4 WEE: O..IAHA. SATUKDAY, DCKiiBKR 20, 191. BIG FUND RAISED TO FREE GUNMAN KIRK FROM PRISON D. J. Campbell, Lincoln Attorney, Tells of . Offer Made for His Services. (Continued From Vrngt Oiw.J have an investigation made. The information of the governor and not made public Later he said that the matter was taken up with Acting Governo Bushee by Mr. Peterson, who had Hist returned from his vacation, and "that he did not participate in the discussion. He said as he recollect ed it he was later called in and typed the furlough order himself. It was agreed, he"5aid, that the mat ter was to be taken up with the gov ernor before it became effective and that after many attempts they dis cussed it with him and he said he was satisfied .that it was legal with Mr. Dushee's signature and that, as Mr. Bushee was taking the responsi bility, he was satisfied. Gqyernor Advised Delay. Questioned why it - was held so long before presentation, he said that he first wanted to find' out where it was best for Kirk to go, aijd that Mrs. Kirk was called into a conference, although she did not know the furlough was signed, and rold him and Warden Fenton that Kirk could get work in a garage where he was formerly employed in Omaha or at Kansas City, Sioux City, or Des Moines, lie said the warden advised against Kansas City, Sioux City or Omaha, as his asso ciates would be bad and he could obtain a more moral atmosphere in Des Moines, where it was decided to send him. He said he talked the release over with the 'governor shortly after the Omaha riots and the governor ad vised against releasing Kirk at that time on account of the unsettled condition in Omaha, and advised waiting six weeks. He said it was December before he was able to again get in. touch with the gover nor, who was verv husr. He said he was of the opinion he was working for poor people when I.. -J ,i.. ..i. ... j heard of a $10,000 or $15,000 offer for his release. He said Senator Peterson made the financial arrange ment with Mrs. Kirk, who paid them $150 as a retainer, and on July 8 naid them an additional $100. Since his release Mr. Dcvoe said Hint he had received two letters from Kirk and that he would submit them to the commission tomorrow. Ei M. Johnson of. the State Board (if Pardons and Paroles, was the' irst witness called to the stand at 10:30 a. ni. Me testified that on August 3 he handed the report of his investiga tion inJo the character of Kirk' and his trial in Douglas, county ordered l.v the governor, to Phil Bross, then private secretary to the governor. Gave Report to Bross, .. -He said he remembered giving the report to .Bross because after re turning to his own office he recalled an ambiguous statement which he wished to correct, and went back to the governor's office, where hese-: owed the report from Bross and later returned it to him. fliis report ts the one winch was reported missing from the files of the governor's office last week.---, Mr. Johnson stated that he had discussed the general features of the Kirk case with Warden W. T. Fenton of the state prison. But he denied having ever spoken of the matter to either Attorneys Peterson or Devoe after making his investiga tion. Following Mr. Johnson, J. Harry Moore, representing The Bee at the Make it a practical gift. One they will enjoy to the utmost and at the same time be most serviceable. ERVICE CHOOL HOES have been pleasing Omaha Children and their Parents for more than thirty Christ mases. x Let this year be no exception. Warm, comfortbale felt slippers in a number of pretf , ty styles that are sure to please. ' Drexel Shoe Co. ; 1419 FARNAM ST. . ' hearing, was called to the witnesi stand by the attorney general. He was shown a copy of The Bee for December 11 and was asked if he knew who had written the story attempting to connect the release of Kirk . with a recent $63,000 robbery at the Hayden Bros, department store in Omaha. Moore denied any knowledge of the authorship of -the itory. He was instructed by the attorney gen eral to communicate with the man aging editor of The Bee regarding the story. Senator B. K. Bushee, on whose order Kirk was freed from the peni tentiary, was then recalled to the witness stand. Telia of "Guardian." In yesterday's hearing, Senator Bushee stated that he knew where Kirk had been sent following his re lease from the prison, but was ex cused from answering a question telling the location, on the grounds that the information might binder the search for Kirk now being con ducted at the governor's order. The witness testified this morning that he had been informed that Kirk had been placed in Des Moines with a man who "stands high in his community." The man was supposed to serve as a guardjan to the ban dit, he said. ,He said he had not received this information from Mr. Peterson, but from the governor. The attorney general then took the letter which was supposed to have been written by Attorney Ray Abbott of Omaha, who conducted the prosecution in the original Kirk trial, and asked the witness what part of the letter most influenced him to sign the order for the re lease of the notorious bandit. Called to His Attention. He asked the witness if he had noticed that the letter was written on plain paper and not on any let terhead. "I did not notice that at the time," said Senator Bushee, "but it was called to my attention later." I -relied entirely on the state ments of Senator Peterson, in whom I have perfect confidence." Did vou know how Mr. .Peterson got his letter which was addressed to the governor?" "No." The attorney general then read the portion of the letter referring to the robbery of the Malashok jewelry store in Omaha and the battle with the4andits in which Detective Rooney of Omaha was killed. Confidence , in Peterson. "Did not that reference prompt yqu to make a more thorough inves tigation before signing the order?" asked the attorney general. Then Senator Bushee reiterated his confidence in Attorney Peterson and because of Mr. Abbott's official connection in the prosecution of Kirk felt that his statement was a little strong. He said he took literally that part of the letter which stated that Kirk's only guilt was in allowing the gang of bandits to use his house. The witness called attention to the statement in the letter which said that .Kirk had been punished sufficiently! and added that Attor ney Abbott, who had prosecuted Kirk, expressed the opinion that 18 months Was sufficient punishment. Can't Give "Guardian s" Name. "Did you attempt to verify Mr. Abbott's MgnaUire. to the letter?" he was asked. He. replied that he did not, 'but had done so since. "Can vouagive the name of the man in Des Moines in whose care Kirk was placed?" he was asked. "No." Asked for reasons why Kirk had not been' released at' once when he signed the order September 8, in stead of waiting ' until December 2, almost three months later, Senator Bushee said that Kirk was not re leased at once because of the desire to, find some suitable place to send him, and that .Senator Peterson told him that he wanted to be sure that Kirk was deserving of a furlough. Discussed With Warden. The witness declared that Mr. Peterson told him that the first step taken in the case was a discussion of the man in question with Warden .fenton. Asked if he knew who had ar ranged for the placing of Bandit Kirk in Des Moines, Senator Bushee declared he did not. .Lieutenant Governor Barrows was then recalled to the witness stand. He acknowledged that he was in charge of the Lincoln bureau of the Omaha Bee. He said that he had written some of the articles con cerning the Kirk furlough, and had furnished. - information for other stories of the case. When shown the issue of The Bee for December 11, and asked if he knew who wrote the article on the Kirk case, he said he did not know. v Hadn't Discussed Release. Mr. Barrows was then excused and Senator Bushee recalled. Referring to the article in The Bee, the attorney general asked him if he had discussed Kirk's release six months ago in Omaha. "Absolutely no,." he answered. Phil Bross, former private secre tary to Jthe governor and now the secretary of finance, was next called to the witness stand. He was asl: d about the report of E. M. Johnson regarding his in vestigation into the Kirk case. He said his first r;co11ection of the case was when the aff ir became prominent recently in the newspa pers. He said he had not discussed Kirk's release with anyone prior to his freedom from the prison. He said he presumed that he re ceived the Johnson report but did not read it and did not know to what it related. Correction Was Made. He said he distinctly remembered that Mr. Johnson returned to the office to make a correction in the report. He said he had since searched the files with the assistance of other clerks in the office, but was unable to find any trace of the report. Bross stated that he did not give the report to the governor, and he does not know where it is now. He said that if the report had taken the ordinary course of other papers with reports of like nature, it would have gone in to the governor, received his attention and later been filed. Col. J. H. Presson, record clerk in the governor's office, was next called to the stand. He denied ever seeing the report and gave a detailed explanation of the filing system of records pertain- Colonel Presson said he knew nothing of KirYs release until he heard about it the following day, December 3. He said he then called the warden to secure enough information on which he, could base an entry in the records at the governor's office. Formal application tor pardons and furloughs were usually filed and kept in a separate envelope in the governor's office, he said. He said the subject of a furlough was seldom opened without formal application to the governor's office. In this case, he said that he had never seen a formal application. Defends Furlough Practice. "Discussing furloughs Mr. Pres son said that they were often pre ferable to a discharge because they enabled the state to keep and hold jurisdiction over the prisoner and call him back to prison jn case re ports of his conduct were not favor able.. W. H. Antles, secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, was called and stated that he was at the penitentiary at the time of Kirk's release. He said Mrs. Kirk came in and he asked E. M. Johnson who she was. He testified that Mr.. Johnson told him that she was Mrs. Kirk and that she had a release for her husband signed by the acting governor. He stated that ,he had never seen the. order for a furlough. He said he had never talked with Warden Fenton about the case until recently and then only over the tel ephone. Governor Recalled. Governor McKelvie was recalled and stated that Senator Bushee had returned to his home before he got to see him after he returned from his vacation. He said that Senator bushee returned about 10 days later and they discussed the furlough bnetly and that benator bushee said there was nothing wrong in grant ing the release. He stated that he took the senator's word and thought no more about the matter until a few days later when Mr. Devoe spoke about it and aslied him if it was all right. 1 told him it was all right, that Mr. Bushee was responsible," said the governor. He said the conver sation took place in his office and that it was very brief as he was very busy at the time dealing with the coal shortage and other important nutters. The governor stated that he had never seen the report of Mr. John son on the Kirk case. He said he ordered the report drawn but was away from his office a good deal and it did not occur to him to ask for it as he expected it would be orodght to his attention in the reg ular way. He said he was away from the office a great deal during September and October, speaking at county fairs. Orders Return of Kirk. He explained that he ha"d ordered the warden to get hold of Kirk and return him to the penitentiary last Monday, lie gave as the reason lor this order that he thought with the public interest being manifested and the prominence being given to the furlough it was best to recall him and start action over again. He stated that his action was no reflec tion on Senator Bushee or anyone else.' Questioned if he knew anvthing about Kirk's whereabouts, he said that Kirk's attorney said he was in Des Moines.- The governor denied the state ment of Senator Bushee that he talked with him about Kirk's where abouts and said he did not tell him Kirk was in Des Moines. Johnson and Antles Surprised. James O'Conner, chief clerk and principal of schools at the peniten tiary, said he first learned of Kirk s furlough on the morning of his re lease when the deputy warden told him to get Kirk's clothing ready, as friends would some for him in the afternoon. He said that the warden and. deputy warden had authority to honor the paper and that Mrs. Kirk came after him about J. He testified that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Antles were there and Mr. John son asked, "Where did he get it?" He said both men appeared to be surprised when informed that the furlough was signed by Acting Gov ernor Bushee, but did not say any thing. Mr. O'Conner stated that it was the first time he had seen a furlough not signed by either the governor or the lieutenant governor. He said it was not unusual for orders to be received on other than official paper . ..i . ., . i , i i j:j ana wunout me state seai aua u uiu not arouse any suspicion. Warden W. T. Fenton said the first he heard of an attempt would be made to secure a furlough was last lulv when Senator Peterson visited the penitentiary to interview Kirk. He said Senator Peterson Well Known! Stove Line Open for Nebraska Manufacturer of well known stove line with large sales in Nebraska wants to get in touch with high-grade Manu facturer's Agent calling on Nebraska Stove Trade. Address Postof fice Box 267, Quincy, Illinois Sure Relief 6 Bell-ans Hot water Sure Relief E LL-ANS FOR INDIGESTION asked him about Kirk and his de portment and said if he would not report favorably he would not han dle the case. He said he told the senator he could report favorably on his conduct. Talked With Devoe. Later he said he talked with Mr. Devoe, who said he had been to Omaha and learned that Kirk had not been connected with the robbery of the Malashock jewelry store. He said they visited the governor and told him of Kirk's behavior and that he was not vicious and his deport ment was favorable. He asserted that he did not recom mend Kirk's release, but gave as his opinion that Kirk would "make good" if reteaied. He aid that Kirk had never asked him to recommend him, but that Mrs. Kirkhad asked about his conduct in prison. Mr. Fenton said the gdVernor stated that he would appoint a spe cial investigator and that he later talked to Mr. Johnson,' who was in vestigating th? case. He said he heafd no mo' e about it until the day before Kirk's- release, when Mr. Devoe toid him they had a furlough and the governor knew all about it. He said they discussed the best place to place Kirk where he would be away from evil companions and in fluences and Mrs. Kirk stated that she had 'a place in Des, Moines. He said he telephoned to the peniten tiary to get Kirk's clothes ready. He replied in answer to questions that he relied upon Senator Peter son and Mr. Devoe and did not see anything out of the way in the re lease. He said he did not check up the signature as he had never had anyone try to get out in that way and he would take the responsibil ity if they did. Considered Order Official. He said he read the Bushee order and when asked if he had honored other furloughs, said he had honored several. Questioned as to it not ap pearing to be a legal document, he said it was more official than many coming from the governor and com pared with it a release signed by the governor which he had in his pocket. The warden said that it was at his suggestion that Kirk was ordered to report to Mr. Devoe, as if he got a good job he might lose it if it became known that he was report ing "to a penitentiary. He said Mr. Devoe agreed to forward the re ports to him. He said he did not discuss the matter at length as everything seemed regular, and if he got an unfavorable report he could go and get Kirk. No written order has been re ceived for Kirk's return, he said, and so far he has not violated his fur lough. He said he had received verbal orders from the governor to leturn him. If released he stated he still believed Kirk would "make good." He told of seeing a letter from Kirk giving his street address .in Des Moines. His deputy, who in vestigated, reported the address was.j an insurance office. Chief of De tectives McDonald of Des Moines was called upon by the deputy to assist in the search, and he learned that Kirk got his mail at that ad dress" but never lived tjiere. .. Furlough Held 90 Days. ' Questioned as to the length of time the furlough was held before being presented, he said that it was not customary to hold furloughs 90 days, as in the Kirk ease, and that they were seldom held over five or seven days. Mr. Fenton testified that Mr. Devoe told him that he took the case for a very moderate fee, as the merits of the case appealed to him. He' said there was no danger in fur loughs of this character, as the number who violated their parole was very small compared with the number who were benefited and be came successful. Harry Fleharty of Omaha was called and said that he had known Kirk for three years and defended him at the time of -his trial in the Douglas county district court. On the appeal to the supreme court he said Ben Baker of Omaha assisted nim. i He told of a visit to his office made by Mrs. Kirk to inquire what steps to take to get a furlough and said that she requested him to ac company her to Lincoln and intro duce her to Senator Peterson. He said that she desired to secure the help of Senator Peterson as he had secured the furlough for Frank Sin clair. He denied that he had any thing to do with the retaining of Mr, Peterson. . Asked if he made a practice of securing releases of con victs, he stated that he did not as he did not have "enough drag with the administration. On the trip to see Senator Peter son, he said, he took the brief filed in the supreme court and denied that he carried other papers in the case, including an affidavit signed by Mr Musgrave of the Omaha and .Coun cil Bluffs Street Railway company and a letter written by Ra Abbott, formerly of the county attorney's of fice and prosecutor of Kirk. Ihe Abbott letter he said was never in his possession although he advised Airs. Kirk to see him. Style of Type. Attorney General Davis then called Mr. Fleharty's attention to the style of the type on the type writer used to write the brief, which was similar to the type used in the Abbott letter. Initials used on the bottom of the Abbott letter, he said, were similar to those useed by a stenographer who had worked for him. He gave her name as Ruth Walker and admitted that it was posvble that she had written the letter. 'He also admitted that he knew of Abbott's view but was not sure of the contents of the letter. Miss Walker will probablv be subpoened to appear at the hearing "Saturday. Referring to the conference with Senator Peterson Mr. Fleharty said that the senator refused to take a retainer from Mrs. Kirk to secure her husband's release from the pen itentiary, but said he would take a retainer to examine the record. Questioned as to the fee he re ceived, Mr. Fleharty said that he charged $1,000. He said he had al ready received $500 of this amount and $150 for expenses and court costs. Five hundred dollars he said was still due. , Robert Smith, clerk of the Doug las county district court, testified of the manner in which, he kept his records and said that the only time the bill of complaint left his office vPas when it was taken out by the law firm of Baker & Ready, and that it was receipted for in the regular manner. Interview by Telephone. - Victor Smith, World-Herald re porter, testified that he first heard about the Kirk release December 3. The statement in the World-Herald, credited to Senator Bushee, "I did not know Kirk was held for murder. My impression was' that he was a bootlegger," Smith said he received over the. telephone.- His conversa tion with Senator Bushee was un- Only On "BROMO QUININE" To get the penulne. cll for full nine LAXATIVE BROMO QUININE Tablets. Look for signature of E. W. GROVE. Cures a uoia in one uay. 30c. :ltllllllnlHIIII!flMlllltllllllllllll!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIt j Will You Have REAL MUSIC I In Your Home This Christmas? i With the New Edison you get the counterpart of music, not the counterfeit We have a limited supply of The NEW EDISON 'The Phonograph With a Soul in stock, so get in your or der without further delay. Open to 9 P. M. 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He next met Senator Bushee he said in Fremont the following Sunday and at that time Senator Bushee said, "I told you the truth then and I have told it since." When he first talked to Senator Bushee he said the senator did not ap pear to have the facts of the case clear in his mind or if he did he did not recollect them. H. O. Parsons, in charge of the Lincoln bureau of the World Herald, was called and said he first learned of the Kirk furlough the d.y he left, when Harry Dobbins, a Lincoln newspaper man, told him of it. He said he went to the gov ernor's office and saw Mr. Presson. who told him he knew nothing about it, and called up the warden at the penitentiary toMind out if it was true. " There is damn big fee offered for the release of Kirk,'" he testi fied he was told by E. G. Maggi, member of the board of pardons from 1911 to 1919. He said he saw a copy of the Johnson report and did not print the Maggi statement in order to protect Mr. Bushee, al though he heard many sin; '..ir rumors. He testified that "Robert Druse dow. member of the state legis lature from Douglas county, told him that $10,000 or $15,000 had i.ckn raised in Omaha to secure Kirk's release. He said he heard other rumors to the same effect and heard the fac publicly discussed in the lobby of Lincoln hotel. Big Fee Offered Maggi. E. G. Maggi testified that an at-' torney came to his office and Saul that there was a "damn big fee in it for him if he could, get Kirk out." Mr. Maggi said that he told the attorney that Kirk was where he should be and that he was wast ing time and had better drop the case. . He requested that he not be forced (Continued on Tage Five, Column To, u - Store Hours From 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. Big Store Hours From 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. 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