The St. Louis Republic., 1902-01-30

whenever they approach him. beseeching
| them not to question him. as he has moth
! ing to say. Circuit Attorney Folk said that
| he has no knowledge that Mr.. Stock has
| given bond to answer any charge that may
| be preferred against him. When asked
| whether it was probable Mr.. Stock might
| be called upon to furnish bond for such a
| contingency. Mr.. Folk replied: That is a
| question that cannot very well answer.
| The Grand Jury has entire charge of the
| matter. and may return an indictment or
| refuse one against any person whose ac-
tions they are investigating"
CENTRAL TRACTION BILL
EVIDENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.
1t was evident from the witnesses ex-
amined yesterday that the Grand Jury
has extended the scope Of its inquiry so
1 as to include the methods adopted in the
passage Of the Central Traction Railway
franchise bill. and the attempted passage
of the North and South bill. which pre-
ceded it. Among the witnesses summoned
were James Campbell, the broker: John H.
Blessing of the defunct firm of Gaylord &
Blessing, Benjamin Altheimer and Zach
Tinker. Murray Carleton. president of the
Transit Company. and Fred Lehman. the
companys attorney. had been examined the
day previous. Eugene Sweeney, the pro-
moter Of the North and South bill. the pre-
decessor of the Central Traction bill, had
been suhpoenaed, but failed to appear.
John P. Sweeney. member of the present
House Of Delegates, was brought in in his
stead by mistake, but was excused when
the mistake was discovered.
When these two bills were up for consid-
Grafton in the Municipal Assembly there
were many persistent rumors Of Doodle be-
ing used to influence legislation favorable
to them. and 1t was with a view to gain
ing some knowledge OF boodling methods
alleged to have been used then that the
Circuit Attorney caused these witnesses to
be summoned. in the hope of not only
shedding light on the case In hand, but of
furnishing evidence on which to base in
dictments in these cases also, if possible.
Zach Tinker was questioned at great
length, and 1t was freely whispered while
he was behind the closed doors, by the
knowing ones in the corridors that he could
tell a curious story of how the investiga-
ton came to be started. The story is that
at the time Of the recent reorganization Of
the House one of the present members. who
was also a member when the Suburban
bribe was deposited In the safe deposit
boxes, told certain public official interest
ed in the reorganization, OF the money that
was tied up. He said he and his colleagues
had lived up to their part of the agree
ment and that they should be paid for their
services. This official, it is said, sent for
Philip Stock. and in the presence of Zach
Tinker demanded that at least half the
money be paid over to the legislators.
This demand was refused, and the official
and the member of the House, angered at
the refusal, allowed the matter to reach the
Circuit Attorney
GRAND JURY MAY PROBE
MERAMEC WATER SCHEME.
The Grand Jury, it is said. will later on
take up the investigation of the Meramcc
water supply scheme. concerning which SO
many rumors have been circulated of late.
The scheme coptemplates forcing the city
to expend $40. 900 to secure its water sup
ply from the Meramec River and. it is
said, there is profit" Of S., 100000 in it for
the promoters and the men who engineer
It through the Municipal Assembly. One Of
the plans of the scheme is the reorganiza-
ton Of the House, and the report is that
the recent reorganization was accomplished
with the understanding that certain Dele
gates were to be remembered in the divi-
sion Of the profit.