The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-05-07
Editor Page and Cole Hickox Set Free
by the Supreme Court Of
Missouri.
A B0ODLERS' VICTORY.
Means That Important Witnesses Will
Now Refuse to Talk Before
the Grand Juries.
SETBACK TO PROSECUTION.

SETBACK TO PROSECUTION.
Jefferson City, April ga deci
sion rendered this morning by thret
Missouri supreme court justices, Rob
inson, Fox and Burgess, will be the
most severe setback the prosecution
in the Doodle cases has yet received
The court decided that l. L. Page
and Cole Hickox cannot be made to
tell from whom they received the
$1,000 and $500 bills they had in
thsir possession late in February
about the time the greater part oil
the alum Doodle money was distrib-
uted.
The judges said Page and Hickox
were within their constitutional
rights and ordered Sheriff Smith to
Immediately discharge them from
from custody. Smith had the pris-
oners under commitment for con-
tempt issued by Judge HAZEL Of the
circuit court Monday. Judge HAZEL
had held that they could tell from
whom they had received the money
without in any way placing them
selves in danger ofprosecution. The
supreme court holds that the names
OF the men who gave them the money
may be necessary link in the chain
to secure their own conviction. There
was much argument on the case.
Attorney General Grow, who ap-
peared for the state, read to the
court transcript OF the testimony
given by Page before the Cole county
grand jury. About the only thing
Page told was that he had received
the 81 900 bill here in Jefferson City,
and to the other questions he had
the stereotyped reply: II refuse to
answer because the answer might
tend to incriminate me and subject
me to a criminal prosecution" The
facts were agreed upon, as the whole
question turned on the questions and
answers in the grand jury room.
W. s. Pope, arguing for the pris-
oners, said il Page or Hickox were
acting as mediums or go.betweens
for boodling senator's and men who
wanted to bride them, to reveal the
names OF thepersons giving them the
money, might endanger their own
liberty. 1t is an offense in Missouri
to act as go-between for boodlers and
the people who buy them.
"You can't tell" he said, "what
the answer might lead to. 1t might
develop that these men were agents
for some lobbyist and in that case
they would be guilty OF Il crime. To
tell who gave them the money would
be to furnish the prosecution a clue.
Suppose they said we got the money
from Mr.. Jones. Jones being called
might say, 81 gave Page the money
to give to Senator A. and Senator B.
for their votes on the alum bill
That might open the way for the
prosecution of Page"
Attorney General Crow quoted the
provision in the federal constitution
which says man cannot be COM
PEELED to testify against himself, and
olso the bill Of rights OF Missouri,
which means practically the same
thing.
"The state" he said, sis not ask
ing for any narrowing Of the. bill Of
rights. But we do ask that q man
bring himself within the terms of the
law before claiming that privilege.
There should be something to show
t'lat he could possibly iniure himself
by answering the questions Neither
OF these men held any official posi-
ton, hence neither could be bribed in
any matter OF legislation"
Judge Robinson-Suppose one Of
these men had stolen the money,
would you then claim that you could
make him tell where he got it?
The attorney general said this in
quiry was limited to charges of bri-
berry, and everythind went to show
that the money was paid in connec-
ton with bribery. Then he cited a
possible case. Suppose" he said,
"tbat a man is murdered. A friend