The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-12
STARTLING CITY SCANDAL
St. Louis Grand Jury Finds S135,0OO
Deposited as Bribes'
PROMINENT CITIZENS INDICTED
The Money Placed In Safe Deposit Vaulh
For Members Of the Municipal As
sembIy to Secure Franchises to stree
Railway Company-Eribery Disclosed
by a wranglc-nIore Arrests Expected

semb1y to Secure franchises u otieo
Railway Company-Erlbery Disclosed
by a wranclc-Mors Arrests Expected
st. Louis, Mo.-Charles A. kratz
Emil Meisenberg and John K. Murrell,
members of the Municipal Assembly,
under the Ziegenhein administration
were arrested on bench warrants
charging them with bribery. 1ndict
ments have been found against them
and will be returned with the final
report of the Grand Jury.
City Attorney Folk says that the ar
rests bring to light the biggest bribery
plot ever uncovered in st. Louis. Per,
haps a score mere bench warrants will
be issued for members of the last
Municipal Assembly as the Grand jury
investigation proceeds.
It Is alleged that Kratz, Meisenberg,
and Murrell, with other members OF
the City Council and House Of Dele
gates, entered into an agreement WITH
the Suburban Street Railway Com
pany to pass certain desired franchises
for S135, 1000, which was placed in safe
deposit vaults. OF this, it Is said,
$4,000 was placed in vault of the
Lincoln Trust Company, TO be distrib-
uted among certain members OF the
House of Delegates If franchises were
granted. There were two keys to the
box, it is alleged, one held by Philip
Stock, as agent for the Suburban Rail.
way, and the other by John K. Murrell,
of the House Of Delegates.
1t is further alleged that 100000 was
deposited in q box at the Mississippi
Valley Trust Company, to be divided
among certain members Of the City
Council after the ordinances granting
the Suburban Railway the desired right
Of way should have been passed.
Circuit Attorney Folk and commit.
tee of grand Jurors visited the vaults
of the Trust Company and found the
money in the boxes, according to the
information filed with the Grand Jur 9.
The money was in crisp, new bills, tiLu
in packages. After counting the money
the committee returned to the Four
Courts, and the indictments were
found.
At Circuit Attorney Folks request
Judge Wood issued an impounding
order commanding the two trust COM
panies to preserve the boxes and their
contents undisturbed so that they may
be held for evidence at the trials to
be held in the Criminal Courts.
The exposure, it is said, was the re-
suit Of wrangle between members
of the House of Delegates and the
representatives Of the Suburban COM
pany over the payment Of the $4,000.
It IL said the members Of the Munic-
ipal Assembly combine carried out
their part Of the contract to pass GER
tain bill for the Suburban Street Rail
way, Ind now the Suburban Railway,
or, rather. it's representative, refuses
to open the box and give them the
money.
The House combine even offered a
compromise by which its nineteen
members were to receive $4,000 or S2500
apiece instead Of the entire $4,000.
Charles Kratz Is candidate for
Congress to succeed Representative
Richard Barth oldt. Mcisenberg and
Murrell are prominent business men
and we'll to do.