The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-08
Folks Assistant Says Prosecution
Will Do All in Its Power
Prove Charges.
WIFE is STILL AT HOSPITAL.
Sister in Charge Says She Re-
mains With Her Husband,
Who is Now Able to
Walk About Room.

Circuit Attorney Folk and his assistants
ca rot seem to he worrying over the re-
suit of the prosecution of James l.. Blair
On the charges of forgery in the first de-
gree.
Considerable discussion has been entered
into about the States ability to prove
forgery, when 1t is admitted that it will
not be In a position to produce the al
legged forged deeds of trust in court.
Sand one of Mr.. Folks assistants: 1T
would be indiscreet for us to state on
what theory VIC are going to try the Blair
cases. Lawyers on the other side want
"Eiy word from their opponents wheth-
er they be defending or prosecuting Il
man. 10 help them very materially in their.
case.
But j need only TO refer YOU 10 the
statutes which say that it Is not necessary
TO produce forged papers in court as evil
hence when ii can be shown that they
are IN the hands OF the defendant or have
boon lost. stolen or destroyed. Were
ihi. not the case. the State would he
placed at 4 disadvantage in many in
stances.
We do not say that We will be able to
convict James l.. Blair. but We do say
that VIC shall do all VIC can 10 establish
his guilt as charged in the indictments
1T is the duty OF the Circuit Attorney
TO guide Grand Juries as to the law in all
cases that they are investigating. Do you
think for minute that we would have
permitted indictments against Blair had
we not believed that we would be able TO
make a case?
Some persons are still discussing the
tut M tint trv>.
cases. The day following the beginning
of the Grand Jury's investigation. The
Republic very thoroughly reviewed the APP
plication of the statute of Limitation in
this case and again last week it covered
the matter.
1T is a debatable matter, we will ad-
be ready to argue the matter on the
ground that as no maximum punishment
Is fixed by statute for forgery in the first
degree. that it is on the same basis as
murder in the second degree"
Lawyers say that the State will be able
TO introduce evidence which will tend to
show that such forged dseds were in ex-
fstence when II is found that the originals
are not obtainable.
The defendant cannot be forced to bring
into court evidence that would tend to in
criminate him.
1t is also stated that the State has a
right to put into the indictments what
purports to be copies of alleged forgeries.
&, In the Blair l;I casss. however; , the State
10 produce any direct proof that it was
the defendant who did forge the deeds
If trust. as charged in the indictments.
This. it is said, by. lawyers: will prove
TO be the most serious of the obstacles
hat will confront the State and Will. no
doubt, play a more important part i'm the
cases than the statute of limitations of
even the inability to produce the alleged
fc-ged instruments.
MRS. BLAIR, STILL AT HOSPITAL.
The sister in charge at Mul.anphy Hos
pital last night made this statement to
The Republic:
1T has been exported from several
sources that Mrs James J.. Blair had left
Mullanphy Hospital and St. Louis. have
received numerous telephone queries about
Mrs. Blair. and l wish to make it known
through The Republic that Mrs. Blair has
not left the hospital. She has been here
all the time and. as far as l know, does
not contemplate leaving.
Mr.. Blair. I believe. is better than he
was yesterday. He is able to walk about
in his room and does not suffer constant
ly. as has been reported. Mr.. Blair, be-
lieve. suffers occasional attacks of pain.
II do not know anything about Percy
blair, the son. nor any other members of
the family"