Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04
CONFESSION OF A BooDLER.
Startling Revelation of Bribery in
Municipal Assembly.

A dispatch from st. Louis last night says:
In written confession today Charles F.
Kelly, speaker of the house of delegates
during a period In the life of the Doodle
combine, relates the story of that combine.
He declares that a prominent local poll
tfcian promised himself and others impli-
Gated 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 attorney
took office or pardons afterward.
He declares that this man said the new
circuit attorney. for which office nomina-
tons are to be made by the democrats to-
day, would be his man.
Kelly declares he refused this offer and
that he makes this confession ito satisfy
the pangs of an accusing conscience, to
obey the requests Of his wife. and to do
what he can to make atOnement to the pub
lie and prevent other young men from fol-
! lowing the path which, he declares, has led
him to ruin.
In his confession Kelly details the story
OF the city lighting deal. for which, he says,
a Doodle fund of $4,000 was divided be-
tween the nineteen members Of the combine
at julius Lehmann's birthday party.
He declares that this politician gave him
the Doodle fund and that he took 1t to Leh-
manns house and that he there divided it.
Kelly says: IT know from my own
knowledge and from the statements made
has been going on in the municipal assem-
bly, of st. Louis for the past twenty-five
years. Hardly a bill passed that body in
the last quarter of century unless 1t was
paid for. We did not fear exposure and
punishment, for the reason that we be-
lieved that no one would dare to do 1t. In
case of attack we knew most of the poll
ticians and many of the large financiers OF
St. Louis would be with US. A former
prosecutor showed some signs of starting
after US. but he was bluffed Off.
when the present prosecutor (Circuit
Attorney Folk Is meant here commenced
his war on US we tried to intimidate MIN
by threats of assassination 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 news
paper and libel him so fiercely as to draw
his fire by taking up his time in libel prose-
cutting or If he did not, his influence would
be weakened and destroyed. Although we
could find nothing after a thorough search
to make attack on, libels were deliberate
ly made up for the purpose Of affecting
public sentiment. This plan was particle
pated in. not only by members of the house
of delegates under Indictment for boodIfng,
but by prominent financierS Of st. Louis,
who feared exposure and by those who
gave us the money"
Of the combine Kelly had this to say:
I'VE never thought of passing bill out of
which any money could be obtained unless
we were paid for our votes We went about
it in a business-like way and had combine
meetings at stated times, and fixed the
bride prices which we were to receive for
our votes by majority vote of the COM
bine. Then would select one of the
combine in whose honesty we had conf
dence, to go out and get the money.
These agents would rarely ever betray
US. In one or two instances they cOnfiscated
part of the money, but a general rule
they were honest with Among our
selves, understand, we had high code of
morals, and 1T was considered extremely
diSIa mar 1hor of ta tn
accept bride money without dividing 1t
among his fellows"