The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-10
BOODLER'S LETTERS PUBLIC.
KELLEY SAYS EX-LHEUT.-GOV. LEE
WROTE THEM.

Lee Denies N--Letters discuss Payment
OF Money for Legislation and Make
Demands Tor Funds 10 Leave the COur-
try After ExpOsurc--keiicy a Fugitive.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, July "a prominent
local attorney, who recently visited Daniel
D. Kelley. the fugitive Legislative agent,
IN Quebec, Cana do, sa VS. he saw Il number
OF letters and kilograms which passed from
former Lieut.. Gov. John A. Lee to Kelley
The attorney called upon Circuit Attorney
Joseph w. Folk to-day and gave him an
outline of the letters and MESA ges.
Lee, according TO this evidence, wired
Kelley to fee from New York city after he
d.ce) went before the Grand Jury Mt Jefer-
son City and told what he knew about alum
boodling. He later wrote Kelley that he
WAS ruined man and that Kelley was
responsible for it and that it was Keley's
duty to see that he got money and was
we'll cared for
The first of the letters which the attorney
saw, and which he says he is positive was
written by Lee, because he is familiar with
the latter's handwriting, was dated Jan. 3
OF this year. The writer informs Kelley
that he is In desperate straits for money
and must have $4,000 at once. Mention
Of a note for $4,000 on the Interstate
Grocer, a paper controlled by Lee, is
made. The writer tells Kelley that he will
pay 1t back sure, as the Legislature opens
the following Monday "and he will get
some money from Phelps and Carroll"
He also adds; Il will see that you have
a proper committee appointed and one
that will be satisfactory to you in every
way"
Another Of the letters bears the same
date and begs Kelley to destroy the first,
but asks him to telegraph the American
Exchange Bank that Lees draft will be
paid. In the next letter, alleged TO have
been written by Lee to Kelley, the writer
says that he has "seen Phelps and has
got some money He also Estates that
Farris is causing him some trouble" and
that there must be some pressure brought
to bear in the alum matter; still, he "thinks
he will pull through all right
The next letter was in regartl to Ices
campaign for Governor 1t says that it
IL costing him lots of money" and for
Kelley to 20 over to III" and get 81 900
and send it to him. The next letter again
urges Kelley to 60 over and see III" ard
the tobacco reoEle and tell them Lee is
going TO he the next Governor at is
necessary and important for them to have
a Governor on whom they can rely, you
know" he adds. according to the attorney
who saw the letters.
The next letter Requests Kelley to get
another 81, 900 from Al" In another letter
the writer tells Kelley that another John
A. Lee has been getting his mail and that it
will be necessary for them to use some
precaution. He instrGcta Kelley to address
his letters under an assumed name and
send them in care of Mrs. John A. Lee.
The next communication was telegram
TO which was signed the fictitious name
suggested in the previous letter
The telegram was addressed to Kelley
at the Office Of the american Queen in New
York city, and was warning for him to
fee from the country.
The next letter was after Lee had made
his confession about hoodiirg and rend:
II am a ruined man. My downfall is due
to you. It is your duty to take care of
me. / need money to go away for a year
or So"
Kelley showed the attorney a letter
which he alleged Lee wrote about the mid
die of January in regard to the pending
alum bill He tells Kelley that he can get
things fixed up" just the way he wants
them for $4,000. He and "C' want 5000
TO divide equally between them, The
other $4,000 will have to be- spent in the
lower house The letter also gay that when
the party measures are not involved the
Republican members ara acc 'ssihle and
advises that their votes bc bongh;, b.
cause they are cheaper han Democrats
Kelley, in his interview with the visiting
attorney is said to have stated that lie had
given Lee over fifty checks during their
doodle TRANSACTIONS, and That they ranged
from SIS to $500. According To his state
ment, they were all given to Lee for corrupt
purposes.
Lee tonight issued statement in which
he denied that he lad ever written the
letters He accuses Kelley of debauching
the Legislatures of rine States and having
boosted of it.