The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-09-12
ST. LOUIS SENSATION
WARRANTS ISSUED FOR 10 AL
LEGGED MUNICIPAL BooDLERs

- . - @SaaS a SbOAy-1tC
turns From Mexico and S%urrenders
to the Circuit Attorney at Missouri
Metropolis-Held the Key to Box
Containing Large Sum Which Was
to be Divided Among the Boodlers.
st. Louis, Sept. "a sensation was
caused today by the issuance of bench
warrants for the arrest of eighteen
members and former members of the
house of delegates on confession of Del
egate J. X. Murrell, who fed to Mexico
last spring, after being indicted for
bribery by the December grand jury in
connection with alleged boodling oper-
ations of the municipal assembly in
granting street railroad franchises, and
who unexpectedly returned to the city
through the efforts of the Post Dis
patch. and surrendered. He is now in
custody of Circuit Attorney Folk and
will, it is stated. be granted immunity
from punishment for turning states ev-
idence.
Following are the names of alleged
combine members for whom bench
warrants have been issued, charging
bribery and perjury in connection with
the suburban street railway and other
legislation: Ed E. Murrell, John H.
Schnettler, Charles F. Kelly, T. E. AL
bright, George F. Robertson, Louis
Decker, John Helms, Charles A. Gutke,
Adolph MADEIRA, H. A. Faulkner, julius
Lehman. Edmund Bersch, Otto Schu-
macher, John A. Sheridan, Charles j.
Denny, VIM. Tamblyu, J. J. Hannigan
and Emile Hartman.
Warrants were served on e. E. Muir
rell, S%chnettler, Albright, Robertson,
Helms. Gutke, Faulkner. Schumacher
and Hannigan. Albright ard Faulkner
were released in bonds of $50. 900 each.
Others arrested were allowed to go to
their respective homes in custody of
deputy sheriffs. who will remain with
the accused until they shall have fur
nished surety for their appearance in
court when the cases are called for
trial. With the exception of Tamblyn.
who was a member of the last house of
delegates. and is now said to be in
Cleveland, all the indicted delegates are
believed to be in the city. Delegate
Kelly telephoned the district attorney
this evening he would surrender to-
morrow and give bond. Police are
watching the bridge and other possible
enu of escape from the city.
]. X. Murrell made the following
statement for publication today:
II have ~surrended Internationally to
Circuit Attorney j. w. Folk and made
a full confession to him. | am not per-
mitted to give details of the evidence.
. S will all come out in the trials and
| am Wiling to go on the stand and
tell all | know. | held the key to the
box in the Lincoln Trust company con-
tanning $74, 900 bribe money to go to
house delegates upon the passage of the
suburban blli. The money was put up
as the purchase price for the votes of
the combine, the price having been
agreed upon.
The combine of house delegates was
composed of 10 men. When the subur-
ban matter came up before the combine
| was selected to negotiate with Philip
Stock, representative of the suburban
railway as to the best price we could
get for our votes upon the passage of
the bill. The purpose of the combine
was to control and sell legislation for
the benefit of members of the combine.
Shortly before the suburban bills, the
combine sold it's votes on lighting bills
for SAL, 800. Each member of the COM
bine received 50, 800. | was present and
saw that money paid to the various par
ties. These are only two instances, but
there are others, evidence of which is
in possession of the circuit attorney.
I'VE did not look upon what we did
as a serious crime. AS it had gone on
long without interruption it was not
recognized by those who participated in
it as morally wrong. Until the present
circuit attorney took office no sincere
effort, apparently, was ever made to
punish what was being done as crime.
The practice to combine in the assem-
bly, in taking brides was so frequent |
went along with the trade. and did not
realize the enormity of the ~offense. NY
conscience was scared in that regard.
After my indictment and commit
ment the Doodle prosecution gang got
together and raised money for the pur-
pose of fighting the cases, and to re-
tain supremacy of the gang. Lehman.
Bersch and Helms acted as coachers for
the witnesses who were to appear be-
fore the grand jury, though it seems
these were not very successful.
81 feel better, happier and my mind
is easier now than for months. 7 pro-
pose to give the state all the aid in my
power. and hope my conduct will be
such in in future years that ! may re-
gain the confidence of my fellow citi-
zens."
1t is stated Murrell returned to St
Louis last Friday and surrendered. The
fact was kept secret until today.
Charles j. Kratz, member of the coun-
Gil, who was indicted for bribery in
connection with the suburban deal.
ana escaped to Mexico at the time Muir