The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-14
MORE ALLEGED B00DLING
TWO MISSOURI GRAND JURIEs ARE
MAKING INVESTIGATIONS.
Charges that Baking Powder Legisla-
tion Was Influenced VIII Be
Thoroughly Probed.

ST. LOUIS, April 13.-The investigation
OF charges of boodling made in connection
with baking powder legislation in the State
Legislature was carried on to-day by grand
juries in st. Louis and Jefferson City. Cir
cult Attorney Folk, under whose direction
the ST. Louis grand jury has been at work
during the past week, has secured i'm
portant information. it is believed. that
will be made use of before the Jefferson
City body which resumed its sessions this
morning. Mr.. Folk and Attorney General
L. c.. Crow, who is taking care OF the JEFF
ferson City end of the investigation, are
working together, and the fact that the
evidence given before two grand juries is
available for comparison makes the situ-
alton serious for those who may not have
told the truth. 1t is stated that perjury
indictments may even be found before the
return Of actual bribery indictments.
Speaker whitecotton. of the lower House
Of the Legislature. held long conference
with Mr.. Folk yesterday. and 1t is under
stood he gave much valuable information
TO that official. A number Of witnesses
have been called by both bodies. 1t is un-
derstood he was asked whether any of the
500 and $1,000 bills in the possession of the
legislators had been paid out of the State
treasurer's office, and that he said that
they had not
Subpoenas have been issued for United
States Senator William ]: Stone. Theodore
Van r. Ashcroft and William r. Smith
reading clerk OF the last House. Col Will
liam H Phelps, railroad representative in
TO be the principal witness before the grand
jury to-day, did not appear when that
body convened and subpoena was issued
for the sheriff to serve.
Information reached Circuit Attorney
Folk tonight that Senator John p. Collins
mad displayed seven one-thousand-dollar
bills publicly soon after the adjournment OF
the Legislature. Attorney Folk at once
ordered scbpenas issued for the Informant
and for others who saw the bills displayed
Senator Collins will be summoned TO ac-
could not be found tonight. Col H p
Williams, treasurer Of the State of Mis-
souri, informed the grand jury to-day that
no tncusand-dollar bills had been changed
or issued TO any of the state senator's or
Representative by him.
Two new features of the alleged boodling
In the Legislature were brought to light to-
day by the grand jury. The slot-machine
bill and two bills introduced in the interest
or St Louis county are now under investi-
cation. In one instance, il is alleged, $500
was placed in the hands OF a distributor
70 secure the passage of one of the ST.
Louis county bills. Another man Is said to
nave attempted TO distribute $500 among the
legislators TO secure the passage OF the
second county bill The bill regulating slot
machines was backed by local promoter,
and IL Is alleged 5000 was handed around
10 make the bill law
CARTHAGE. Mo-, April 13-Colonel Phelps
reached here yesterday, after being absent
since March =: most OF the time in Ari-
zona with his infant daughter Helen. He
said. Il had never been served with a
subpoena. though one was sent here for
me some days ago. II one was issued for
me to-day in St Louis l know nothing of
IL and IL will be time enough when I am
served TO answer what / will do / did
not leave St Louis on Saturday."