The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-08
Mrs. West of wichita Makes
Charges.
Says He Struck Her and Used
Violence.
DENIED BY THE GOVERNOR
Gen. Martin, Who Was Present,
Says They're Silly.
Grew Out of Parole CaSe-DOc.
tors Find Bruise on Chest.

tors Find Bru1Se on Chest.
Sensational charges of an insult
and an attack by Governor Hodges
today in his private office in the state
house were made by Mrs. Luella West
of Wichita, who today told Judge E. r.
Simon and Topeka physicians that the
governor had wrenched her arm,
struck her on the chest and shook his
fist at her and used violent language
The same story is also told by Mrs.
Laura Buckwalter, also Of Wichita.
Governor Hodges and Adjutant Gem
eral Charles I. Martin and z. Hop
kins, state free employment agent.
who were in the office at the time.
denv the West womans charges.
The trouble in the governors office
occurred this morning, following
two days conference regarding the
granting Of a parole for Sedgwtck
county man named Sullivan, serving
time in the penitentiary on criminal
charge. Copies of letters in the West
woman's possession were regarded by
the governor as Office correspond
ence and he refused to permit them
to be taken from the Office. 1t was
when Mrs. West sought to flee from
the office with the papers and other
letters that the alleged attack oc-
CURED.
The two Wichita women came to To-
peka Saturday night. They conferred
Monday and Tuesday with Sam Seaton.
the governors parole clerk. In the
course Of this conference, they asked
for copies of letters from the Wichita
State Temperance Union protesting
against the parole OF. Sullivan. Seaton
gave the women copies of the letters
and the women then went before the
governor.
Women Had Office Files.
In discussing the letters, Governor
Hodges told the women that the corre-
spondence was part OF the office files
and that his policy would not permit
either the originals or copies to be TAX
en- from the office. According to the
two women. the sovernor seized the
West then interfered and picked up the
letters. 1t was then. the women charge,
that Governor Hodges seized and
struck Mrs. West and later shook his
fist at her. All Of these charges are
denied.
Mrs. Vests Story.
He seized my right hand and
wrenched it in an effort to take the
rapers from me- said Mrs. West this
afternoon in the office of Judge Simon.
II tried to hold the papers and to put
hand above my head and made a 1unge
at me, striking nc on the breast. Later
he shook his fist at me and said, you
are no lady and you will never get
parole by such action"
Mrs. Buckwalter did most of the
talking for Mrs. West. She declared
that only her own interference, per-
haps. prevented serious injury to Mrs.
West.
when he struck her and was
IL H. - I~<&w
them and seized the papers from Mrs.
Vests hands"
Gave a Demonstration.
A reporter asked how close the gov
ernor stood to Mrs. West and Mrs.
Buckwalter stepped up to the reporter
and declared, that close" Mrs. West
was asked If the governor swung at
"Yes, he did," he replied. "He hit
me Just like that" and Mrs. West
swung a vicious left that landed on
the reporters shoulder and forced
him backward against desk:
The charges of the two women are
denied by the governor and General
Martin and Hopkins.
Governor Hodges Statement.
"I was as cool and gentlemanly as
any man could be under such circum-
stances" said Governor Hodges this
afternoon. II was subject to the most
insulting and humiliating remarks by
the woman and If it had been a man
well it might have been different. I did
not strike her, did not wrench her arm
and did not shake my fist at her. did
tell her that such conduct would not
help her cause.
The letters which she sought to
take were Office correspondence in our
Office and copies OF this correspond
ence. Mr. Seaton made a mistake in
furnishing her with comics Of the LET h.
ters and l told the ladies would be
compelled to override his action and
refuse to let the letters leave the Of
flee. 1t was then that the woman
seized the copies as we'll as letters
of private nature on my desk and
rushed from the office. 1 reached for
the letters. but let loose of them as
did not want to tear them. 1 think
the letters other than copies Of the
protests were later returned to the Of
fice."
General Martin declared that the
governors action was that of a gen.
tleman
1T is an unusual situation for a
man to face" said General Martin
and 1 think the governor showed un-
usual GOODNESS and self control. He
was gentlemanly and as courteous al
anyone could have been under the
circumstances"
Martin Is Positive.
Martin saw everything that trans.
charges of the two women are abso
lutely without foundation and no
based on facts.
THE governor never seized the wo.
mans hand or wrenched her arm,
said General Martin in answer to 6
question. so far as the charge thai
he struck her or shook his fist at her
that statement is positively silly Moth.