The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-08

he was engaged in any corrupt method OF
scheme for perpetuating the Democratic
Iarty in power in this State?"
| Mr.. Walsh objected and Mr.. stephens re-
! fused to answer.
Mr.. Lehman: You made no declaration
of the people Of Missouri that there were
airy corrupt influences or agencies At worh
in the politics of the State?"
-Ir. Walsh: 81 object"
Witness: Il refuse to answer"
| O.: You were interested in the result
of that election because you We're Gov
ernor of the State at the time and you de-
sired. did you not. an expression from the
| people at the polls which would carry with
It the Endorsement of your administers
, tom"
Mr.. Walsh: 'I object"
Witness: Il refuse to
| O.: You would not have consented for
one moment. would you, to the use OF cor
rupt or venal Influences for the purpose of
securing an Endorsement of your admins
tration? You wanted that upon its merits
or not at ALL"
Mr.. Walsh: 81 object"
Witness: II refuse to rswer."
WHAT PHELPS MEANT ny
REFERENCE TO Gliding SHELLS"
O.: Ibid you rebuke Mr.. Seibert at the
time he told you what he was doing? and
say to him that its methods. if known,
would be a scandal to the party?'
Mr.. Walsh: Il object"
Witness: Il refuse to answer"
O.: Did you tell Mr.. Seibert that his
methods were improper"
Mr.. Walsh: II object"
Mr.. Stephens: II refuse to answer"
Mr.. Lehmann: Mr.. Stephens you have
referred to the period when you first be-
came aware that Mr.. Phelps had con-
tributed 5000 to the committee fund and
have fixed the date with reference to a
controversy which broke out. Was the
controversy to which you refer the one in
which the poultry business of the State
was involved?"
A: Il do not understand the question:"
Q: '.The one in which Mr.. Phelps conced-
ed his habit of sucking eggs, but disdained
any imputation of hiding the shells?"
A.: Il think his Carthage speech was the
first knowledge l had of that controversy"
O.: This matter of hiding the shells had
reference to hiding the source from which
money was received. had it not:"
A: II think So"
O.: DO you remember when MI. Roach
was elected Secretary of the Senator"
A: Il don't know when he was first elect
ed"
O.: There was a fight. was there not.
over the question of his election as Secre-
tary of the Senate? You were for Mr..
Roach?"
A: Yes, sir"
@: Mr.. Phelps was for Mr.. Roach? Did
you learn in that connection about Mr..
Phelps"
A.: II think So"
O.: Growing out Of an interview of Vir-
gil Conkling?'
A: Yes. 1 think that was it,
@: In Mr.. Phelps's speech. when he re-
ferred to the poultry business?''
Walsh Qaughingly): Tina is, Mr.. Stone
- sNt4~aH- 81 a~-a1l ,N@
proper diet, but disagreed as to the dispo-
sition of the Shells"
This closed the examination of Mr.. Ste
phenS.
OREAR'S ACCOUNT OF
THE PHELPS CONTRIBUTION.
Edward I. orear. former Superintendent
of Insurance. was next placed upon the
stand. He testified that he is at present
in the insurance business.
Mr.. Walsh asked: MIR. Orear, in the cam
paign of 1896. Mr.. Cook says that you came
to him as a personal representative of Gov
ernor Stephens and asked him Cr Cook
to put the, contribution of $1,000. which Mr..
Phelps had made to the campaign fund, in
his own name. in submitting the sworn re-
port of the treasurer, as required by law.
Did you do THAR"
A.: No, SIR
c.: Tell what you know about that
1000
A.: Shortly after the election, Mr.. Cook
invited me to go to st. Louis. either by
letter or telegram, l don't know which. Up
to that time I did not know that Colonel
Phelps had contributed anything, except
500. Mr.. Cook wanted to confer with me
and others in regard to closing UP the
work of the campaign. l met MIR. Cook and
Mr.. Stone. L forget whether Mr.. Ziebig was
present during the first part of the inter-
view. He was there during the day-Iater.
Mr.. Cook informed me that the bills had all
paid. In closing up, they We're s2,GOe
short. and Colonel Phelps had contributed
that money. and that he (Mr. Cook had
paid all the bills. and they We're then ready
to make their report.
My recollection is that Governor Stone
first suggested that the contribution or
by Colonel Phelps ought not to ap-
pear as having come from Phelps, because
he wal the attorney of u corporation. The
was discussed between us for a
short while. and 1 suggested that 1 could
see no improperly in its being credited to
one else, provided Phelps made no
1t was then that Cook went up /
to see Colonel Phelps"
O.: HIMSELF"
A.: Yes. I think he went to see him |
twice. He did not get to see him the first |
trip. 1 don't think there was anything said |
as to whom the contribution should be |
but I was informed that night thar |
P~heips-by Mr.. Ziebig. treasurer Of the |
committee-had given Cook an order, and
got MI. Ziebig TO credit the deposit in |
name"
g.: "When you were in this conference