Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-24
NOT A FUGITIVE
Lieutenant Governor John A.
Lee Issues Signed Statement
Defending His Actions
DENIES pENouNcING Fol
Mr.. Lee Says That All Has Not Been
Told and That He Has Been Terribly
Observation-Disclosures His
Willingness to Testify Before ST.
Louis Grand Jury if Required.

GO0tS
st. Louis, Mo, April 24.-Lieutenant
Governor John A. Lee, accompanied by
Chicago yesterday. Lee left Kansas
City last Thursday and arrived in Chi
cago Friday morning. He is worn and
weary from travel and is suffering
from physical ailments. His wife in
|duced him to return to st. Louis.
II am done with politics forever"
asserted Lee last night. II am a sick
man and 1 need rest. Any one who says
that l am not a sick man never passed
thru my experience OF the past few
days."
The Lieutenant Governor and Mrs.
Lee left the Chicago & Alton train in
East ST. Louis al 6 o'clock last night.
A carriage was in waiting which they
hurriedly entered and We're speedily
driven to their home in Cabanne, in
w SSl at LOuiSs LAOS .
he had lost fifteen pounds in weight
during the past two weeks was borne
out by his appearance. His face is
colorless and his eyes have the lack
|luster OF a sick man.
At. his home last night he said: Il
remained indoors at a private boarding
house during my entire stay in Chi
cago and spent nearly all the time in
bed.
Il have been reading the newspapers
and have been misrepresented. l have
not been a fugitive from Justice and
have had no idea of being one. l am
not afraid to come back tell all /
know. 1 needed rest and thought a
trip to Chicago would be the best way
to get it.
Il am done with politics forever. /
swear that / have not made a cent out
of legislation this session. While some
of the senators are being proved to
have big accounts I have only $40 to
my credit in the bank. 1t is sufficient
for me to say that the evidence against
senators Farris, Matthews, Smith
was furnished by me. l know nothing
of Sullivan getting any money.
Il notice that none Of the senator's
has told Of receiving money for votes.
They a curse me all they please, but
/ notice that not one of them has the
courage to show up the real crooked
ness of the proceeding.
Il gave the Kelly check to Attorney
General Crow as soon as I received
it.
II do not know whether l shall resign.
I have not given the matter a bit of
thought. Word has been brought to me
that some OF my enemies have threat
ened me with physical harm. I am
prepared for them. See this ane-
feel it. Moreover, it is o ALL"
During his conversation the lieuten-
ant governor frequently glanced at his
wife, who returned a smile. 1t was APP
parent that he relied greatly upon her.
When Circuit Attorney Folk was in
formed of the arrival OF Lieutenant
Governor Lee, he stated that Lee would
be given opportunity to appear before
the grand jury Immediately.
Lieutenant Governor Lee gave out the
following signed statement, prepared
while enroute to st. Louis:
II. I nave sent no emissary to Mr..
Folk, asking him to agree that / be
asked to testify only On certain mat
tiers. No one has been authorized by
me to make a proposition or condition
as to my return. l have asked for no
immunity, as there is no charge against
me.
SO. I have not been a fugitive from
justice. No writ has been served upon
me except a fake subpoena at Kansas
City, to appear in a murder trial OF
which Prosecuting Attorney Hughes
knew l vas entirely ignorant.
SO. I have not remained away to de-
lay, hinder, or obstruct the administra-
ton of justice. 1 have appeared before
the grand jury at Jefferson City three
times. and have told them all l knew
about all matters of corruption of which
1 have any knowledge, and indictments
have been brought, based upo that
testimony and the testimony of others.
Has Shielded None.
"a. I have not stayed AVA to shield
anyone from prosecution for perjury,
bribery, or anything else. 1 have told
all l knew, and nave nothing more to
tell, and do not propose to invent N
information.
"5. have not testified against my
enemies, permitting my friends to go
free, or against republicans n pos
itively not against democrats. l have
gave no testimony against Senator Sui
livan (republican), as | knew nothing
about any wrong doing on his part.
&c. Having given my testimony to
the Cole county grand jury, / very much
doubt whether l could, because of the
oath of secrecy imposed pom me by
that body, and the fact that the courts
of that county have jurisdiction of the
cases, testify to he same facts before
any other grand jury without violating
my oath.
81. The case of the Kelly check for
81 1000 comes under st. Louis jurisdic-
ton. Ii was based upon information
sworn to by Attorney General Grow,
and if an Indictment is required l will
appear and testify as to the fact before
the st. Louis grand jury.
rs. I did not turn over the check
because of a subpoena issued by the
st. Louis grand jury for the reason that
no such subpoena was issued until at
Ileast a week after the check was turned
over and information given, and it has
never beer served upon me.
80. I did not %denounce Circuit At
torney Folk in an interview in Kansas
City. j have nothing to denounce him
for. He and l have always been
friends.
10. / know absolutely nothing about
other matters of legislative corruption
here except those I have already tes-
tilted about. and could not therefore aid