The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-18
join WITH COUNTY
City Decides to Observe Law in
Liquor Cases.
Investigations Awaken Officials
to Cooperation.
MAYOR is WITHOUT COMMENT
Chief Also Ignores Charges
Made by Former Officer.
Meanwhile State Carries on an
Investigation.
MAYOR is WITHOUT COMMENT

Mayor Herbert J. Corwine today
declined to make any comment on the
| charges made against Guy A. Swal-
low, chief of police, by W. C. Kiely,
former assistant chief of detectives.
Il have nothing at all to say about
the charges against the chief, or the
general conditions in the police de-
partment," he said this morning, and
would not be persuaded to change his
attitude.
An investigation of the police de-
partment by the state is now under
way. according to c. B. Griffith. as
sistant attorney general, who has been
out ofJthe city for a few days.
The complaints of officers who
have been discharged will not be
taken as basis for custer proceed
ings," said Mr.. Griffith, unless the
leads they can give develop materially.
If one of these officers specifies an
incident involving someone else, and
that person corroborates the state
ment, then it will be seriously con-
sidered."
Chief Ignores Charges.
Chief Swallow would make no COM
ment on Kiely's charges against him.
as submitted to the attorney general.
As it was written by a man who
was discharged from the force be-
cause of dishonesty and who threat
ened to get even because of the dis
to deny his charges, or even to COM
ment upon Them" said the chief.
Kiely was suspended from the force
early in April. Altho the chief would
that the assistant chief detective had
been discharged because OF the al
legged failure of the Knox county,
Ohio, authorities, to receive a board
bill said to have been collected here
for them and turned over to Kiely.
KieIy Explains.
To explain this question, Kiely to-
day sent to Mr.. Griffith an affidavit
signed and sworn to by J. B. Larimer.
his attorney. in which Larimer tells
of a conference between Mayor Cor
wine, Chief Swallow, Kiely and him
self at the mayors office May 4, 1922.
Chief Swallow had asked Kiely= over
the telephone to be there at that time,
says Larimer.
There was nothing said about any
or charges against Mr.. |
Kiely,' says Mr.. Larimer in his affi-
davit. except that the mayor asked !
me if I had any papers, and L ex-
hibited to him, which were also read
by Mr. Swallow, a duplicate check on
the Merchants National bank, dated |
February 1. 1922. No. 80. made by |
w. g. Kiely to the order of B. H. |
Lytle, sheriff, for $16.55, which check !
had been cancelled and paid; also |
letter of J. E. Jones. cashier of the |
bank, addressed to myself, dated April |
%. 1922. and carbon copy of my let
ter, addressed to Mr.. B. H Lytle, sher- |
iff. Mount Vernon, Ohio, dated April |
II. 1922. and letter dated April Is. |
1922, from B. H. Lytie, sheriff of |
Knox county, signed by o. NJ. walker, !
deputy. Upon reading these letters |
the mayor stated that some people /
doubted whether the original check. |
dated February 1, had been sent, but /
that he did not, and that he had not |
desire to do Mr.. Kiely an injustice /
and, therefore, he had re-instated him, /
and thereupon he produced and turn /
ed over to Mr.. Kiely a warrant of the
city of Topeka for his salary in full
for the balance of April and for four
days in May, amounting to $101 and
some cents.
kieIy Was Reinstatcd.
"'I asked him if it was distinctly
that Kiely had been rein
stated. as the only object and purpose
n representing Mr.. Kiely, whom 1 had
Known for several years. and whom I
lad always found to be reliable and /
trustworthy, was that his reputation !
vas under a cloud and I desired the
loud removed. The mayor promptly
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