The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-29
TOO LATE.
Kelly, the st. Louis BoodIer, Re-
turned to America
When the Time Had Passed for
Doing Any Harm.
PROMPTLY ARRESTED.
Grand jury Adjourned Without
His Evidence.
Report Says City Has Been
Mercilessly Robbed.

Philadelphia, Nov. 29.-After eluding
arrest for several months Charles f.
Kelly, the former speaker of the st.
Louis house of delegates, who is wanted
in the western city in connection with the
bribery cases unearthed there some time
ago, was arrested in this city. Kelly
had just stepped from the western ex-
press in the Broad street entrance of the
Pennsylvania here when he was taken
into custody by detective of this city.
He admitted his identity, and was lock-
ed up in the central police station. The
labels on Kelly's baggage indicate that
he had been in Naples, Paris, London,
Berlin. Dublin and Killarney.
ST. Louis, Nov. 29.-Charles F. Kelly,
former speaker of the city council,
known as the house of delega tes, was
the most badly wanted of all the mem
bers of the coterie known as the com
bine' indicted on charges of bribery in
connection with the passage of the
municipal lighting bill. Kelly was
wanted because he, it was charged,
handled the SAT, 500 bribe money which
according to evidence had been dis
tributed among the nineteen members
of the combine. Where did this money
come from? That was the question the
grand jury wanted answered and be-
/ HeVing Kelly could furnish the answer
he was indicted on September s.
He was at the Four courts when the
indictment was made against him. A
deputy sheriff told him he was wanted.
Kelly asked permission to run over to
the council chamber to attend to an
important matter saying, IF you need
me before I get back telephone me az
the house of delegates" That was the
| last seen of him by any officer of the
law until his arrest in Philadelphia
The statute of limitations covering the
city lighting deal became effective yes
terday and Indictments against those
who are supposed to have figured in the
al I,-ih ar
A reward of $500 from the state stands
for Kelly's arrest.
The October grand jury submitted its
final report last evening and adjourned
The report is sensational in the ex-
treme, advocating change in the cleo
ton laws and severely criticisIng the
city officials who have been connected
with the boodling cases. Information
charging fraudulent voting were issued
against four men and number of lnd1ct-
ments were returned against persons.
whose names We're kept secret because
they are not yet in custody.
| The report in part says:
"Citizens of ST. Louis have learned
with shame how they have been rqer-
cilessly robbed for years. We have for
the past nine months been regalsd with
the greatest exposure of corruption the
world has ever known. We believe the
people have been awakenedan the pub
lie conscience has been Quickened, and
we feel gratified that the law is vigOr-
OuSly enforced and que ana prop = IfCH-
ishment is being meted out 10 these
public Dlunderers.
I'VE have spent some time in investl-
gation of the crimes against the ballot.
While it is clear that many frauds have
been .perpetrated the difficulty of pro-
curing direct testimony is very great.
Corrupt and incompetent men we're APP
pointed as judges and clerks of elecTion
| in a number of precincts, which are
controlled by the baser elements of our
community and the bargains made by
the ward and precinct bosses Were car
ried out by these plant tools. The Mes
hitt law should be abandoned >
KELLY ALONE IN COURT.
! Philadelphia. Nov. 29.-Charles F.
Kelly. former speaker of the house OF
1 delegates of St Louis, who was arrest
ed in this city as an alleged fugitive
| from Justice, was arraigned in the cen
trail police court today Upon the tes-
timony of Detective Tate, who effected
the arrest. Kelly was held to await the
arrival of requisition papers from Mis-
souri, The detective was the only wit
ness his testimony being merely to the
effect that Kelly was wanted in st.
chief of police there saying Kelly was
charged with perjury and bribery.
Previous to the hearing the authori-
ties offered Kelly the opportunity to be
represented by counsel, but he waived
this right. say wing he would return to St.
Louis without resistance and would Sc
cure counsel when he arrived in that
city
Kelly was alone in court While in
the dock he laughed and chatted with
the detectives.