Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-09-24

spring Of 1897. 1t elected Henry Zieg-
enhein mayor. Under this Republi-
ean-Ziegenhein administration all. or
practically al, OF the corruption at
St Louis grew up. A majority Of
the municipal assembly boldly band
ed themselves together for the pur-
pose of exacting hribe money. At
the same time the representatives of
powerful corporate interests willing
ly entered into a conspiracy with
these aldermanic rogues, because the
concessions desired could be obtain
ed more cheaply by corrupting pub
lie servants than by honestly pur-
chasing the concessions from the
municipality.
Manifestly, these conditions could
not long continue. The corruption
ists-corporate and aldermanic-be-
came holder and holder. The citizens
Of st. Louis saw rights which were
worth many thousands of dollars
given away without compensation.
They beheld with establishment the
bankruptcy Of the municipal treas
ury and looked with indignation upon
conduct which each day more clear
" demonstrated the venality of their
municipal officials. So apparent was
this corruption, that in the elections
of the fall Of 1900, and again in the
spring OF 1901-the Democrats bold
Y charged that the ~Ziegenhein admin
~istration was reeking with yillainy.
And in both elections the Democracy
was triumphant upon the issue so
made.
AS to the ~Ziegenheln admintra-
ton, II Is now patent that "its latter
end was worse than the first" 1t was
during this latter end" in the
months OF October and November,
1900, that Charles H. Turner. presi-
dent OF the Suburban Railway Com
many. entered into a corrupt scheme
with the representatives of the Alder
manic bribery combine. Pursuant to
the terms Of this conspiracy $685.
10000 was deposited in two safe de-
post vaults, TO be paid when the
Aldermanic rogues should steal the
franchise which the Suburban Com
pany desired. The Combine tried
to carry out the Infamous agree
ment, but before 1t could be consum-
mated the Circuit Court issued an In
iunctien. and prior to the dissolu-
ton Of the Injunction, the terms OF Of
flee of the corrupt councilmen ex-
pired. The ex-aldermen demanded a
! part at least OF the corruption fund.
Turner refused to pay anything ne
stood upon his contract, and said its
conditions had not been complied
! with. The aldermen actually EN-
ployed an attorney, who seems to
have conceived the brilliant iaea
that these thieves could GOV on
a "Quantum meruit-'
The controversy between these
public plunderers over this huge cor
! ~ruptiou fund of S135, 100000 waxet
B fast and furious. 1t will be remember
ed that at the time this conspiracy tC
rob the city Of st. Louis was enter
ed into. and the corruption money
nIaced in the safe deposit box, boil
hribe giver and bride taker retained
a key so that neither party coult
2 obtain possession of the fund with
e out the concurrence OF the other.
Hoping to frighten Turner into re
2 leasing the money n OF the gam
" gave a guarded intimation OF thei
wrong doing to a newspaper. There
upon public inquiry was aroused AM
fearing exposure and punishment TO
! his crime, Turner consulted an EN-
e nent criminal lawyer. Gov. Chas. T
Johnson. Upon his advice, Turne
sought out the Circuit Attorney AM
made a clean breast of the entir'
d~isgraceful transaction. Following
his confession Turner testified to tn
same facts before the st. Loui
Grand Jury and upon this eyidenc
several indictments were returned.
There remained however, a miss
ing link in the chain OF evidence
which could not be supplied, unles
the testimony of John X. MurreI
could be secured. Murrell was a
that time a fugitive from justict
This testimony was obtained by tn
p Post-Disptach, which, at its W e,
3 Dense. located Murrell in Mexico
sent a representative there. and IL
N duced him to return and testify.
rs Prosecutions promptly followed
y The evidence was there, bald, NAKED
p u~nanswerable. The press had a
% ready published many OF the salier
facts, The voice Of the people an
! the mandate Of the law alike demand
ed that justice take her course
p The developments of these trial
d were startling. They showed sue
an outrageous condition as called fc
swift punishment, and those who a
sisted in bringing these rogues I
the bar OF justice are entitled to th
thanks and commentator of all Mi
sourians.
In st. Louis there have bee
" about twenty convictions. In all case
y there have been, I believe, appeal
Ie But four Of the appeals have "