The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-29
missions on the stand that they are guilty
of bribery and perjury?" asked Mr.. Mulvi-

missions on the stand that they are guilty
of bribery and perjury" asked Mr.. Mulvi-
hill
What assurance have you that they have
not committed perjury here as we'll as in
the Grand Jury room? Each one of these
five men are here to-day engaged In work.
State Their position is practically that of
associate counsel for the State.
THE truth Is a stranger to these men.
believe II they met 1t in the street they
would not know It."
Mr. Mulvihill then attacked the credibiity
of Stocks testimony. and closed by thank
ing the jurors for their attention and pa
tience displayed during the trial.
MR.. FOLKS SPEECH.
Circuit Attorney Folks friends say his
speech to the Hanngan jury was the best
he has made in any OF the Doodle cases.
Attorney Mulvihill's warning against his
eloquence was timely. but the jury's YER
dict shows that 1t was not needed. Mr..
Folk consumed twenty-eIght of the thirty
minutes allotted him.
Justice is all the State asks: Justice Is all the
defendant In entitled to- You should be fair to
the defendant. but at the same time you should
you have heard here you would not convict him
of robbery or larceny. you should not convict
him this charge.
Judge Clark SAYS that the six witnesses for the
State who told you Of this corrupt deal. in which
tn, defendant participated. should not be be-
l,eved because some OF them admitted that they
perjured themselves before the Grand Jury.
II they periurai themselves before the Grand
Jury. It IL because they denied there what they
have told here. and II what they said there was
perjury what they said here must be the truth
Defendants counsel complain because the wit
nesses for the State not men of nigh char
scter. 1t Is not to be expected that upright and
honest men will engage in transactions OF this
k.nd. When men take bribcs they do not do II
in the open. in the presence of witnesses. but
in secret. No knows anything about 1t -x-
cept the man who gives and the men who take
the brlbcs.
Unless juries believe the testimony OF men who
are mixed up in the transactions 1t would be
impossible to ever prove bribery. How could the
state show to you the workings OF this COM
tins which met behind closed doors. other than
by members of the combine?
They ask for corroborative evidence. Why. the
sum OF SIS 900 itself produced in court corrobo-
rates what these witnesses have testified to.
That Is witness that has not committed per-
jury.
1t is old saying that money talks" and
this money that has been brought before you
told the truth. for it is honest money.
Judge Clark says that II was necessary for
honest men to Join the combine in order to ac-
complish anything. II the transaction here is 4
specimen Of honesty on the part OF the legis-
lators of the city. shudder to think what would
have happened IL this defendant and the other
members of the combine had been dishonest.
The dome of the Courthouse. the Eads bridge and
the very pipes in the ground would not
have been safe from their honest avarice.
Mr.. Muivihl tells YOU that in this combine
there was wheel within wheel and that
some OF the members got more money than
others. Mr.. Mulvihil displays remarkable
knowledge of the combine. to nave obtained his
information from his innocent client. the de-
fendant. at-
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED.
The individual on trial here is mere atom,
in the march Of civilization. We do not punish
the Individual. but the crme the individual has
committed. Individuals are Of passing moment,
the race is immortal. In the enforcement OF law
individuals may be hurt, but II So their owa
deeds have been their doomsman and their own
acts are to blame.
Corrupt officials are the greatest enemies We
have to deal with to-day. for when Hesitation
becomes commodity free government Will van
ism: there will then be not n government OF the
people, Tor the people and by the people. but a
government OF and for the few with weaitn
enough to purchase official power.
There is no more serious crime than bribery:
Other offenses violate one law. while bribery
strikes at the foundation of all law and pois 5ns
the very fountains OF Justice Under our form
people, and b. them delegated to those who rep
resent them. II there be an ofrense greater than
all others, 1t is that of him IN whom such
sacred trust has been reposed. VINO seiis IL iof
| his own gain and enrichment
| officials under our form Of government are
trustees of an express trust to be administered
| for public good and not for private gain. When
| one seeks official position merely as means OF
making livelihood easier than in private life
| and regards his official powers as a persona
asset to use for personal benefit. then bribery i.
1 not far of.
| Too many ofHceholders forget that they are TIT
agents of the people acting in hduciary ca
1 pacity and that they have no more right Il
| use their official powers for personal gain thai
they have to put their hands into. the public
treasury and steal the public money. Offcia
integrity and pfnciai honor should te held a
l sacred as woman's virtue.
"a BENEDICT ARNOLD"
0iyefa and takers Of bribes are the trattoyx 9