The Van Buren press., 1903-04-18
n HAS TELLING EFFECT.
Lisut-Gov. Lee of Missouri Breaks
Down Under the Strain of the
Doodle Investigation.
IS IN A STATE Of NERVOUS COLLAPSE.
At Least Such wns the Report Made
to Attorney General Crow, whose
Plans IL Disarranged. and who
VIII Satisfy Himself that There
is No Shamming,

Jefferson City, Mo-, April 10
ieut.-Gov. John \. Lee, the principal
witness in the legislative Doodle in
quiry, is complete nervous wreck,
and was unable to go before the Cole
county grand jury Wednesday.
This was the information brought
to Att'y-Gen. Crow by messenger
from the Acknowledgements at nine
o'clock Wednesday morning.
The messenger was closeted with
the encouragement nearly an hour
He declared that Lee was confined to
his room, and his condition required
the services Of physician.
Mr.. Crow, at the conclusion of the
interview, hurried to the courthouse
Il intended to have Gov. Lee
among the first witnesses" he said,
but his serious indisposition has al
tered my plans"
1t is understood, however, that the
encouragement has decided to max,
a personal investigation and satisfy
himself as 10 the exact nature of Gov.
Lees illness.
Lieut.-Goy. Lee and Att'y-Gen. Crow
held a long conference Tuesday night
at the latter's Office in the supreme
court building. II was past midnight
when they separated.
1t is stated that Lee repeated his
story of the alum scandal, and prob
ably supplemented his original con-
fession with additional facts, bearing
upon his own and the official conduct
o. others at the 1901 and 1903 sessions
OF the Missouri legislature.
The nervous strain consequent up
on this examination is thought to
have brought about the lieutenant
governors present indisposition.
Report of Reclamation Worried Him.
The report that he will likely re-
sign his Office has also worried Lee
greatly.
81 do not know just what | am GO
ing to do" he remarked TO a friend
Tuesday night This whole affair
will have a different complexion when
ali the facts are known.
AT any rate, shall not act hasti-
ly."
Well-informed politicians assert
that Gov. Lee has already made up his
mind to retire from Office, and cite as
an indication his recent visit to Kan
sas City, where he consulted with a
number OF close personal friends.
In this event Thomas l., Rubey, Of
La Plata, president pro TEN. of the
senate, would succeed to the lieuten-
art-governorship. Gov Dockery will
not discuss the matter at all, although
it is known that Lees disclosures
have embarrassed the administration.
"Stand pat" This was the advice
Of Senator William l. Schoenlaub 10
Senator Frank II, Farris, of Craw-
ford, given shortly before the st.
Louis statesman left for his home
Tuesday
Farris and Schoenlaub were dis
cussing the doodle business in the
rotunda of the Madison house
Suddenly Schocnlaub brushed
agans, Farrs and in whispered tones
said: "Stand pat, Frank
The remark attracted the curiosity
Of several persons who edged close
TO the two senators, and were disap-
pointed at the discontinuancc of the
conversation,
Senator Schocnlaub was before the
Cole county grand jury ij minutes
Tuesday afternoon, lie looked and
acted Just us clipper when he
emerged MS before he entered,
1t Is supposed that he stood pat
incidentally II is noted that Gov
Dockcry has never permitted Lee TO
serve as governor as he remained IN
the state at all times.
GOV. Dockcry is now anxious to
leave the state for n rest, and that
fact, coupled with recent develop
mruls, Is believed 20 have prompted
Lees decision,
Lee left Kansas city Tuesday morn
ing for Jefferson city While he was
In the Kansas city union station Col
William II, Phelps, who is wanted as
n witness before the ST. Louis grand
Jury, was there, but the two did not
meet
Col Phelps was In n very explosive
humor, and did not discuss the recent
developments with any degree of sat
isfnction, lie said he was on his way