The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1904-10-06
Tells STORY OF
DOODLE COMBINE
BPEAKER KELLY OF MISSOURI
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
CONFESSES.
WARNS YOUNG MEN
FROM PATH TO RUIN
Written Statement Of Corrupt Methods
Which He Declares Have Been
Going On in st. Louis Municipal
Assembly for Years.

st. Louis, Oct. 4.-In a written con-
fession Monday Charles F. Kelly, speak
sr Of the house of delegates during a
Deriod in the life of the Doodle combine,
relates the story of that combine. He
declares that a prominent local poll
tician promised himself and others
implicated that the next circuit at
torney would be 'all right" and
promised if they would remain firm
he would secure for them either contin-
uances until the new circuit attorney
took office or pardons afterward. He
declares that this man said the new cir
cult attorney, for which Office nomina-
lions have been made by the democrats,
would be 'his man.
Kelly is under conviction for perjury
IN connection with the doodle" cases
and his trial on the charge of bribing
in connection with the suburban fran
chise deal will be called Monday. He
81 now out on bond.
Warning to Young Men.
Kelly declares he refused this offer,
md 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 atone
nent to the public and prevent other
young men from following the path
which he declares has led him to ruin.
In the course of his confession Kelly
details the story of the city lighting
deal, for which a Doodle fund of SAT, 500
was divided between the 10 members
sf the combine at Julius Lehmann's
birthday party.
He declares that the politician re-
ferred to gave him the Doodle fund and
that he took it to Lehmann's house, and
that he there divided it.
Has Been Going on for Years.
In the course Of his confession former
speaker Kelly said: 81 know from my
swn knowledge and from the statements
made to me by those on the inside that
bribery has been going on in the munic-
fral assembly of st. Louis for the past
Is years. Hardly a bill passed hat body
in the last quarter of a century unless
It was paid for. We did not fear ex-
posture and punishment, for the reason
that we believed that no one would dare
tU 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 starting after us, but he
was bluffed off.
when the present prosecutor (Cir-
cult Attorney Folk is meant here) com
nenced his war on us, we tried to in
timidate him by threats of assassina-
tion, and when this had no effect we laid
all sorts of traps for him. without sue
cess. Then some decided that the best
plan would be to start a newspaper and
libel him so %fiercely as to draw his fire
by taking up his time in libel prosecu-
tions, or if he did not, his influence
would be weakened and destroyed. AL
though we could find nothing after a
thorough search to make attack on,
lbels 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 boodling. but by
prominent fnanciers of st. Louis,
who feared exposure, and by those who
gave US the money"
Fixed Price for Votes.
OF the combine, Kelly had this to say:
we never thought of passing a 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 a
majority vote of the combine. Then we
would select one of the combine in
whose honesty we had confidence to &c
cut and get the money.
""These agents would rarely ever be.
tray us. In one or two instances they
confscated part Of the money, but as a
general rule they were honest with us
Among ourselves, understand, we had q
high code of morals, and it was consid.
cred extremely dishonest for a member
sf the combine to accept bride money
without dividing it amongst his fel.
lows"
Kelly declared that the politician PAID
y Aim 415 600 Of SEQ O00 nromicod IN 10,