The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-15
4 . q = 0 q = 3 . . . . & e . %a
q THINGS HAYES AND O'KEEFE Q
ARE ACCUSED OFF STEALING.

. thur 9. Tibbetts; value....... 6D.O0
q One leather trunk. from the (
. estate Of Josephine Meyer; 4
= value So. ----...-...-....--...-... 5000
o From the city OF st. Louis....g7O.OO I
y Total -. ........................Ss5 $500 a
z . . . . . . q . o . q q o q o
Deputy Coroner John D. O'Keefe and
Clerk William Hayes. two of the mer
discharged yesterday morning by Coroner
Robert NJ. Fupkhouser. were indicted yes
terday afternoon and arrested at $40
o'clock last evening at the -Four Courts.
Deputy Sheriff Dickman took the prts-
oners before Judge Daniel G. Taylor, who
| liked their bonds at Sl.5OO each.
The charges against O'Keefe and Hayes
who are jointly indicted in one bill. is
grand larceny.
1t Is alleged that they stole the property
Of three dead persons. the total value of
which was Sis. and $40 from the city of
st. Louis They deny the charge
1t is said that other indictments may be
expected to-day.
Coroner Funkhouser upon arriving at
his office yesterday morning at o'clock
handed to Chief Deputy Doctor Frank H.
Boogher, Deputy O'Keefe Chief Stenog-
rapher Harvey Ready and Clerk Hayes
letters, which read as follows:
| This is to notify you that your services are
| no longer desired. and you are hereby dis
charged You will turn over the keys or money
| OF office etc, to Officer Tabb and give him the
| combination to the SAFE
ROBERT N. FUNKHoUSER, Coroner
A letter reading almost the same was
sent to the Morgue with instructions to
Superintendent George Cowie to present
| it to the night superintendent, Walter
Graham. Graham received his letter
about 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Doctor Funkhouser Immediately appoint
ed Doctor W. H. Freudenstein of the
City Dispensary staff Chief Deputy Cor
oner and Miss Margaret wertz of No.
59SOA Cote Brilliante avenue, who has
been assistant stenographer four years,
to the position of chief stenographer, TO
succeed Ready. He had not filed the
other positions last night, but expects to
do so to-day.
REFUSE TO DEPART.
Doctor Boogher. Deputies OKeefe and
Hayes, and stenographer refused to ac-
oept at first the letters as discharges, and
declined to leave the Coroner's Office
Doctor Funkhouser went 20 the telephone
and requested Captain Reynolds of the
Central District to send men to the Office
In the City Hall basement.
Sergeant David L. Field with several
patrolmen, hurried to the City Hall. Cor
oner F>unkhouser explained his request
for policemen to Sergeant Field and said
he wished his office cleared. Sergeant
Field quietly requested each of the dis
charged employees to take their departure,
which they did.
Boogher, O'Keefe, Ready and Hayes bur
ried to the -Four Courts and consulted AS
sistant Circuit Attorney Hancock to begin
a Grand Jury investigation of affairs in
the Coroners Office.
: Coroner Funkhouser likewise went TO the
Four Courts and saw Assistant Circuit At
torney Hancock. AS a result Of the two
visits the Grand Jury dropped other i'm
portant matters and took UP the investi-
cation Immediately.
Doctor F'unkhouser. Policeman c. H.
Daniel. Mrs. C. Well, No. 3S07 Morgan
street: Mrs. Mary Hopkins, No. 2T12 Lucas
avenue, and Miss Marguerite A. wertz
stenographer in the Coroner's Office ap-
peared before the Grand Jury as wit
nesses
An hour after the testimony of these
witnesses was heard the Grand Jury had
voted the Indictment charging O'Keefe
and Hays with grand larceny.
At 6 o'clock the Grand Jury made a
partial report to Judge Taylor. returning
the Hays-oKeefe Indictment
O'Keefe and Hays had gone to the -Four |
Courts to see Assistant Circuit Attorney |
Hancock. arriving shortly after the Grand |
Jury made It's partial report. They were |
recognized by an attache of the Court, |
who informed Judge Taylor of their pres- |
ence.
PLACED UNDER ARREST.
Capiases were issued at once under or
ders from the court by Clerk Arthur
Stutz and placed in the hands of Deputy
Sheriff Barnard Dickmann for service.
Deputy Sheriff Dickmann went to the third
floor OF the Four Courts and arrested the
two men.
They were taken before Judge Taylor.
who agreed to wait until they could get
bondsman. They made arrangements by
telephone with Michael J. Cullen OF Cullen
& Kelley. liverymen and undertakers. to
become surety on their bond.
The Grand Jury's work on the case is
as one OF the quickest records
ever made in matter of such Importance.
1t is said, however, that the Grand Jury
has not finished with the investigation and
that Coroner Funkhouser will present 9TH
er evidence, which may carry the mat
ter further.
On the other hand, It Is stated that for
nsr Chief Deputy Boogher has charges to
make. which may come up for investi-
cation by the Grand Jury. Coroner Funk
louser courts this kind Of an inquiry and
declares he will show an entirely clean
'ecord in all matters pertaining to the con-
iuct of his office.
Il have known for some time" said the
Coroner to The Republic yesterday after
loon, that something was wrong In my
'ffice. but could not get the desired In
formation. 1 finally hit upon a plan
which has worked remarkably we'll, and
he Grand Jury's action. believe you will i
ind. will bear me out. t
"As to the charge that I have used the !
,ity's stamps for private correspondence. 1
viii say it is too ridiculous for considera- I
ion. Only few days ago 1 handed to |
Hayes 30 cents for stamps that had used, | !
md 1t has always been my custom to pay
or any stamps 1 might need for private :
while at the Coroners
fice.
DID NOT WANT OFFICE
Concerning Doctor Booghers state
nent that 1 have not given my time to '
his office, 1 admit that this Is true to a {
ertain extent. 1 did not want the office I
vhen asked to run for It and said could
lot and would not take all of my time from
ny private practice to give to the Office of {
'oroner. With that understanding / was 9
lected and l appointed men whom cop- !