The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-01-07
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

1
Hannibal. Mo-. Jan. 6.-How high die
grating In Post-Office sites extend? This
is the question that every one who has
kept in touch with developments OF the
Hannibal Grand Jury is asking. Though
it is expected that three indictments
against alleged grafters will be returned
by the Grand Jury tomorrow, no one be-
lieves that the final work of official cleans
| ing can be finished this side of Washing
| ton.
According to Postmaster Samuel II. FL
| kins of Columbia. he could not obtain a
hearing of his charges against C. l.. Blan-
ton. who selected the Post-Office site for
Columbia in the summer of 1902. until he
had secured the assistance of his brother,
United States Senator Steve Elkins
Editor E. w. Stephens of Columbia, who
accompanied him on his trip. was also
treated in like manner, even after he had
obtained letters of introduction from Uni
ted States Senators Vest and Cockrell and
other well-known persons.
TAYLOR REFUSED
TO HEAR CHARGES.
When l laid my charges before Third
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury j. A.
Taylor" said Postmaster Dikins to-day.
he would not look at them. Blanton is
employed under his direction. 1t took
every string I could pull in order to get
reopening Of the selection of the Column
bia site. Finally. he did consent to review
the matter and sent Colonel Lowe out to
investigate. He was persuaded to accept
the Recommendation made by Blanton
am after these fellows from top to bottom.
1 have already brought the chairmen Of
the Boone County Republican and Dem
ocratic committees before the Federal
Grand Jury. They have told what they
know. and indictments will be returned as
a result"
TWO BRANDS
OF REPUBLICANS.
Elkins is Kerens Republican. James C.
Schwabe. chairman of the Boone County
Republican Committee. Is an Atkins Re-
publican. Between the two is bitterness
that can hardly be imagined by one not
familiar with the factional hatreds in Mis-
souri, Republicanism. Outside the Federal
Grand Jury to-day they made accusations
against one another that included a good
portion of the cardinal sins. Schwabe says
naf ne viii prefer G enargeT against Ekns
to New Mexico on his private affairs.
Ekins tells him to go ahead. Elkins
iss ssss ,has he bas sgspt 800 Sat
he will not quit until he finishes his case
in Washington.
Elkins and Stephens were before the
V
are said to have favored a Post-Ofice
site that was close to the printing shop
of Stephens. John A. Stewart. chairman
Of the Democratic County Committee has
site at the other end Of the main busi-
ness street
Apparently the decision as to which site
would be chosen was left to Doctor ]. B.
Schwabe. when Vernon went to Columbia
he referred to his relationship with
Charles l. B!anton. his cousin. who would
..f&A CAN .f,zx &k,xe.
time to sell site Of his own to the Gov
.ernment However: ihis lots were too small
HIRED DOCTOR VERNON
AS A PROMOTER.
Schwabe and Stewart make no secret Of
the subsequent negotiations. II went to
Stewart with Vernon after my own op-
tions fell through" said Schwabe to-day.
In Stewards presence We hired Vernon
as as q II promoter. We sold the Stewart site
We paid Doctor Vernon for his influence.
Il did not see, Vernon until about !
eas Mr. on ,ns day h came to With
tie other people who were interested In
the deal. l paid Scnwabe the money with
the understanding that he was to pay
Vernon supposed that II was nothing
more nor less than good stin price for
influence. As far as the site is concerned.
have petition signed by exactly S91s
per cent of the business men of Columbia
stating that they prefer my site
It is said that Schwabe paid $500 of the
Sl.0co to Doctor Vernon at Moberly. The
other $5U was paid in Centralia to Mrs.
Vernon. after two long-distance telephone
conversations, one of them being from
w ashinRton and the other from Moberly.
been with Doctor Vernon. Schwabe him
self received $3.50.
so far Doc or Vernon has not appeared
before the Grand Jury. He was ia HaE-
nibaI for few hours last night. and,
though Post-Office Inspectors A. d. Bum
sen and W. L. Reid, who have been de-
tailed to assist United States District At
town. they permitted him to go. as Colonel
Dyer decided that he did no: care for him
as witness.
vERNON's BROTHER
BEFORE GRAND JURY.
Inspectors Bunsen and Reid have been
working three weeks on the post-office
cases. Last night they became acquainted
with T. g. Vernon of Paola. Kas.,
or four hours very pleasantly and Lrof.ta-
bly, for the Government in his company.
As a result he was kept before the Grand
Jury to-day only about five minutes and
told to report at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning.
Mrs. Vernon. who lives with her hus-
band at the Franklin Hotel in ST. Louis.
Is at the Union Depot Hotel here. She
has been subpoenaed at witness. but
probably will not be called to testify. as
committeeman Schwabe told practically
all that she could tell. A friend of the
vernons H 9. Noel of ST. Louis. has
been here advising with Mrs. Vernon and |
her brother-in-law.
Mrs. Vernon denied to-day any knowl-
DYER DRAWS
1t is thought that the investigation will |
be concluded tomorrow. as most of the
witnesses have been examined. United |
States District Attorney Dyer is drawing |
Indictments tonight. and they probably |
will be returned in court tomorrow In
dications are that there will be three of |
them covering either bribery or con- |
A question which has come up in the
Columbia case will cause United States |
District Attorney Warner to take up the |
in Kansas City.
1t is claimed that part Of the Columbia
site is entailed. and that this fact was /
kept out OF the abstract of title which was |
delivered to the Government. Columbia |
Is in the Kansas City jurisdiction. Colonel
Dyer is investigating the bribery charges |
N connection with that Office. as the money |
was paid in Moberly. which is in the st. |
Aside from the Columbia case, Colonel |
Dyer and the Grand Jury heard witnesses
to-day in regard to the selection of sites
Kirksville two sites were offered. the |
Graves and the willard sites. The Will
lard site was chosen after Doctor Vernon
had made arrangements. 1t is said. to re-
,eive $500 from the neighbors of the site. |
Vernon received 500 in cash and 500 in a
1raft. which was cashed in Memphis.
tional Bank; Thomas J. Dockery. former
Mayor and real estate dealer; James L.
Waddill,, wealthy lumberman. and Fred I
Wilson. cashier of the Savings Bank. all |
Of KirksyIlle, were witnesses to-day.
While Mr.. Baird is thought to have known I
Of vernon's pull there Is no evidence |
In connection with the Kfrksyille case that