The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01
TIE CLEANSING OF ST. LOUIS.
ryiT or JOSEPH W. FOLk, COIN
rRy LAWYER, NOW ONLY 81.
Method. ny Which lie Convicted the Bood.
ling Uty Onidals-Wss Almost Tn.
known Three Years Ago Droke Up
corrupt Ring Stnglf.Handed.

III, living n the practice Of law In his native
Town of Brownsville. Tenn, decided to go
~ :, Louis. the metropolis OF all that
,cr,o.. and hang out his single. He
landau here an unknown country lawyer.
,oI for seven years the average resident
n -. Louis knew that no such man ex-
islad
Then. bv a queer turn az the political
ma rircry. the Democratic leaders picked
oU' ,li- Young man as their candidate for
Cirryi' Attorney and elected him. To-day
NJ Fol- j. noted a. the man who pulled
down ahput the heads OF the bosses who
elevated him the corrupt political structure
,lav had spent years in rearing; who his
,arr fourteen men. including the Demo-
c..,'r leader. a millionaire or two, ard
va-.ous city law makers, 10 the peniten-
t,arv for the crimes Of bribery and per-
r,rv who hopes Ia. convict ten more men
On similar charges. and has caused
fo,r others. one millionaire, to
become aNilcs from American soil.
IN less than three years this country
h,.ver has cloanssd st. Louis of the mu.
n,,r,l corruption that had infected 1t for
tnag.v Alone and unaided he has per-
formed this task by bluff. hard work and
b. knowledge Of criminal law.
When in his twenty-third year Mr.
Tok 50; himself up in st. Louis, IL was
VIII ,hn determination 10 begin all over
again He decided TO drop criminal law
which he had been practising ever since
hi graduation from Vanderbilt University
three years before, and TO take up the
civil end Of the profession.
Gradually he succeeded in getting BUSH
ross men to trust their legal interests TO
him. and so firm had his purpose become
never TO meddle in things criminal again
sni 80 remunerative was his civil practice,
that. when, Unexpectedly, Boss Edward
Butler. Democrat. appeared before him
and asked him TO become the party's nom
iree for Circuit Attorney he instantly re-
fused to consider such a proposition. Nor
could days OF argument bulge him, and
then the boss threatened;
We'll nominate you anyway and make
YOU refuse the honor on the floor Of the
convention he said.
Very well was the reply, I'm refuse
Then Mr.. Folks clients. backed up by
other business men. stepped In and inter-
ceded with him TO take the Office for the
welfare OF the city. They finally induced
him to accept. but when he said to But
ler's committee. Very we'll. l will accept"
he added:
As intend to do my duty II I'm elected,
some Of you fellows had better look out,
for some day may find ii my duty to'prose-
cute you
In so many words did Mr.. Folk give fair
and timely warning to the men he has sent
70 prison.
The year 1901 found Mr.. Folk occupying
the Office of Circuit ATTORNEY :. St Louis
Na,ur.Ilx Mr. EoIk fe,I imrnedi,,e,v hocL
~ $50, p"'n
ou ns huo"ieu6e W StithaI "a" saheu
IN nls nome Town. ana ne worked al night
" unpIoNe ths' , -
ne was mus osoupnu, wnen. ohe a.
ne saw s.oiy IN newspaper s.athg .has
the House Of Delegates, St. Louiss lower
s,s; y, ", sea 80 hs,ha eoe 'iouu,e
W set.ms a, s'oVV oitoe money IN saie
.,;,,ns ", - NV" '"'' 'e'' 'he' "e'e
e",,.'e9 W nsSe. u.,
,horI 'n , ,uo VI b , .hds pon, ,%
nnpuiu oS ' pf, vac
@w u nov DeniocIat' no. HfPuoncsl
er,, n;sin he s nad sau ID n as,t was
'Ihl at Inuniuipa "a scaiiusa, ana, aI'h9ugn
he knew that. II were true. men OF his
pdi.y ah' I'm 49,, n I,.edS wmu ,i
Fhg H. ..,.e.l LIZ; ,..,
q, Few oays nnq.ay nn, a,, MN '. ,ss
we story reierteo 10 an attempt on the
par on une ououio Dan ANYWAY W secHe
~, psaes nl an oiaace eiinahcns
~. aT1 VI IL p'ope' Ss M
un. ihen, ath9usn ne hau apsoiu.eN
no.nlhR except nls susPlcions nat tnis
va % 70 pdck nun ne seh' LOT 'ne rau-
a. nInlofare pgsuen', .na r., al. ~.
eHnrr' ana rs 'eSa'ite AGENT rhihp
"'uuke, 20 appear oeiore MN,
"heh u;ey came ne ihIor'tleu mem thal
e Nanted mem 70 teii MN ABOUT me AZ
n uPI WIcn they hau ihaue o or I'm me
80 OF peleshtcs 10 pass DISC DIN 30,
lney denisd that any such thihg had
p'er attempted. NJ, rr-
o.. very Wen, gentlemen, eain Mr. roik,
" wa De my GUY 70 Issue wntan t,,, 20,
yolr arrest ana prosecute you 10 the 1ullest
s ~ m Of the law , would you rather have
ne 40 that or VIII you come back IN me
a. me end - three DAYS ana give me me
"'urntal'oll dei,,Aueu, - ~.
=. we emo OF ,he s,0oho oay eh-,'o'
aries =. Johnson OF missouri, one o. tie
,,Sd.hg criminal LAWYERS OF tne Mloole
wee, walked INTO the prosecutor oMS
Mr Stoke " my c,.h ne sn
nd'e come 70 'eH you mat he - ~ ~ ,haI
y" oahnc, appear Deior u'r 'ra'o Jury
''.morrow
n"'.rnor was Mr. foMs reply.