The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-15

Suequate 10 COnNlCt every Ihcmboi
OF the house of delegates combine. and
with the delay in effeoting the apprehen-
sion Of Charles ]. Kratz as the only es-
sential drawback To securing the indiot-
ment and conviction OF the members OF
the council combine. Circuit Attorney
Folk says that the day or judgment has
arrived for all the st. Louis boodlers.
DeYeiopments In the investigation have
followed with remarkable rapidity since
the return Of ]. X. Murrell from Mexico
through the efforts OF the St. Louis Post
Dispatch made II possible for the ma
chnrhhery nh OF OF, the @ law 20 be set In motion,
fronting Circuit Attorney Folk Is the Sc
curing OF evidence sufficient TO indict
were wee ~h the ss That 'hh: thei p~w
erful influence Is still at work Is taken
as an explanation OF the disappearance
oher 81 one Of e Ke nS hss In tfan ss
session evidence OF the greatest impor-
tance.
1t Is known that with Kelly's testimony
ers could be indicted. He was the agent
for the house combine and II was through
sn to the Who I pa.sed @
the bill for city lighting.
HALF A MILLION IN DOODLE.
From the testimony Of ]. X. Murrell
and other former combine men who are
states witnesses the following Is a record
OF some OF the Doodle legislation in st.
Louis up to the time that fear of expos
ure made the combines run to cover:
Bill. Doodle. Benehciaries.
ofaerA ISIS ae ,sso.ooo St. ST. L. IRAN fran Co CO.
isss -. $500 Burlington r. r.
r., 1899 -. 1900 Mis- Pac. r. r.
Mis. Pac.. 1899 1890 w ell s "a c and
City Lighting. Lacled Light
1880 475OO COmpaufes
Suburban bill,
1901 ........... 1s5.oOo Suburban r. r.
Total Doodle. .s5o4.7o0
authorities were cognizant of the two
Doodle combines. but were at q loss how
10 proceed to secure evidence to run the
boodlers and bribe-sivers TO earth.
They were confronted with the Missouri
statute OF limitations which will outlaw
the city lighting bill on Oct. a. Should
that date pass without indictments being
found the boodlers will be immune from
punishment on that score.
reporter for the st. Louis Post Dis
patch overheard a member OF the Num-
cipal Assembly remark that II was a
shame all the burden Of the Job" was
being forced on Murrell. who was sick In
the information that Murrell was prob
ably in Chihuahua City. whittier the re-
porter was sent to find him. The search
was a long one. but Murrell was event
ually found In Mexico City and persuaded
TO -ratnrn- TO ST. Louis and confess.
The confession laid bare the inside
workings OF the House OF Delegates COM
bine. warrants were issued and arrests
of members were made almost before the
ink was dry on the paper.
TOTAL BONDS OF s45o.ooo.
The total bonds required of the 10 men,
bers Of the house combine when all are
captured will amount to s456. 1000. All but
five of these meu are now in jail or out on
bonds.
Driven to desperation by the relentless
crusade which Circuit Attorney Folk was
making against them. the influence Of
the fbe-givers was believed TO be ap-
parent In the failure of Charles F. Kelly
to return as his friends had said he would
and the unavailing efforts OF the police to
find the slightest clue TO his whereabouts.
This led to the report that he had been
kidnapped One OF the men suspected of
being a br1be-giver or perhaps go-be-
tween Is very wealthy and has a reputa-
tion for unscrupulousness which would
not halt at kidnapping or even murder TO
cover up evidence of crime.
Something of the nature of the men
with whom he was dealing was brought
nent ST. Louis physician said he had
overheard a man threaten to assassinate
him. Investigation strengthened the be-
lief Of the existence of n plot to kill
Mr.. Folk, and, despite his strenuous OBJ
jections, Detective McGrath was appoint
ed to act as a bodysuard for the circuit
attorney.
one Of the controlling stockholders In the
Laclede Gaslight company. which Murrell
alleges benefited by the passage OF the
city lighting bill, was named by Robert
former president OF the board of
public improvements. as having mani
tested deep interest" In the light
ing bills while they we're pending before
the Municipal Assembly.
MR. MMATHs STATEMENT.
while the bill was In preparation" Mr.. |
McMath said, Il made trip to New |
Y ork TO look after another matter. Just !
before / went I received a message from /
Mr.. Campbell. who told me that as I was
going TO New York ne would like to have |
the Laclede company. I was given plain |
ly 10 understand that Mr. McMillin wish |
ed 10 talk with me on the proposed bill.
MY answer to Mr.. Campbell was that |
II Mr. McMillin wished to see me while 1
was In New York he would find me at my |
white was In New York and |
did not learn that he had called for me-"
In regard to this statement Mr.. Camp
bell said &c a reporter:
patch:
ut may be that I did have such a con-
with Mr.. McMath or did send
him a message OF that sort But really, II
did so. I cannot remember II now
THE DISAPPEARING KELLY.
Charles +. Kelly. former speaker OF the
house. who is credited with holding the
tey 10 the Doodle situation. was known
% be In st Louis At a late hour last
ruesday nisht.That- he escaped Monday
Ifter being served with a subpoena was
lue to Chief Deputy jeremiah Sheehsn.
felly asked permission 10 go 10 the city
,all and attend To some business. and
his was granted. He went 10 the city
iall for n few minutes. and that was the
ast seen OF him.
II II known that on Tuesday night Mrs.
Kelly drove In a closed carriage 10 the