The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-23
INSURANCE AGENTS
BEFORE GRAND JURY,
Relieved to Have Given Testimony
of Value to Jefferson City In
guisitorial Body.
REPEAL OF VALUED POLICY LAW
Legislative Inquiry Will Be Con
timed Until the Franklin
County Trial Is Dis
posed OF.
REPEAL OF VALUED POLICY LAW

Two insurance agents who were before
the Grand Jury yesterday are thought to
have given testimony which would be Of
service to the Jefferson City inquisitorial
body. They were in jefferson City two
years ago trying to get the valued policy
law repealed.
1t is common gossip among the loca. In
surance men that these two amateur lobby
lists were approached by legislators and
asked to Contribute various sums fol-
potent members of the General Assem-
bly,. One demand is said to have been for
sac, coo. though this was afterwards reduced
to s25.Ao. lust who they implicate is not
known.
Considerable interest attaches to the JEFF
ferson City investigation. Under present
conditions public sentiment is such that this
investigation is deemed absolutely neces-
sary to secure indictments against boodling
Senators and Representatives Circuit At
torney Folk has struck much evidence
which would lead to convictions by the Cole
County body.
Judge James Z. HAZEL of that circuit is
said to be in favor of calling the Grand Jury
again, and will probably do so shortly after
the beginning of the Doodle trials. The case
against Frank Farris will lie called next
Tuesday. after which the cases against Sen
stors Smith. Matthews and Sullivan will be
tried. 1t is not thought that any of the de-
PENDANTS will ask for continuances. The
letters which have been published with the
permission of D. J. Kelley are all of a sort
TO make Lees testimony the most important
which the State has of sort to arouse the
greatest speculation.
WOULD LIKE TO SEE PHELPS.
Circuit Attorney Folk is wondering why
Colonel William H. Phelps does not come
in and testify. Over a month ago friends OF
Phelps announced that he would be here
to appear before the Grand Jury, but he has
not been here. About a month ago, he was
in Chicago in conference with several of his
friends, but since that time he is said to
have been in Asheville. n. c., attending his
sick daughter. Helene.
According to information in the hands of
Mr.. Folk the latter statement has not been
verified.
Joseph Shannon of Kansas City was at the
Southern yesterday. He departed last night
for home. Shannon was the principal as
sistant to Phelps at the last session of the
General Assembly, and has been before the
St Louis Grand Jury. AS he was not taken
before the open court to answer embarrass-
ing questions, it is thought that he gave
direct answers to all inquiries.
Il received letter from Colonel Phelps
last Monday" said Shannon yesterday. If
it was not for the condition of his daugh-
ter, 1 am sure he would have been here be-
fore this. He intended to come a month
ago. but has been unable to leave her.
When he was IL Chicago. he expected to
come down and had gone SO far as to en-
gage his berth. At the last moment he
received a telegram calling him back to
Asheville, where he has since been. I am
certain that he has not been in Canada to
see Kelley and cannot imagine where such
information could have come from. As
soon as possible. / am sure that Colonel
Phelps will appear before the st. Louis
Grand Jury
Circuit Attorney Folk will not pursue the
legislative inquiry any further this week
The local Faulkner trial will come I'D in
court this morning and it probably will oc.
cupy the remainder of the week The in.
vestigation will be resumed next week and
continue the remainder of the summer and
winter If necessary.