San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-12-01
From st. Louis.
ST.. LOUIS, Mo. Nov. "a, 1881.

ST. LOUIS, MO. NOV. Sfi iooA'
EDITOR FREE Pass:
This being thanksgiving day business is
entirely suspended. Matinees at the differ
cnt theatres are crowded with pleasure seek
ers and unusual good cheer Sc ems prevailing
all round. The day ID bright and in keep
ING with the season thus far, which has in a
great measure offset the hard times prevail
ing and coal famine seriously threatened
by the '.strike" of nine hundred coal dig
gers yesterday The 80 called investigation"
or ''police scandal" mentioned in previous
letters to the FREE PRESS, continues. The
wrangle originated in charges of corruption
and inefficiency made against the police
commissioners" by certain members of the
Legislature and criminal lawyers of the city.
This led to suits for libel, criminal Islander,
for perjury and so forth, and now ''deposi-
tons" are being taken before Notaries and
the mud singing" between contending
parties has become fearful and scandalous,
It shows on one hand that the history of
police boards in st. Louis has been dis
graceful one and reveals to the view a
record of plotting and counter plotting
''schemes that are dark and tricks that are
vain" startling revelations of bribery and
corruption, on the other hand the ''deposi-
tions" now being taking show that those
who now accuse the commissioners" as
above stated are not in condition to stand
in food of calcium or electric light. The
accusers aforesaid are and have been mem
bers of our Legislature and many of our
prominent gamblers have deposed that the
''black mailing" practiced upon them by ex
acting statesman at every meeting of our
State Legislature has made their condition
and relations with the said statesman intol-
cradle SO that the great public have only
to look on good naturally and take the
contending statements of this Investigation
cum grano Sails" The investigation"
will be resumed before. Notary Chas. Knapp
tomorrow, and as there is much bad blood
between contending parties, collision is
liable..to occur, or it may be that there will
be 'blood on the moon"
An exciting scene occurred in the criminal
court yesterday. Frank Fone is the young
desperate whe escaped from the sheriff last
week in company with one John d. Shea,
and who was taken after Shea had murdered
officer Dolan in his fight. AS Fone's name
was called for trial yesterday sheriff Gotleib
rushed into the court room and startled
every one with the announcement that Frank
Fone had again escaped. HE is just 60
ing out through the sky light he exclaimed
in the midst of confusion worst confound-
ed" which prevailed There was hurrying
to and fro, and strange to say that this dar-
ing fellow with scarcely minute In his
favor and hunted by hundreds already reach
ed the frozen ground from his perilous hight
and must have passed through the midst of
his pursuers to parts, that are, up to the
present writing, unknown. The Deputy
Sheriff, Mr.. Gotleib, is suspended by Sheriff
Masonat least for the present, but the crook
cry" which has temptingly invited SO many
other prisoners to escape, trough It's faulty
construction and unnumbered apertures,
shows too plainly where the fault lies. Capt.
Mason will doubtless reconsider his action
toward one OF his most faithful deputies and
crafty his many friends by restoring him
to position to which his high character
entities him. CARL SMYTHE.