Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-16
BEGIN PROBE OF
KIRK FURL0UCH
SCANDAL TODAY
Attorney General Calls Con.
ference Of State Bar Com
mission-Governor Told
Where Bandit Is.


c. Kirk from the state prison two
weeks ago was instituted this morn
ing when the. attorney general of
the state issued call for a confer
ence of the members of the state bar
commission in his Office at the state
house tomorrow morning at 10.
McKelvie to Probe.
Simultaneously almost with the is
suarcc of the call, Governor Nickel
vie gave an interview to the news
paper men, having returned to Lin
coin from his visit east, in which he
stated that he would actively push
the investigation into the Kirk af-
fair.
i have not seen newspaper from
Nebraska since | was awav." said
the governor, land know little about
the case, except what had come to
me before / left. At that time |
made preliminary investigation
and decided to let matters go until
my return"
Exonerates Barrows.
With reference to the fact that
Lieut.. Gov. Barrows had not pushed
the investigation, the governor said:
Lieut. Gov. Barrows asked me
before left what action he should
take, and if he should proceed with
the investigation, and | especially
requested him to do nothing until
my return"
Asked by the newspaper men if Ne
knew where Kirk is, the governor
said:
Il have been told that it is known
where he is, and that he is paroled
to Attorneys Peterson and De Voc.
to WI ON he reports
Order of Court.
This call was issued in the form
of letter to Capt. Walter L. An
derson, secretary OF. the state bar
commission, which reads as fol-
lows:
II have on my desk this morn
ing a peremptory order from. the
supreme court ordering that the
members Of the state bar commits
sion in eonjun :tion with the attor-
ney general, be and hereby are d.
rected to make a thorough investi-
cation into the release of Beryl c.
Kirk from the state penitentiary.
Says Not Clear.
From the order of the court, it |
is not clear whether tie commission
or myself are to take the initiative |
in the matter, bur | have noticed
from the press reports that you are
quoted as having said that you as
sumo that the attorney general |
would take the initiative and that |
the state bar commission would act
as referee. /
I'm conformity with that idea, |
am perfectly willing to assume the J
initiative, and for that reason re-
quest that you cali together the
members of the state bar associa-
ton for an open conference relative
10 further procedure in this matter,
and would suggest that if possible /
they be asked to assemble Tuesday,
December Is, at 10 a. M, in my Of
fee at the state house."
Stating that he intended to go
clear to the bottom OF this thing"
Attorney General Davis likewise is
sued the following public statement:
Asks Public Hearing.
II stand absolutely for a complete
public hearing of all the statements
of,everyone who has any connection
with the release of Beryl c. Kirk
from the penitentiary. and in addi-
zion to that, a complete investiga-
ton into the records of the executive
office relative to the matter OF fur
loughs, not only under the present
administration, but under preceding
administrations"
In a letter to Governor Mex elvie,
the attorney general asked tor an
investigation into the records The
letter follows:
will you kindly direct your Of
lice force to make up complete
tabulated list Of all the pardons, fur
ioughs, and other executive orders
which have been issued according to
the records of the governors office
during the last 10 years which have
any effect on releasing or i'll any
way tightening the punishment OF
eonviets Of our state pen'tent'ary
II am asking this information that
may submit it to the state bar
commission in connection with GER
tain matters which are pending be-
tore them. would like to have this
list by Tuesday, December 10, if
possible"
Davis Denounces Rumors.
Denouncing rumors that Senator
Peterson or R. w. Devoe had ever
received money from the attorney
generals Office for duties performed
as false, Mr.. Davis this morning
stated that the only time that At
torney Devoe, to whom Kirk was
"furloughed," ever worked with the
attorney generals office was at the
food hearings last summer, as the
administrator for Lancaster county.
George w. Marsh, state auditor,
In a communication to the attorney
general stated that no warrants had
ever been made out to either Sena-
tor Peterson or r. w. Devoe, ac-
cording to the records in his Office.
Governor Mekelvie arrived here
this morning from conferences m
Washington on the coal situation
and republican politics.
He Immediately heard the report
of Lieutenant Governor Barrows on
the proposed investigation into the
Beryl c. Kirk scandal ordered by
the supreme court and is expected
to issue a public statement concern
ing his promised probe into the mat
ter later in the day.
Is Still Fugitive.
Members of the state constitutional
convention are concerned over the
fact that three Of its members are
on the state bar commission, and