The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-10-04

ST Louis, OCT. J.-ln Wrillch coh
fcssion today, Charles +. Kelley,
sneaker of the house Of delegates dur
ing period In the life Of the Doodle
combine relates his story Of that COM
bine. He declared that prominent
local politician promised himself that
the next circuit attorney would be
"all right" and promised II they would
remain firm. he would secure for them
continuance until the new circuit at
torney took office, or pardons after
ward
He declared that the politician said
the new circuit attorney for which Of
flee nominations are to be mado by
the Democrats today, would he his
man"
The Accusing Conscience.
Kelley declares he refused this Of
lfer and that he makes this confession
Ito satisfy the payment of an accusing
conscience to obey the requests OF
his wife and to do what he can to
make atonement to the public and
prevent other men from following the
path which he declares has led him
to ruin.
Kelley declared that the politician
payed him $4,000 of $4,000 and he
promised him to keep away from the
grand jury before which he had been
subpoened to appear after John f.
Marrell returned from Mexico aud
turned states evidence in the city
| lighting deal.
He went to Europe by way OF Can
ada. taking the name Of James Hogan.
1T was the intention of the politician,
Kelley said. to have him remain away
until after the statue limitation had
run out on the lighting deal. BY a
miscalculation, Kelley said, he came
back too soon and was arrested.
Lehmann's Birthday Party.
In the course of his confession Kel'
ley details story of the city lighting
deal and of boodler fund of $47,5OO
divided between the nineteen mem
bers of the combine at Julius Lch-
manns birthday party. He declares
that the politician mentioned gave
him the Doodle fund and that he took
il to Lehman's house and that he
there distributed It.
In the course of his confession For
mer Speaker Kelley said: 81 know
from my own knowledge and from the
statements made to me by both sides
that bribery has been going on in the
municipal assembly Of st. Louis for
the past "a years. Hardly bill
passed that body in the last quarter
of a century unless Il was paid for
We did not fear exposure and punish
mont for the reason that we did not
believe one would dare to do u. In
case of an attack. we knew that most
OF the politicians and many OF the
large financers of st. Louis would as
'sist us. A former prosecutor
showed some signs of starting after
us, but he was bluffed of.
Could not Bluff Folk.
When the present prosecutor (Cir'
cult Attorney Folk Is meant com
menced war on MS. we tried 20 intim
idate him by threats of assassination
and when this had no effect, We laid
all sorts of trans for him without
success. Then some decided that the
best plan would be 10 start a newspa
per and libel him so iicrccly as ia
draw his fire by taking M his time In
libel prosecuuOns, or II he did not bis
Influence would be weakened and de
stroyed. Although we could find
nothing after a thorough search Il
make an attack on Libcls were delib
ioratcly made M for the purpose 81
affecting preseutment The plan wal
participated in. not only by memberi
Iof the house ~ delegates under IN
'dictment for boJdling. but by prom
incnt fnancicrs u s. Louis. VIII
feared exposure and by thOs'
who gave rs the money.
Votes Were Cash.
Of the combine. Kelley had this q
say: We never thought 81 pass
ing bin pr 81 which anv monel
/ could Do Obtained unless we wer'
laid FOR our votes. We 80 about {
in 4 brsiness like uav and hai com
bine meetings a. stated times an
fixed the bride uriroz which We We
. 70 receive for our votes. by y malOr
fv vote q. fhr combine. Ihcu VI
. would select 0nr 0f the combine d
uhnsa h0ue-fr ur had confidence q
. 70 ruf ard ge- fhr rupuey.
These agents rarely BETRAYED ui
. IOne or two r1nfsrafed uar ~ th
Irrarrr ewnre ourselves ue had