The St. Louis Republic., 1902-09-22
Indicted Boodlers in Jail Hopeful
OF Favorable Action in Habeas
Corpus Proceedings.
GRAND JURY TO MEET TO-DAY.
No Additional Indictments EX
pected Immediately-Cases
cfCombine Members TO
BE Set Next Week.

The decision Of the Supreme Court in tn,
! habeas corpus proceedings instituted in be-
! half Of the men now in jail on charges OF
| bribery and perjury. which IS expected TO b.
! handed down to-day. was the principal topic
/ of discussion by the friends of the indicted
| men yesterday. as well as by the general
| public and much speculation was INDUCED
as TO the result.
| Sympathizcrs OF the men in jail expressed
the opinion that the decision would be e.
! vorable 10 the prisoners and the latter were
vis:bly cheered and inspired by the express
/ sions OF confidence voiced by the numerous
visitors to their prison quarters.
Those who heard or read The argument Of
the Circuit Attorney before the Supreuia
Court however. held a contrary opinion
and many lawyers declared their belief that
the action Of Judge Douglas in requiring the
| heavy bond would be upheld. 1t was point
ed out that the defendants. when arraigneI.
had not indicated 10 the court that the bond
| imposed was excessive nor offered evidence
to Indicate the amount Of bail they could
furnish. This was one of the points made
by Circuit Attorney Folk in his argument
to show that the court. in the absence OF any
evidence TO guide him in fixing the bonds in
these cases to suit the conditions in each
individual case was governed by no preju-
dice or partlaHty in fixing the amount of
bond to meet the conditions as they were
presented TO him.
EFFECT OF DECISION.
II the Supreme Court decides in favor Of
the prisoners they will not be released by
this proceeding, but the lower court will be
instructed to accept bail for them in a lower
sum than at present named. $1,000. in each
case
In the event that the Supreme Court or
ders hail in these cases reduced, there is
some question as to whether the six indict-
ed men who are now fugitives will surren-
der and furnish bond According to the
best information obtainable. it was the
original intention OF these men to surrender
when the indictments were first returned,
provided the bond required was low enough
TO assure each of them that he would have
no difficulty in furnishing it None OF them
relished the idea OF going to JAIL and for
that reason they remained out OF sight the
first day until they could communicate with
prospective bondsmen. when they intended
TO surrender and give ball. When they dis
covered that heavy bond was being eN-
acted, and in not only one. but in three
cases. and that 1t was exceedingly difficult
for even the most influential OF those
rested TO procure satisfactory sureties. they
became alarmed and, with the prospect of a
long confinement IN Jail pending trial, they
determined to remain IN hiding Indefinitely.
In consequence, they are now fugitives
from justice in the eyes of the law. unless
they can furnish satisfactory explana-
ton OF their absence. Flight is an admis-
sion of guilt. in law. and this will be used
r-sr1,r
TO trial. The Circuit Attorney has the
right to introduce. as tending TO establish
the guilt of defendant. evidence showing
his flight after being indicted. Circuit At
torney Folk says that ne has never known
an instance in which a fugitive after be-
ing apprehended and later placed on trial.
ever succeeded in escaping conviction.
GRAND JURY TO MEET.
The Grand Jury will convene at o'clcck
this afternoon and resume the bribery in
yestigation. 1t is not definitely known
outside of that body and the Circuit At
torney's office what particular matters will
engage the attention OF the body. but il is
generally understood that most of the ses-
sion will be devoted to perfecting the evil
dence already I'm relating TO the lighting
bill and the street railway regulation
measure. 1t is extremely improbable that
any additional indictments will be found
or bench warrants Issued to-day.
There will only be two or three sessions
of the Grand Jury this week. owing to the
necessity of the Circuit Attorney devoting
the latter part of the week to preparations
for the prosecution of the bribery cases al
ready docketed for trial The case Of r.
II Snyder comes up next Monday. the case
of Henry Nicolaus the week following and
the case of Ed Butler at Columbia. Mo-.
Monday. October 1S.
The cases of the eighteen members of the
combine recently indicted will be set next
week. and an early docketing of the cases
for trial will be asked.
Some idea of the extent OF the work
which confronts the Circuit Attorney and
his assistants may be gained from the
statement that to dispose of the cases OF
the men against whom indictments have
thus far been returned will require more
than a years time. irrespective of the time
necessary for preliminary work.
Neither the Sheriff's Office nor the Police
Department has been able TO obtain any
definite information as TO the whereabouts
or movements of Kelly, Lehman. Hart
man, Decker, MADEIRA Sheridan, the
fugitives. although the heads of both de
partrnents declare that a vigilant search is
being maintained