Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-01
NAN WHO ROUTED TIE GANG
characteristics Of Joseph W. Folk, Prose-
outor Of St. Louis Boodlers.
FAME ACHIEVED BY COUNTRY LAWYER
s-tuPendous BIumns Necessary 20 Sc
cure Documentary Proof of
Municipal ROttenness-A
Terror TO Crooks.

YIN GIN ~ AANaA1 v aAaA1NAA - 49, -
comfortable living in the practice Of law
In his native town OF Brownsville, Tenn,
decided to 20 TO st. Louis, the metropolis
OF all that region. and hang out his single.
He landed there an unheralded and un-
known country lawyer and for seven years
the average resident of ST. Louis knew that
no such man existed. Then, by a queer
turn Of the political machinery, the demo-
cratic leaders picked out this young man
as their candidate for circuit attorney and
elected him.
Today Joseph w. Folk is known not only
IN 81. Louis, but In all America. as the man
who pulled down about the heads Of the
bosses who elevated him the corrupt
political structure they had spent years in
rearing; who has sent fourteen men, in
GLIDING the democratic leader. a millionaire
or two. and city lawmakers. to the peni-
t~entiary for the crimes of bribery and per-
Jury; who hopes TO convict ten more men
on similar charges. and who has caused
four others, one a multl-milionaire, TO be-
come exiles from Americon soil.
In less than three years this country
lawyer has cleansed st. Louis of the mu-
picipal debauchery that had infected Il
for twenty. Alone and unaided he has per
formed this monumental task by blur. hard
work. and his knowledge OF criminal law
gained while defending petty offenders be-
fore the courts in his home town Of some
5000 population
Mr. Folk Goes TO st. Louis.
when. in his 2sd year, MI. Folk set
himself up in ST. Louis, it was with the de-
termination to begin all over again. He
decided to drop criminal law, which he had
been practicing ever since his graduation
from Vanderbilt university three years be-
fore, and to take up the civil end Of the
profession. Gradually he succeeded in get
ting business men TO trust their legal in
terests to him, and so firm had his purpose
become never to NEEDLE in things criminal
again and so remunerative was his civil
list. that when, Unexpectedly. Boss Ed
ward Butler, democrat. appeared before him
and asked him to become the party's nom
inee for circuit attorney, Mr.. Folk in
stBDtly refused TO consider such a PROPOSE
tion. Nor could days Of argument bulge
him, and then the boss" threatened:
Wen nominate you anyway and make
you refuse the honor on the floor Of the
convention"
Very well" was the reply, I'll refuse"
Then Mr.. Folks clients. backed up by
other business men, stepped in and inter
eeded with him to take the ONCE for the
welfare Of the city. They finally induced
him to surrender. but when he said 20
GlO1el@ bHtttTH tDmmAIlHc. very WE'LL
! will accept" he added:
las ! intend to do my duty II I'm elected,
some OF you fellows had better look out.
for some day l may 1nd II my duty TO
prosecute you"
In 80 many words did Mr.. Folk give fair
and timely warning to the men he has sent
to prison.
where MT. Folk Got the First Clue.
The year 1901 found a civil lawyer occu-
plying the position Of circuit attorney Of st.
Louis, and his name was Joseph W. Folk.
Naturally, Mr.. Folk fell Immediately back
on his knowledge OF criminal law gained in
his home town, and he worked at night to
improve this.
He was thus occupied. when. one day, he
saw a 'squib' in a newspaper stating that
II was rumored that certain members OF
the house of delegates tst Louis lower
legislative branch) were having some
trouble in getting at $4,000 bride money
In a safe deposit vault. which they felt they
were entitled to have.
Mr.. Folks idea OF politics is ideal-that
politics should be clean. He who vio-
lates the Law is not a democrat. is not a
republican-he is a criminal" he has said.
Here was a hint at the worst kind OF mu-
nicipal crime. and although he knew that,
II st were true. men OF his own party and
some Of his friends would be implicated, he
quietly began investigating.
A few days inquiry satisfied Mr.. Folk
that the clipping referred to an attempt on
the part OF the Suburban railway to secure
the passage Of an ordinance enhancing the
value Of its property several million. Then,
although he had absolutely nothing except
his suspicious that this was so TO back
him. he sent for the railways millionaire
president. Charles II. Turner. and its leg
~islative agent, Philip Stoke. 10 appear be-
fore him. when they came he informed
them that he wanted them TO tell him about
the attempt which they had made TO bride
the house Of delegates to pass house bill
No. a.. They denied that any such thing
had been attempted.
A scared Millionaire.
Very well gentlemen" said Mr.. Folk,
"it will be my duty TO issue warrants for
your arrest and prosecute you to the fullest
extent OF the law. Would you rather have
me do that, or will you come back to me
At the end Of three days and give me the
information demanded?"
Al the end Of the second day ex-Gov-
ernor Charles p. johnson Of Missouri. one
Of the leading criminal lawyers OF the mid
die vest. walked into the prosecutors Of
nee.
Mr.. Stoke is my client" he said. Il
have come 10 tell you ahat he is so i'll that
he cannot appear before the grand jury to-
morrow"
Governor" was the reply. Tn sorry
that Mr.. Stoke is an. but appear he must
before me tomorrow and tell me what ]
demand Of him. or ! shall see to IL that he
is arrested and prosecuted to the fullest
extent Of the law"
The quiet, determined manner Of the
young man and the set Of his prominent
jaws made the older report 70 his client
thar Folk means business. and you'd bet
ter do as he says" The result was that
next day, not only Stoke. but bis mil
lionaire employer. Turner. walked into the
grand jury room and told Of the Doodle
clique in the house OF delegates and city
council. and OF The railways attempt 10
put through house bill No. "A with the AID
OF s1S5.OOO IN bribes, $4,000 for the del
egates and $50 coo for the oouncilmen.
Another Ambitious Blum.
The blur had worked. but Il MAS legglly
necessary TO see the bribe money which
had been placed in the care q two safe de-
posit companies So Mr. Folk began an
other blum.