The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-08

Jones, OConnor and Daley to proceed
with the investigation of the O'Hara
affidavit which was obtained yesterday
from Deputy Sheriff r. NJ. Sullivan OF
Sangamon county, and which was made
by Springfield woman. The resolu-
ton to proceed with the inquiry was
offered by Senator Ettelson and on his
motion the rules were suspended and
the resolution adopted.
Mr.. Coan Tells of Conversation.
The resolution was adopted after the
senate had gone into executive session
and heard the testimony of M. Blair
Coan, investigator for the White Slave
committee regarding his conversation
with Deputy Sheriff r. M. Sullivan,
of Sangamon county.
The senate then went into executive
session and Mr.. Coan testified to
conversation he had with Deputy Sher-
iff r. NJ Sullivan on the night of April
2S in the Leland hotel lobby. Coan said
Sullivan declared the investigating
committee had better stay away from
Springfield. If not Sullivan would pro-
duce an affidavit that would put the
commission out of business and make
the state minus a lieutenant governor.
Coan said Sullivan then proceeded to
tell of an affidavit Sullivan had re-
fecting on the lieutenant governor and
saying this resolution would be pre-
scented if one Davis, who had been sub
poenaed, were compelled to testify be-
fore the investigating committee.
Witnesses explained the Davis referred
to was associated with former Alder
man William Ensel in the wholesale
liquor business in this city and that
Davis testimony was sought on the
ground that Davis held lease to
piece of property in the vice district.
If Davis were summoned, Sullivan
said, according to witness, Davis would
H. 140 hnT
ifs whom Sullivan would swear in and
Davis would tell of the affidavit and
it would be produced.
Threat From Deputy Sheriff.
Sullivan said he could get other affi-
davits to the same effect II necessary
You know the legislature is only in
session a few months" Sullivan was
quoted as saying, land after that 1 can
indict the members of this COMMISSION
and send them, to Jail"
Witness said he did not inquire on
what charge the deputy proposed send
ing the senators or lieutenant COVER
nor to jail.
him to tell this word to the members
of the commission. Witness did as
requested The next day he saw Sui
Ivan at Sullivan's office, witness SAID
ION my own hook and not at the oil
rection of the committee.
Witness told Sullivan the commit
tee was going ahead with the investi-
cation regardless of whom the lnveS-
tigation hit. Sullivan replied that was
the committees lookout, witness said.
Sullivan also backed down, in part, on
his statement of the previous night,
saying he had only one affidavit and
that he did not intend to send any
deputy SheriffS to the hearing when
the committee met. According TO VIII
ness Sullivan said that Davis was
friend and that Sullivan was not going
to let Davis be dragged through the
mud: that EnSel used to be an alder
man, was a fine fellow and in influen-
tial citizen. The executive committee
then dismissed witness and the COM
mittee of the whole arose.
Later it was learned that the affi-
davit was signed by Maud Robinson,
a Springfield woman. Harry Gibbons,
a court bailiff in Chicago, said today
that he was with O'Hara in the city
January 7th when Duncan and Miller"
registered at the hotel Sherman.
"O'Hara and myself had been to-
gether during the afternoon, said CID
bons, land in the evening we went to
the cafe of the Hotel Sherman. There
we met Tom Vredenberg, of Spring
field. and two of his girl friends.
O'Hara was afraid some one might try
to make the party the nucleus of some
'frameup' and was particular in ask
ing me to stick along. He did not
want to be of the party, any way, and
was anxious to get away. We went i
to the Lambs club, after that, and
OHara said Harry, stick with me and
make it easy for me to break away |
from this We left about midnight |
and the girls crossed the /!
street toward the hotel and O'Hara, |
who said he was going to the Press |
club started in that direction. 1 went |
home.''
Gibbons said that O'Hara met vre-
denberg through renting a house from |
him at Springfield. They did not seem
to be particularly friendly he added. !
At Springfield today O'Hara told |
friends of the dinner party al Chicago.
He added that he had an unquestion- |
able albi Vredenberg said he might |
have something to say later.