The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-09-12
Fugitive Member of the ST. Louis
House of Delegates Combine
Returns and Surrenders.
NE HAS MADE A COMPLETE CONFESSION,
On the strength of IL Circuit After
ney Folk Has Issued Warrants
Against Eighteen Former and
Present Members of the House of
Delegates.


extra, issued at noon, Monday, says:
-. X. Murrell, who fled from ST.
Louis after indictment for attempted
bribery, FORGETTING his bond, has been
brought back to st. Louis and turned
over the authorities. Efforts to force
his return through legal channels
failed, and it was generally assumed
that both he and Kratz could spend
the rest of their lives in security in
Mexico if they wished; but Murrell
is in ST. Louis. through the efforts OF
the Post-Dispatch.
"Murrell, who negotiated with the
Suburban railway representatives fol
the $4,000 that was to be paid to
members of the house of delegates
combine for their votes, has made a
full confession to Circuit Attorney
Folk. That confession names the men
who composed the house combine.
ut states that the combine was an
association of house members formed
for the purpose of getting money for
votes in favor of measures presented
to the assembly.
at sets forth that the meetings OF
the combine were often held in
room off the house chamber. and de-
tails business proceedings of the com
bine.
"The confession is startling in it's
revelation of the thorough business
organization of this association
formed to rob. When measure Oh
magnitude was presented to the as
sembly. the combine would hold
meeting and decide by ballot the
amount of money to be demanded TOT
its passage. That decided, an inter
mediary would be elected, one OF the
members being thus selected to re-
ceiye the money and to divide IL
among the members of the combine.
In this way the Representative OF the
individuals of corporation who hao
introduced the bill dealt with only
one man in each house. 1t is for this
reason that Philip Stock and Charles
H. Turner, representing the SUBURBAN
COMPANY. could give positive evidence
against only two men: ). n. Murreii,
representing the house combine anu
Charles Kratz, representing the coun-
Gil combine. -,
~ X. Murrell, however, not only
q member, but the accredited repre-
sentative of the house combine, could
give all information regarding mem,
hers and affairs of that comblne-ano
ne has done so. All it's dealings, not
only in the Suburban case, but on
other bills, is in the hands OF the CIR
cult attorney, with unquestionaple
proof of every detail.
ITO complete the clean sweep TOT
New st. Louis, it is only necessary
that Kratz, or some other member OF
the council combine, come to the
front. This is not impossible. 1t IS
not even improbable. And, venturlng
prophecy, even this may not be
necessary in order to ''land" the
council boodlers.
"An interesting fact revealed by
Murrelrs confession is the discovery
that Mr.. Folks deductions, made
from his investigation OF the Doodle
situation and brought out in his cir
cumstantial evidence and argument In
the Lehman and Faulkner trials
have been proved to be entirely cor,
rect. They are confirmed in detail
by Murrll's statement.
"Warrants have Been issued by Cir
cult Attorney Folk against IS former
and present members of the house OF
delegates. All 1s are charged with
bribery in connection with the
Suburban and other bills, and Is OF
the IS are charged with jerjury be-
cause of testimony given by them be-
fore the grand jury.
"These warrants are issued on the
confession of j. X. Murrell, who Is
now in the custody of the circuit at
torney.
1T is charged that the men Ior
whom warrants are out composed a
combine in the house of delegates at
the time the Suburban railway ana
o+har hoodle hills were passed"