Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-29
RooDLEE MAKES CONFESSION
A Full History Of the Bride Giving and
Bride Takina at St, Louis,

I
st. Louis, Mo. June 29.-'rhe details
of all the doodle" transactions of the
| house of delegates combine since 1897
| were told to Circuit Attorney Folk by
| Charles A. Gutke, now under convic-
| ton in one case and under indictment
| In another.
Gutke's confession was made in the
presence NJ witnesses and was taken
down IN shorthand. After he had fin-
ished his confession to Mr. Folk. Gutke
gave out written statement for pubIi-
cation.
Gutke in his statement says:
The best PREPARATION that can make
for the wrongs l have done is to con-
TESS fully TO everything. in order that
the public may realize what has been
going on. Yielding TO the pleadings OF
my wife, i have determined to do all /
can TO atone for my sins against the
public.
The people of St Louis even now
do not realize how they have been per-
sistently Numbered for years and years
by the men they elected to make laws
for the city.
Il became a member of the house of
delegates in 1897 and at once became
a member of the combine of that body,
which was an organization composed
of nineteen delegates for the purpose
of selling legislation.
The first bin that came UP after
had become a member of the combine
was the Suburban loop bill The COM
bine got 100000 for their votes on this
bill: on the Union avenue bill we got
$4,000: on the Central Traction bill
we got SIS. 900: on the Third street line
bin we got $4,000; on the lighting
bill we got s47.500: on the Suburban
bill we were to get SIS, 600. which is
now In the safe deposit box in the Lin
coin Trust Company. being placed
there with the agreement that 1t should
be turned over to us when the bill had
been passed.
While these are some of the largest
brides secured during my term of office
there We're innumerable others, ranging
from $4,000 for switching bills to a
few hundred dollars for some minor
privileges,
The bride prices were fixed in meet
ings of the combine, the procedure
being for some member to get up and
move that a certain price be fixed on Il
certain bill. Other members would
give their opinions, and a vote would
be taken, and the price receiving the
highest rtumber of votes would be
Bride Agent Elected.
"Then we would select an agent of
the combine by ballot TO negotiate for
",
would distribute the money among u.s.
From my intimate knowledge of
dealings with this combine and from
secured on what has been
going on here for the last quarter of a
make the positive statement
that there is hardly a corporation in
the city of St Louis of s250000 capital
and over that has not either been held
Up for bride money or has bought Off
cial action from the combine in the
house of delegates
Il acted as the agent of the combine
in q number of these deals. In the
Suburban deal ] went with kratz to
Stocks house and was present when
the agreement was made regarding the
bride of 100000 for kratz. which is now
in lock- box in the mississippi Valley
Trust Company.
II Went with Charles Kratz and Car
rol to the office OF Il prominent broker
n the Lighting deal. ana there 100000
vas paid me by this broker to give the
and the promise was made
hen that $27.500 more would be paid"
Names Mentioned.
Other details We're given by Gutke.
who mentioned the name of Il promi-
lent local politician. who he said, had
been at the head of nearly all the COM
)ines in the house of delegates during
he last twenty five years He said the
poodle gang in st. Louis. which is more
powerful than the people of St Louis
lream Of, has already planned TO cap
ure the circuit attorneys office at the
i.xt election.
Gutke also said that former Dele I
rates Charles f. Kelly had told him he
iad received $4,000 for going to Eu-
ope when his presence in ST Louis
eopardzed men OF prominence The
of these men with the boo
lie cases have been made plain by
1utlte's confession.