Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-26
TRACING BOODLERY
Alleged Bribery in the Matter of
Street Railway franchises
at ST. Louis.
HOW A "soRE" MAN WAS RELIEVED.
According TO the Testimony of a Uset
full Street Railway tfan-sus-
picious Stock Deal.

st. Louis, Mo., March 26.-When the
trial of Emil y. Meysenburg, n men,
ber of the house of delegates. on the
charge of bribery was resumed in
Judge Douglas court yesterday. Phil
ip Stock, the brewer. was placed on
the stand as Il witness for the state.
In reply TO questions Stock said that
he was employed by the Suburban
Hallway company to get its franchise
bill through the municipal assembly.
Stock. said that Feb. >, 1901, he ana
Charles Kratz. member of tile mu-
nicipal assembly. called together ON
Meysenburg, and Kratz told Stock that
MeySenbnrg was ''sOre" because the
Hinloch Telephone company had froz-
en- him out of the st. Louis Electric
Construction company. Meysenburg
the witness said, had 200 shares of
the stock of the latter company, and
said that lie wanted to get value re-
ceiYed.
Why This Money Was Paid.
The witness testified that he said
that he would buy the stock for the
Suburban. though it was of no value.
and he would pay $1,000 for it, which
htsdid. AIeySenburg. he said, remarked
that he did not take the money to
bind him in working for the Suburban
franchise bill. Witness said the money
was paid to MeySenburg in the pres
ence of eX-COuncilman Charles KratZ
Stock testified that KratZ said the
money was Ito earn MeySenburg's
good Will" Asked what led up to this
transaction Stock said that he sSaw
kratZ about the Suburban bill that
was being held up in the railroad COM
mittee. of which Meysenburg was
member.
Keeping In the Track of the Deal.
! Richard HOspeS. cashier of the Ger
man Savings bank, the next witness.
testified that, Meysenburg received
about $4,000 on a check made out in
favor of Stock and Meysenburg. This
amount was provided by Il note signed
by Henry NicolauS and Charles II.
Turner president of the Suburban
Railway company. Turner. witness
said. brought the note to the bank with
instructions TO turn the proceeds over
to Philip Stock. The check was shown
i'm court and identified. Charles II.
Turner. president of the Suburban
Railway company, testified that Philip
Stock was the legislative agent of the
Suburban when BIN No. A. to secure
IL certain franchise. was in tie munic
ipal assembly. and that he CrurnerJ
signed the note in question.
shares Were Worth Not "A Cent.
Turner was followed by eX-Council-
man William X. Hodges. who was q
member of the railroad committee
which had under consideration the
Suburban bill. He was asked as to Il
claim which MeySenburg remarked
he had against the Suburban. He rec
objected Meysenburg speaking of the
matter at committee meeting. He
believed Meysenburg said some indi-
vidual connected with the Suburban
company owed him $1,000. William +.
NOlker. brewer, and the next witness
examined. was n director in the St.
Louis Electrical Construction company.
Asked as to the value of the shares
of that company in February. 1901. ne
said: "They were not worth anything"
Other testimony was offered showing
that MeysenburG had sold the worth
less stock. and the state rested. The
defense asked that the prisoner be dis
for lack OF proof, but the
Judge denied this.