The Minneapolis journal., 1904-10-03
FOLKS SUCCESSOR
AS BUTLER TOOL
Boodler Kelly in Written Confes-
sion Names Politician as
Chief of Bribers.
Declares Combine Chief Promised
New Prosecutor Will Let
Criminals Off.

feSSlon today Charles +. Kelly, speaker
Of the house Of delegates during a per-
bine, relates his story Of that combine.
He declares that Edward Butler,
prominent local politician, promised
himself and others implicated, that. the
next circuit attorney would be "all
right, - and promised if they would re-
either continuances until the new circuit
attorney took office or pardons after
ward. e
Kelly is under conviction for perjury
in connection with the 'sboodle' cases
and his trial on the charge Of bribina
in connect1oE with the suburban fran
chise deal will be called Monday. Ho 60
now out on bond.
He. declares that Butler said the new
circuit attorney, for which office nomi-
nations are to be made by the democrats
today, would be "his man.
and that he makes this confession to
satisfy the pangs Of an accusing con-
science, to obey the requests Of his
wife, and to do what he can to make
the atonement to the public and prevent
other young men from following the
path which he declares has led him to
ruin.
Bribed by Butler.
Kelly says Edward Butler paid him
away from the grand jury, before which
he had been subpoenaed to appear after
John K. Murrell returned from Mexico,
and turned states evidence in the citY
lighting deal. He went to Europe, by
way Of Canada, taking. the name Of
Butler, Kelly said,. to have him remain
away until after the statute Of limita-
tins had run. out on the lighting deal.
By miscalculation, Kelly said, he came
back too soon and was arrested.
In the course of his confession Kelly
DEAL. and of Doodle fund Of $47 800,
divided between the nineteen members
| of the combine, at Julius Lehman IS
birthday party.
He declares that Edward Butler gave
him the Doodle fund and that he took it
to Lehman s house, and that he there
divided it. In the course of his con
fession, former Speaker Kelly said:
knew from my own knowledge
! and from the statements made to me
by those on the inside, that bribery
has been going on in the municipal as
sembly of st: Louis for the past twenty
body in the last quarter Of century
not fear exposure and 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 fnanciers Of
st. Louis would be with us. A former
prosecutor showed some signs of start
Laid Traps for Folk.
mWhen the present prosecutor (oir-
cult Attorney, Folk is meant here) COM
menced his war on US, we tried to in
ttimidate him by threats of assassina-
tion, and when this had no effect, we
laid all sorts Of traps for him, with
out success.
"Then some decided that the best
plan would be to start a newspaper
and libel him SO fercely as to draw
his fire by taking up his time in libel
prosecutions; or, If he did not, his in
fuence, would be weakened and de-
after a thoro search to make an at
tack on, ibels 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 boo
ding, but by prominent inanciers Of
St. Louis who feared exposure, and by
those who gave us the money"
Fixed Bribe Price List.
Of the combine, Kelly had this to
eve never thought Of passing bill
out Of which any money could be OBJ
tanned unless we were paid for our
votes. We went about it in business
like way and had combine meetings at
stated times and fixed the bribe prices
which we were to receive for our votes,
by a majority vote of the combine,
Then we would select one Of the COM
bine in whose honesty we had conf.
dence, to go out and get the money.
"These agents would rarely ever be.
tray us. In one or two instances they
confscated part Of the money, but az
a general rule they were honest with
us. Among ourselves, understand, we
had a high code Of morals, and it was
considered extremely dishonest for q
members Of the combine to accept bribe
money ewithout dividing it amongst his