The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-02-01
CHARGED WITH BRIBERY.
Three Former Members of the St.
Louis Municipal Assembly Ar
rested and Bonded.
OTHER ARRESTS EXPECTED TO FOLLOW.
Result of the Grand Jury's Probing
Into nm Alleged Corrupt Deal
whereby the Suburban Railway
Co. Was to Pay xi35,OOO for Ger-
tuin Legislation.

ST. Louis, Jan. 29.--C harles Kratz,
Emil \, Meyscnburg and John X.
Murrcll. members of the municipal
assembly, under Il former administra-
ton. were arrested, Monday after
noon, on bench warrants charging
them with bribery, 1t is charged that
they, with other members of the city
council and house of delegates, en-
tered into an agreement with an
agent for the Suburban Railway Co.,
in October. 1900, to pass certain de-
sired franchises for the sum of Sl3j,-
600 which il is claimed. was placed
in safe-deposit vaults.
Indictments have been found
against Kraft. Meysenburg and MUIR
rell and will be returned with the
final report of the grand jury within
the next few days. Circuit Attorney
Folk says that the investigation
brings 10 light one of the largest
bribery plots which has ever been I'M
covered in st. Louis. Besides the
three persons indicted Monday, it is
said that there will be at least six
more, and possibly II dozen others.
implicated in the charges. The in
quiry has only begun, and new evil
dence is being developed at each step
revealing new names.
Kraft, Meysenburg and Murrell
were released on $1,000 bonds shortly
after their arrest The charge of an
officer accepting n bride is felony
punishable by term in the peniten-
tiary from two to seven years.
1t is charged that $4,000, alleged
to have been part of the bride, was
placed in vault in the Lincoln Trust
Co., So be distributed among certain
members of the house of delegates in
the event the franchises were grant
ed. 1t is claimed there were two keys
to the box. and that one of them was
held by Philip Stock, secretary of the
ST. Louis Brewing association, as
agent for the Suburban Railroad Co.,
and the other, II is ayerred, was held
by John X. Murrell, of the house of
delegates.
1t is further alleged that 100000
was deposited in box at the Mssis-
sippi Valley Trust Co., to be divided
among prescribed members of the
city council IL the ordinances grant
ing the right of way were passed.
Stock held the key to this box, also,
as representative of the Suburban
Railroad CO., and il is said the other
was held by John q. Brinkmeyer. as
agent and representative of Council.
man Kraft. The Suburban bill was
passed in both the house Of delegates
and the council, but was knocked out
in the circuit court, and later In the
supreme court, on appeal.
Circuit Attorney Folkundn commit
tee of grand jurors visited the two
trust companies, having procured the
boxes as they had been directed. 1t
was in crisp new bills, tied in pack
ages, After counting the money the
committee returned to the four
courts, and the indictments followed.
Vt Circuit Attorney Folks request,
Judge Wood issued nn impoundlng
order commanding the two trust
companies to preserve the boxes and
their contents undisturbed so that
they may be held for evidence in the
criminal court when the eases come
10 triul