Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-11

III this evening j. X. Murrell had been
in the custody OF the district attorney.
The grand jury was not in session today,
hut its members we're within call should
Mr.. Folk have needed them TO hear any
new testimony. That body will be recon
vened tomorrow, when the circumstance
Of the passage, in 1889, Of the city light
ing bill by which a ten-year contract to
light the city's streets was let. will be In
vestigated. According to the confession
OF ex-Delegate j. X. Murrell Of the mu-
nicipality, S47, 500 was divided among GER
tain members Of both houses who secured
the passage Of the measure. Light on the
proceedings Of the house Of delegates at
this time has already been shed for the
benefit Of the grand Jury and tomorrow
the Members OF the council will be given
q chance TO tell what they know. All the
members. With one exception, Of the city
council Of 1899 have been subpoenaed.
City Attorney Folk is confident tomor-
row will bring forth some surprises in
the shape OF indictments. He intimates
hat the Indictments may cover some per
sons outside the chamber who we're in
strumeRtal In giving brides:
Former Councilman Charles Kratz, who
wen w FNNAtNp iaSN optihB Whth lhhlCAtu
for bribery in connection with the subur-
ban street railway legislation, will prob
ably be the exception. 1t was persistently
rumored all day around the four courts
that Kratz had returned and would ap-
pear as a witness for the state. 1t was
even declared by some that they had seen
KratI. Circuit Attorney Folk diplomat
ically avoided giving a direct answer in
reply TO inquiries about the missing man,
neither affirming nor denying the state
ment that he was in town.
II the time permits the grand Jury will
also take up and inquire into the council
combine in connection with the Suburban
Street Railway franchise legislation.
MurreII Talks of His Flight.
For the FIRST time since his return to St.
Louis, last Friday, John X. Murrell talked
to several close friends about his fight
from the city and the causes that led him
to come back. Shortly after Sigmund l..
Kramer qualified for S25, 900 on Murrell's
bond, the former member Of the combine,
who has turned states evidence, made this
statement to one Of his intimate friends:
The penitentIary could not hold as many
tice. My W mental anguish and my wife
desperate plight in st. Louis, where she
was deserted by those who had promised to
- 49, ~ ~ ob1(hNNs hNAS AAG NadoGH
that prompted me to come back and divulRe
all. After my Indictment l did not have
any Idea OF going away until the evening
OF March Is, when Julius lehman and
John Helms came to me and said l had
better get out.
Money Was Promised.
ro "wsll t,s send sa, you an money while you're
Is supplied with funds, also"
They declared that 1t was of the utmost
Importance that l leave, SO l lost no time
my clothes SO as to disguise myself as
much as possible. l took a train that night
a leading hotel and went over to ri Paso
frequently. While in FL Paso Julius Len
mann came down to see me. Instead OF
BGdno 8 SIC Sic from mGney me hoTey Saa tshm 0atag
some remittance from the gang and then
Iegan 70 realize that they were apt to
l continued to receive letters from the
ises and which urged the necessity SsiatSi Of PFI my
keeping as far away as possible. A few
days after his return to st. Louis Lehmanr
t~eIegraphed me that l had better go further
into the interior, as It was dangerous fol
me TO remain near the border. 1 went tc
H.. Adams. and later went to Mexico City.
DESTROYED Wife's Letters.
continued to receive letters from Leh.
mann but letters from my wife became
less trequent l found out since then tina
evidently .suspectlng that She was after ms
70 come back. L did not receive one cent
from the gang from the time. 1 left the cIty
ana u was simply my own mental anguish
and the fact that my wife was deserted ant
pronsoly starving In st Louis that led ms
had discovered that her letters had beer
9estreyed when they went through mem,
Ders 81 the gang. and she came herself q
agreed with her that 1t was best 10 make
clean breast of my ~wrong-doing and IdS
what could to right a wrong, and / re,
turned with her to st. Louis. -.
Money for the Prosecutor .
Mayor Wells is preparing a bill to b,
presented to the municipal assembly pro.
Viding an appropriation Of SIS, 900 for tn,
use OF the circuit attorneys ONCE in carry,
ing on the Doodle investigation and prose,
cution. This will be presented in eacl
house whenever Circuit Attorney folk in
dicates his need for additional money L
carry on the fight.