The Twin Hells | Page 4

business and was doing well. My wife's health failed her;
she became consumptive. My family physician advised a removal to
the South. I closed out my business at a great sacrifice, and came to
Atchison, Kansas. Here I located, and made it my future home. Soon
after my arrival I commenced the publication of a daily newspaper,
known as the "Times." In the county in which I located I found one of
the worst and most corrupt political rings on the face of the earth. This
combination had controlled the politics of the county for almost a
quarter of a century. Soon I became involved in a terrific newspaper
war with the members of this political organization. An election of
county and State officials was soon to take place. In order to test the
strength of the contending elements, in my newspaper, I presented the
name of Hon. W. D. Gilbert as a candidate for district judge in
opposition to the ring candidate. A sharp fight ensued. Mr. Gilbert was
elected by an overwhelming majority. This was the first time for
twenty-five years that this ring had been defeated. The members of it
were very sore. Looking upon me as the principal spirit, I was the
object toward which they directed all their shafts of spite.
Some time before this an insurance company had been organized in the
city of Atchison. I was invited to become its president. I examined the
books of the corporation, and found it to be organized according to the
laws of Kansas; that the company had a charter from the State, and also
certified authority to issue policies of insurance, granted by the State
insurance commissioner. I accepted the presidency on condition that

the company was simply to have the use of my name, and that I was not
expected to give any of my time to the company, as I was otherwise
engaged. I was editor of a daily newspaper, and could not attend to
anything else. While this company was doing business a printed
circular was used, stating that the corporation had one hundred
thousand dollars PAID up capital. This circular was sent out through
the mails over the State advertising the business. It was charged this
circular was fraudulent; that the company did not have that amount of
capital paid in. My name was attached to this printed circular. For this,
I was indicted in the United States District Court, on the charge of
using the mails for fraudulent purposes. The advertised capital of this
corporation was SUBSCRIBED, but not all paid in, as it was not
needed in the business of the company. After indictment I was arrested,
and gave bonds for my appearance at the next term of court, which was
held soon after.
Not being able to secure the attendance of all my witnesses, my
attorney wrote the prosecuting attorney asking his consent that my case
be continued. The request was granted. When the case was called, my
attorney appeared and introduced a motion to continue the case, filing
affidavits necessary in such cases. The prosecuting attorney having
given his consent, there was no doubt in the minds of those interested
as to the continuance of the case. For some cause best known to himself,
the judge would not grant the continuance, and forced me to trial
without having a single witness. It was my intention to have some fifty
witnesses subpoenaed, to prove that the insurance company of which I
was president was not a fraud. Not being allowed to have my witnesses,
I was, under the instructions of the court, which were, indeed,
exceedingly pointed, found guilty, and sentenced to eighteen months'
imprisonment and to pay a fine of two hundred dollars. The political
ring now triumphed for a brief period. In order to prove conclusively to
the reader that this was a piece of spite work, I have only to state that I
was the only one of all the officers of that company that was ever tried
for running a bogus insurance company. Why was it that I was the only
one sent to the penitentiary when there was the secretary, treasurer, and
six directors equally as guilty as myself?

To prove more conclusively that it was political spite work that sent me
to prison, let me inform the readers that about the time the insurance
company at Atchison was organized, a similar one was organized in
Topeka. They were similar in EVERY RESPECT. I was president of
the one at Atchison, while a distinguished gentleman by the name of
Gen. J. C. Caldwell was president of the one at Topeka. Both of these
companies failed. The president of the Atchison company was sent to
the penitentiary, while the president of the Topeka company was
appointed by