The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-08
WILSON BRANDS
IT''PERSECUTION"
NOT PROSECUTION
Bank Commissioner FIatly Re-
fuses Hopkins Access to Files.
Claims Attorney General Won't
Return Valuable Papers.
CHARGES He WAS TRAILED
Declares State Spent S4,466.46
on "Secret Investigations"
VIII Not Let "Outsider" Ex-
anime His Own Bank.
CHARGES He WAS TRAILE[

Walter E. Wilson, state bank COM
missioner, today fatty refused Rich
ard J. Hopkins, attorney general. tur-
ther free access to the files and rec
ords of his office
In a statement issued today Wilson
claims that Hopkins already has valu-
able documents taken from the bank
commissioners office which he has re-
fused to return and further demands
for files, Wilson states, must be spe-
cific and the documents examined
must be surveyed in his office.
'sPcrsecutfon. Not Prosecution"
Continuing. Wilson brands the pres
ent method of procedure against his
office by Governor Allen and Richard
J. Hopkins. attorney general as per
secution" rather than prosecution
He charges they hired detectives to
trail him and have even gone so far
as to employ a special accountant who
is attempting to pry into his private
affairs.
They even want to examine my
own bank" Wilson said. In view of
the present banking situation, and in
order to protect the banks. I do not
propose to let the outsiGer tthe ac-
ountanO. appointed by the governor
and the attorney general, who IS not a
banker. to have free access to all of
my records. and to my private bank
in an attempt to create a bad impress
sion among my neighbors for political
PURPOSES only
For eighteen months all of my
records have been absolutely at the
disposal of the governor and the at
torney general. and they have used
and abused them to their hearts con-
tent. 1t is apparent now that they DO
not care what banks are compelled to
suffer. if they can only find something
in my conduct to crlticise, ana as d
prot ection to the banks of Kansas and
to he records of my office and its
prOuer conduct the attorney general
must in the future specify in detail the
record that he desires and must exam
inc them. if he is permitted to exam
Inc them. in my office"
Wilson's Statement.
Wilson'S statement. in full. follows:
.Tbe special accountant employed by
the attorney general, under authority
from the governor. TO further investigate
me and nv record. has asked for many
records of nv office which have no bear
ing whatever upon the Saltna matter, ana
has asked to be appointed a special bank
examiner with authority to examine my
own bank at Washington ana any otheT
bank that he may desire to examine. In
addition to this, The governor has en-
pIoyCd outside counsel to assist the learn
ed attorney general in prosecuting me
All of this. it seems to me, is further con-
elusive evidence that the governor was not
entirely ingenious when he said IN the
interview given by him at the time that he
made public the report of the committee
and directed the attorney EeHeEdi 10 bLAiE
custer proceedings. that he was impeiled
to this decision by the gravity Of the re-
port submitted by the special committee
appointed for the examination of Mr., VIII.
sons office. This report was considered
carefully in n number of sessions Of tbs
committee. and my judgement accorded
with by all the members of the committed
was that the findings of their investiga
fion left me no other course of action
II this report was so conclusive, why il
1t now necessary TO employ another eXper
accountant to attempt to pry into my
private affairs. the accountant is at
tempting to do, and to examine my Owl
bank, which certainly cannot help th'
bank in any way. The procedure Of the
governor and attorney general looks lik'
persecution instead of prosecution
THE attorney general employed an ex
pert accountant from Garden City: wher'
all his Nperts grow. who, with his as
sistant. were paid more than $40 by the
state. and in addition to this. the Kan
saS State Bankers associtinn paid his
living expenses amounting to more thar
$50 while he in Salina. This was Il
investigate my actions IN the Salina mat
ter This accountant spent ten full week
upon the investigation.
Another man was employed to checl
the matter up. and he visited New York
tContinued on Page Sevenl