Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-07-01
BERSCH PLEADS
GUILTY OF BRIBERY
First Admission of Guilt in St.
Louis Doodle Prosecutions.
OTHERS TO FOLLOW SUIT
Certain support Having Been with.
drawn, the Ex-IegisInSOrs VIII
Tell the Grand Jury Some
surprises.

st. Louis, June 2S.-A sensation was
Sprung in Judge Jesse McDonald's di-
vision of the criminal court Monday
morning when Edmund Bersch. one OF
the indicted members of the house OF
delegates combine, entered a plea of
guilty, through his attorney, Thomas
j. Rowe, to %boodling in connection
with the city lighting deal.
Attorney Rowe asked Judge Melon
aid to defer sentence for a few days
and the request was granted.
In all probability Bersch will! escape
with a slight penalty, probably three
years, because of his plea of guilty,
which will cut off considerable expense
that would have had to be 30. ne by the
state had he insisted upoa going tC
trial.
Circuit Attorney Joseph W. Folk an
nouncel that the state was ready for
trial when the Bcrsch case was called,
as the defense ready" Judge Nc
Donald asked.
Plea of Guilty.
my client desires to enter a plea OF
guilty and throw himself upon the
mercy Of the court" Attorney Rowe re
piled. Immediately there wda cpns'cr-
nation III the court room.
Charles +. Kelley, Charles j. Den
ney and CHARLES A. Gutke, other in
dicted members of the famous com
binc, which split the $l7,JOD at the
memorable Lehman birthday party
were IN court when the Bcrsch plea
vas made, and their faces hlanched
upon realizing It's significance,
The city lighting deal is the loodlinp
deal hat sen. julius Lehman and
Emil Hartman TO the pcnitcntiary.
Sentence will be passed by Judge
Mcdonald Friday morning. The pris-
uncr gave bond. Ed Butler signing
Bcrsch'S case was the first called after
Il severance of the four Defendants were
secured.
Without ~ Lawyer.
When Brrsch was summoned he had
no lawyer. Attorney Thomas } Rowe
who had previously represented him
said he had inferred by a remark
Bersch had made that he did not wish
his counsel any furSher.
Bersch, however, said he was mistake
Ell, and IN" defendant and counsel held
q consultation, after which ihC plea OF
guilty was entered.
After tn" plea Of guilty catered by
Edmund Iicrsch to the charge of
"bOodling" in the city lightiLE cases,
the next sensation that was sprung IN
connection with the famous cases was
the cO3tpuEcmcnt Of the trials of
Charles f.. Kelly and Charles a. Gutke
when they came up before the court al
W O'Clock Monday afternoon, with
the understanding that when they re
appear the defendants will plead guilty
to tn" charge against them.
This nGSlpOncmcnt was taken, ii l.
understood, with the object IN view of
permitting the two accused men TO ap-
pear before the June grand Jury, which
will ]rcconvcnc Tuesday and tell all thcy
know ahou, the boodling eases in
which the entire country has been in
tcrcst"d in during the last two years.
1t Is whispered that this determine
ton Of the accused men Is due to tho
fact that certain support which has
uH'II no" Le'h JACK u 'h'Il mas no"
been withdrawn.
It. would seem that, deserted in the
hour of need, these men have decided
to get back" at those whom they
have been shielding, and will give evil
dcncc that may result in the lndic'ing
II several prominent men.
II is believed, inasmuch as thc bOC!le
defendants we're practically bottled up
by the action Of the supreme court in
remaining their cases after their first
conviction, that to avert a prOhahi"
conviction and heavy sentence, they
will :Ollow Bcrsch and plead guilty.
This would save the expense OF the
trial. and probably Tighten their pros
pcctiva imprisonment.