The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-28

Circuit Attorney Joseph W. Folk was ap-
prised several days ago Of statement that
a gathering Of politicians had been held
for the purpose Of collecting $4,000 which
had been deposited by the ST. Louis and
Suburban Railway In payment for the
adoption of ordinances giving the company
a route near the Union Station. Immediate
ly Mr.. Folk began an investigation to see
II the statement was sufficiently well found
ed to require Grand Jury inquiry.
After q brief investigation he obtained
evidence to warrant his laying the matter
before the Grand Jury. and on Saturday
some OF the officials Of the Suburban COM
pvny appeared as witnesses. Yesterday the
inquiry was continued, the principal wit
nesses icing Charles H. Turner. president
Of the Suburban Railway Company; Breck-
epridge Jones, president of the Mississippi
Valley Trust Company, and Philip Stock,
secretary OF the st. Louis Brewing Associ-
a,ion- It is said that Mr.. Stock made a
clean breast Of the whole matter.
1t then developed that there was not
only $4,000 deposited in a vault at the
Lincoln Trust Company to be distributed
among the members Of the House Of Dele
gates, but there was also $4,000 in a box
at the Mississippi Valley Trust Company to
be divided among the henderson, the City
Council upon the adoption Of the or
dances.
The boxes are so arranged that it is
necessary for two keys to be used in open
ing either. One of the keys to the Lincoln
Trust box is said t. have been held by Mr..
Stock and the other IL said to have been
given to Mr.. Murreu Of the House Of Dele
gates. Stock. 1t is charged. held one of the
keys to the Mississippi Valley box, while, 1t
Ii said, the other was given to John q.
Brinkmeyer. as agent for Councilman
Kratz- Neither could open box to get to
the yrffbnuf nfhar
holder relinquished his key. Thus the
money was held in security.
The bills were passed in both the House
Of Delegates and the City Council. but
Judge Fisher granted an injunction re-
straining the Municipal Assembly from
passing the bill. Appeal was taken to the
Supreme Court, where the decision was af-
frmed. When the decision was reached 1t
is said the politicians who had entered into
the agreement to pass the bills declared
that they wanted their money, as they had
performed their party Of the agreement.
Stock. it is said. refused to open the
boxes. 1t was for the purpose Of collecting
this money, 1t is said, that the meeting
referred to was held.
Jury Opens the Boxes.
When the Grand Jury learned that the
moEey had been deposited in the boxes, a
committee was appointed to go with the
Circuit Attorney to investigate. John P.
camp, HlcnarQ w. Snaplelgn ana Jonn NJ.
Dutro were chosen for the committee. Cir
cult Attorney Folk took them first to the
Lincoln Trust Company. where they were
given access to the box. Up to this time
there were no facts to substantiate the
story, and the Jurors were wondering II
after all they would find the money. When
the box was opened the money was found.
In crisp new bills the money had been
carefully counted out and tied in packages.
The Jurors counted the money over to satfs-
fy themselves. and there was the .0O0.
From the Lincoln Trust Company they
went over to the Mississippi Valley Trust
Company's office. There in box R-a65 the
sum of $4,000 was located. This completed
the evidence and confirmed the statements
made, so the committee prepared to return
to make its report.