Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-10-05
TELLSSTORYOF GRAF 7
Charles F. Kelley Says He Re-
ceived $4,000 from St.
Louis Lighting Deal.
BIG POLITICIAN PAID CASH
Former Speaker of the House Of Del
egates Describes Campaign
Of Libel.

st. Louis, Oct. An a written con-
fession Charles F. Kelley, speaker of
the house of delegates during period
in the life of the Doodle combine, re-
lates the story of that combine He
declares that prominent local poll
tician promised himself and others i'm
plicated that the next circuit attorney
would be 'all right" and promised il
they would remain firm he would Sc
cure them either continuances until
the new circuit attorney took Office or
pardons afterward. Kelley is under con.
viction for perjury in connection with
the 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.
New Circuit Attorney His Man.
He declares this man said the new
circuit attorney, for which Office NOM
nations are to be made by the Demo
Gratis, would be This man." Kel
ley declares he refused this offer, and
that he makes this confession to sat-
isfy the pangs Of an accusing con-
science, to obey the requests of his
wife, and to do what he can to make
atonement to the public and prevent
other young men from following the
path which he declared has led him to
ruin.
Tells Of $47,5OO Doodle Deal.
In the course of his confession Kei-
ley details the story of the city light
ing deal, for which Doodle fund of
$4,000 was divided between the nine
teen members of the combine at julius
Lehmann's birthday party, declares the
politician referred to gave him the
Doodle fund and that he took 1t to
Lehmann's house and that he there
divided it..
Bribery for Twenty Five Years.
In the course of his confession KEEL
ley said: II know from my own
knowledge and from the statements
made to me by those on the inside that
bribery has been going on in the mu-
nicipaI assembly of st. Louis for the
past twenty-five years. Hardly bill
passed that body In the last quarter
Of aseentury unless it was paid foJ
We7did not fear exposure and punish
sment, for the reason that we believed
that2nos one would dare to do it. In
case of attack, we knew most of the
politicians and many Of the large finan-
ciers Of st. Louis would be with us.
A former prosecutor showed some signs
of starting after us, but he was bluffed
off.
~ So Threats to Assassinate Folk.
ssss'When the present prosecutor [Cir-
cult Attorney Folk is meant here]
commenced his war on us we tried to,
intimidate him by threats of assassina-
ton and when this had no effect we
laid all sorts of traps for him without
success. Then some decided that the
best plan would be to start q newspa-
per and libel him SO fiercely as to
draw his fire. by taking up his time in
libel prosecutions, or if he did mot his
influence would be weakened and de-
stroyeds Although we could find moth
ing after thorough search to justify
attack, libels were deliberately made
up for the purpose of affecting public
sentiment. This plan was participated
in not only by members Of the house
of delegates under indictment for
boodling, but by prominent financiers
Of ST. Louis who feared exposure and
by those who gave us the money"