Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-21
DUKE TELLS
HOW LEENy
Aligned
City Solicitor, On Stand in
Custer Trial, Says Candi-
date Opposed Morality
Discussion in Speech.
JAQUES IN DENIAL
OF STATE CHARGES

City Solicitor l. l.. Duke, first wit
ness called in the custer proceedings
begun this afternoon against Mayor
Pat Leeny in district court before
Judge NJ. e. Hutchison of Lake City,
told Of the plans discussed for the
campaign OF Mayor Leeny prior to the
spring election. He said that he was
ordered by Mr.. Leeny to LAY on"
morals talk In the speech on the eve
of election and that the lid must be
loosened" in Ottumwa or Leeny would
be ruined" politically.
10 R. Jaques. counsel for the mayor.
laid the blame for any looseness in
the police department to Comm1s-
sioner T. J. Phillips. who was in
charge OF that department instead Of
the mayor.
JAoUEs eLAMEs PHILLIPS.
The opening remarks by the state.
with wilful neglect, maladministration
in once and corruption was made by
Attorney H. H. Carter (nf Corydon,
representing the attorne general.
The mayors side & the case was
presented In the op> ling statements
BY Counsel Jaques. He outlined the
provisions Of the commission form of
government and said that If there had
been '1ooseness" in the police depart
mont Of the city then Commissioner T.
J. Phillips, in charge Of that depart
ment under the commission, Is direct
" responsible instead Of the mayor.
who Is not in charge Of that depart
ment The mayors attorneys expect
to show that Mr.. Leeny repeatedly
asserted that he wanted the law car
He'd out and assisted the officers In
doing this t.sssss
Attorney Jsques told the court that
as the trial proceeds he will show the
custer case Is based on jealousy and
personal prejudice against the mayor
Instituted and brought to head by
Commissioner Phillips and City Solici-
tor Duke. :.
The mayors attorneys also expect
to prove that it Is common saying
now that there Is no gambling, pros.
titution or bootlegging In the city OF
Ottumwa'' and that the town is In bet.
ter shape now than It has ever been.
DUKE REVIEWS CAMPAIGN.
CITY Solicitor Duke was the first
witness and he took the stand at 1:55
o'clock.
In the spring campaign Of this year.
Mr.. Duke, H. H. Humphrey. James
Curran, U. P. Ewing and Mike Meany
were managers Of Mayor Leeny's can
didacy, according to Mr. Dukes testi'
mony. The witness told Of pre-elec'
ton conversations he had with Mr..
Leeny in which the cleaning up OF the
city was the topic.
"LAY OFF, MORALS TALK.
Although the Leeny crowd had con-
sidered the discussion Of moral con-
ditions in Ottumva as good campaign
material to use against the opposition
Mr.. Duke testified that Just previous
to a Sunday night meeting at the
opera house Candidate Leeny instruc-
ted him to ''lay or saying any thing
about morals in a speech Duke was
about to give.
Conversations since election be-
tween Duke and Leeny. according to
the solicitor contained remarks by the
mayor that he was going to be
ruined" politically IL they did not
loosen up the lid in Ottumwa." He
also told Mr.. Duke that he might not
run for mayor in two years but II they
could get good man ne would sup
port him IL he could be chief OF police.
Mayor Leeny said at that time that
he thought there was more meney
In being chief of police than mayor.
TELLS OF PAVING OFFER.
In conferences between himself and
the mayor about bitulithic paving In
which, according to the witness, Mr..
Leeny said he wanted to get in about
$50, 900 worth Of paving. Mr.. Duke
said he reminded Mayor Leeny Of 4
former conversation they had had In
which It had been agreed" that paw
ing business should be light this year
on account Of the war. The mayors
alleged offer to divide with Mr.. Duke
II he would influence the two commits
sioners to vote for the bitulithic con.
tract, was described by the solicitor.
Detailed accounts Of conferences be-
tween Mr. Duke, Mayor I.eeny and the