht, got me up, and we went up
the street Wilcox said to me:
DO L look like a quitter?' and I said:
You do not-bCt 1 know human ma
ture so we'll that when a man is
through with man he generally lets
him down.
He said:
You stand hitched and I'll stand by
you. I cannot give you any money.
but you Will find a piece of money to
you and your attorneys, all expenses
and wages! And besides that he would
make me home for the rest of my
life.
1T was mentioned and understood
by us all at each time the statements
and affidavits concerning Judge Gillett
and Leta Foster We're reaC, or prepared
that they were false and were to be
used only as bluff
Il heard Leta Foster give her testi-
mony in the case of Wilcox, Black and
Erricson, and as far as I know all of
her testimony given at the trial about
the Gillett matter was true.
H. =. MEDLOCK."
Mrs. Thomann's statement, which to-
gether with the one made by MedIock,
lows:
L Charlotte Thomann, hereby state
that have read the foregoing state
ment of H. G. Medlock, that as far
l know all his statements are true 1.
OF course, was not present at any of
ms conversations with Wilcox, but
heard practically all of the conversa-
tions mentioned had with Ericsson. I
was also present and heard the testi-
lnony or Leta Foster in the Wilcox
Ericsson and Black case and to the
best of my knowledge her testimony
ielerrlng 10 the Gillett matter was true
MRS. THOMANN"
{ (,OnIRCfnPn Reo.1
Inc punishment which will be imposed
upon the Thomann woman and MediociI
p - 81 sun II, d hatter Of conjecture. They
nave thrown themselves upon the rnercy
af the court and it is customary in such +
sases TO make the sentence lighter than
n case of a conviction through trial sub
stantial fines or fines and iail sentences
are possible.
The one feature of the case which most
:leases Assistant County Attorney James |
Mcclure representing the state, is that
the entire proceedings will not cost the |
s9qinty segi6Gyon Wf;6eL RlGheI The costs in tae
charged against Black and he is good for |
hem; They amount to $500 This is in |
addition to fine of 81 600. It is the Gus
tom, that the costs in such cases are |
'harged to the defendants. And the cour !
y will be richer because of the fines |
hat have been and may be imposed.
Harry Bone. whose splendid work /
helped in securing the conviction of two |
If the defendants last summer, was not in !
he court when this case ended.
The attorneys present We're J. N. Tfnch- |
r. representing Judge Gillett James |
Mcclure, the state, and A. E. Crane, of |
Iolton.
History of the Case
1t was early in May, last year. when E. |
:; wilcox, county attorney of Harper, |
4. Z. Ericsson and H. c. Medlock. two
Topeka detectives; Corey Black of Coun- /
II Grove, an old friend of Wilcox; and |
hrs. Charlotte Thoman of SummerfieId,
<an., were arrested on state warrants
harging criminal libel against Jude
preston B. Giilett of Kingman. These ar
ests caused a state wide sensation be-
ause of unusual circumstances of the
ase and because of the prominence OF
he parties connected with the transac-
ion.
The arrest of the five defendants oc-
urred after Black and Ericsson had been
ummoned to appear before the fede1 al
ummcnsts came. wilcox was notified by
Black. The two men came to Topeka to
ether and turned the sensational anI-
aVits over to County Attorney Simon |
rglng that criminal prosecution against
udge Gillett be filed in the Shawnee
ounty district court. Simon maintained
ossession of the affidavits of the Foster
irl of Ericsson and Medlock.
Late in the week Wilcox and Black re- |
urned from Fort Scott and demanded the
eturn of the papers. Simon refused to
urn them over Evidence secured by At
orney J.. n. Ttncher and by a Burns de-
active showed crooked dealing and OF
aturday, May II, the four men and the
'homann woman were arrested on state
'arrants charging criminal libel
LII Tie NIIdI % wilcox. BLACK ana
lesson in June the hearing developed
1to one of the most spectacular trials
yer aired in Shawnee county court. A
ct of circumstances was thrown around
ne three defendants by the state Only
l enc place was there a weak spot That
as in directly connecting Wilcox with the
belous transaction of attempting to de-
anne Judge Gillett. Subsequent testi-
lony of Wilcox in his disbarment case.
is claimed. would have been sufficient
D have warranted a conviction of the
Iarper county lawyer; but this testimony
as lacking at the time and Wilcox was
cquitted. Black ard Ericsson We're boch
onvicted. Black was fined $1,000 anu
ricssOn sentenced to a term of one year
l the county Jail Notice of appeal was
11p md Gta Of s