Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-14
Each Body Has Others Evidence, Thus AL
lowing Easy Companion.
IMPORTANT WITNESS sALKS At INQUIRY
Colonel Phelps Hesitates to Tell Story of
Baking Powder Bribe.
sKlPS TO CAROLINA TO ESCAPE SUBPOENA
Caught by Reporter, Refuses TO Dis
cuEs story That He Gave senator
$1,000 for Favors Conferred
By Lawmaker.

ST. LOUIS, April 13.-The investigation
into the charges OF boodling made in con-
nection with baking powder legislation in
the state legislature is being carried on
today by grand juries in session in st.
Louis and Jefferson City.
Circuit Attorney Joseph w. Folk, under
whose direction the st. Louis grand jury
has been at work during the last week,
has secured important information that 1t
is believed will be made use of before the
Jefferson City body which resumed Its ses-
sions this morning
Mr.. Folk and Attorney General Crow,
who is taking care OF the Jefferson City
end OF the investigation, are working to-
gether and the fact that the evidence given
before the two grand Juries is available for
\ comparison makes the situation serious
for those who may not have told the truth.
Iit is stated that perjury indictments may
even be found before the return of actual
bribery Indictments.
Speaker Whitecotton of the lower house
held long conference with Circuit Attor-
ney Folk yesterday, and 1t Is understood
he gave much valuable information to that
Official. A number of important witnesses
have been called by both sides for examina-
ton today.
Colonel w. H. Phelps, railroad repre-
L
was expected to be the principal witness
) before the st. Louis grand jury today, did
not appear when that body convened and a
subpoena was issued for the sherih to
serve. He was In st. Louis on Sunday and
said he came here to be witness. Among
the witnesses examined was State Treas
urer Williams.
Money Plentiful In Legislature.
Information reached Circuit Court At
torney Folk tonight that Senator John p.
Collins had displayed seven $1,000 bills
publicly here soon after the adjournment
OF the Legislature.
Attorney Folk at once ordered subpoenas
issued for the informant and for others
who saw the bills displayed. Senator Col
Inns will be summoned to account for the
bills to the grand jury here. He could not
be found toni ight. ...,S 49,. .ls+s - Aetf
Colonel r. r. williams. treasurer of
Missouri. informed the grand jury today
that no $1,000 bills had been changed OF
issued to any OF the state senators or rep
resentatives by him.
Two new features of the alleged boodline
in the legislature were brought to lighl
today by the grand Jury. The slot machine
bill and two bills introduced In the interes;
OF st. Louis county are now under In
vestigation. In one instance, 1t is alleged
$500 wac placed in the hands Of dis
tributer'' to secure the passage of one o.
the 81. Louis county bills. Another mar
is said to have attempted to distribute
$4,000 among the legislators to secure the
second county bill.
The bill regulating slot machines wal
backed by a local promoter and 1t is al
legged 81, ,OOo was handed around to make thu
pill law.
Phelps Balks at stand.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-. April 49,
Colonel william H. Phelps was on tn,
Missouri Pacific train on Sunday night ell
route to Kansas City.
Asked II he intended to testify in thu
pending inquiry, he replied: II do no
see why should"
''will you return to st. Louis this week ?
''I think not. shall probably go L
SAsheville, N. O., In a day or two"
How about the statement credited Il
Senator Frank Farris that he receives
81 900 from you in consideration OF legis
lative favors conferred2"
"I know nothing at all about what Sen
ator Farris said or is reported to hav
said. I do not wish to discuss this matte
at ALL
The Cole county grand jury resumed 1t
Just prior TO the convention OF the gran
jury Circuit Judge HAZEL said:
l am determined there shall be no lea
In this grand jury. This investiga ton sha
be just as rigid as the law provides and
any Indictments are returned they will b
returned TO me and not one word shall lea
out as TO who is indicted until after tn
arrests have been made.
III during the Investigation there is an
leakage l will at once Institute an invest
cation as 20 the source Of Information an
The grand jury assembled at and ex
Amined Senator David Nelson OF St. Louis
who voted against the repeal OF tn
Baking powder law" Whitney Layton,
baking powder manufacturer, who wa
hned for violation OF the law and who de
sired TO have the Law repealed; and Pat
terson Bain. a St. Louis baking powde
manufacturer.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-. April 1S-Up to
this afternoon Colonel Phelps had not al
rived in Kansas City. as far as known.
was stated ?. the hotel where he usual
stopped that he might be here this even
ing"
Lieutenant Governor John A. Lee, wi
was expected 10 have testified before Il
grand Jury at st. Louis today, passS
through Kansas City on his way, he state
TO Jefferson City
Mr.. Lee, who was accompanied by h
wife. when recognized, requested that b
presence In the city be kept quiet.
X0IlTCENc H0NEECCI0N MVTl