The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-03
DOODLE TALE
Charles f. Kelly of Doodle
Combine Makes a Confession.
How st. Louis Was Systemat-
icalIy Robbed for Years.
OFFERED IMMUNITY
If He Would Withhold the
Secrets of the Gang.
Grossest Corruption Has Exist
ed for 2 Years.
Hardly Bill Passed That Was
Not Paid For.
Grossest Corruption Has Exist
ed for 25 Years.
THREAT TO KILL FOLK
LibeIs Deliberately Planned in
Order to Silence Him.

ST. Louis Oct 3-In a written con-
fession today Charles F. Kelly, speak
er of the house of delegates during 4
period in the life of the Doodle com
bine relates the story of that combine
He declares that prominent
local politician promised himself
and others implicated that the
next circuit attorney would be all right
and promised if they would remain
firm he would secure for them either
continuances until the new circuit at
torney took Office or pardons after
ward.
Kelly is under conviction for perjury
in connection with doodle cases and
his trial on the charge of bribing in
connection with the Suburban franchise
deal will be called Monday. He is now
out on bond.
Kelly declares that the new
circuit attorney for which office nonli-
nation are to be made by the Demo-
Gratis today would be his man.
Kelly declares he refused this offer
and that he makes this confession to
satisfy the pangs of an accusing CON
science, to obey the requests OF ms
wife and to do what he can to make
atonement to the public and prevent
young men from following the pain
which he declares has led him to rum;
Kelly declared that he was pald
S15 900 of $4,000 promised to keep
away from the grand jury before which
he had been Subpoenaed to appear al
ter John K. MurEsaf returned from
Mexico and turned Astate's evidence IN
the city lighting deal. He went to Eur
lope by way of Canada, taking the
name of James Hogan. 1t was the IN
tention to have hlm relila nf llf
away until after the statute OF
limitation had run out on the
1iehtine- deal. Ry a miscalculation Kel-
ly said. he came back too soon an0
was arrested.
Story of Lighting Deal.
In the course of his confession Kelly
details the story of the city nghll1idg NJ ld9
deal for which a Doodle fund of $4l ,5D
was divided between the - members
of the combine at Julius Lehman
birthday party.
He declares that pt poIl.tOias - u
gave him the Doodle fund, that ne
took it to Lehmann's home ana tha'
he thera divided 1t.
In the course of his confession,
Former Speaker Kelly salo:
81 know from my own knoWledse
and from the statements made to me
by those on the inside that orlpery
has been going on IN the Ihulllcipa o y !
assembly of st. Louis for the past 20
wears Hardly a bill passed that body
in the last quarter of a century unless
it was paid for. We did not fear eX-
posure or punishment, for the reason
that we believed that no one would
dare to do it. In case of attack, we
knew most of the politicians and many
of the large financiers of st. Louis
would be with US. A former prose-
cutor showed some signs of starting
after US, but he was bluffed on
"When the present prosecutor (Clr-
cult Attorney Folk is meant. here)
commenced his war on us, we tried TO
intimidate him by threats of assasslna-
ton and when this had no effect we
laid all sorts of traps for him without
success. Then it was decided that the
best plan would be to start a news
paper and libel him so fiercely as to
draw his fire by taking up his time IN
libel prosecutions or if he did not his
influence would be weakened and de-
| stroyed. Although we could find moth
ing after thorough search to make
attack on, Hbels were deliberately
made up for the purpose of affecting
public sentiment. This plan was par
ticipated in not only by members of
| the house of delegates under 1ndlct-
ment for boOdling, but by prominent
financiers of ST. Louis, who feared ex-
posure, and by those who gave us the
money
Always Paid.
OF the combine, Kelly has this to
say:
1--WE never thought of passing a bill
| out of which any money could be OBJ
tanned, unless we were paid for our
votes. We went about it in a business
like way and had combine meetings al
stated times and fixed the bribe prices
which we were to receive for our
votes by a majority vote of the COM
bine. Then we would select one of
the combine in whose honesty we had
confidence to go out and get the
money.
''These agents would rarely ever be-
tray US. In one. or two instances they
confiscGted part Of the money, but as
aa general rule they were honest with
rs Among ourselves understand we
had a high code of morals, and it was
considered extremely dishonest for a
member of the combine to accept
bribe money without dividing it
amongst his fellows
aInnrnM Nnnn0 0nrM