The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-03
GRAND JURY SAYS
THERE'S No GRAFT
Session Ends in Report Which
Points to Conditions and
Suggests Remedies.
- : ~ - go.


tigation of the charges of gambling,
police graft" and protected immo-
rality, contains the information that the
witnesses who have been called before
the grand jury have not been able to
substantiate the charges, and for the
reason that's the grand jury was not
able to secure any evidence upon which
convictions could be secured, no in
dictments were returned.
The investigation on the part of the
grand jury was largely the result Of
charges made openly in the pulpits of
Rev. John M. Fulton, of the Central
Presbyterian church, and Rev. w. H.
w. Boyle, of the House of Hope church,
and each Of these ministers was called
before the grand jury and given an
opportunity to produce proofs of their
assertions regarding graft" and pro-
tected immortality. Many other wit
nesses were also called before the jury
during the course of the investiga
ton, among them being Chief of Police
John j. O'Connor, George Wells, a for
mer city detective, and a number of
the members of the Y. M. c.. A, as
we'll as woman who was supposed to
have been forcibly detained in a jack
son street resort for several months.
In its investigation into the city's
moral status the grand jury depended
largely upon DR.. Fulton and DR.. Boyle
to furnish positive evidence, but ac-
cording to the report, neither of the
ministers could furnish anything more
than hearsay evidence, which would be
of no value in a court. DR.. Fulton was
before the body upon two different oc-
casions, and was closely questioned re-
garding his knowledge of graft and
protected immortality.
The attention of the grand jury had
been called to the statement made by
DR.. Fulton from his pulpit during the
city campaign in which the minister
is said to have stated that he could
name persons identified with graft, but
when he was placed under oath and
questioned regarding this assertion, he
is said to have admitted that he did
not and could not make the statement
upon his own personal knowledge He
is said to have acknowledged that the
information was furnished by George
Wells, a former city detective, who
was at that time in the employ of the
Republican campaign committee.
DR.. Boyle's testimony. it is stated,
was of no more value than that of DR.,
Fulton, neither of the ministers being
able to place any definite facts before
the grand jury
Witnesses Could Not Tell.
The grand jury is said to have ex-
perienced the same trouble with other
witnesses called. The Y. M. c. A. mem
bers were supposed to possess infor
nation regarding gambling and policy
playing, but when questioned and ask
ed for specific statements, none of
them could give the jury any direct in
formation. One or two of these wit
nesses, it is said, told the grand jury
that they had witnessed poker play
ing, but when questioned regarding
dates, names and places, were unable
to give satisfactory evidence. They
admitted that they could not give the
names of the persons whom they al
legged were taking part in the gamb-
ling, and they had not witnessed any
money change hands. One of them
told Of a policy drawing he had wit
messed, but could not say where it was
or who conducted it.
The woman who was induced to go
before the grand jury and relate her
experience in Jackson street resort
was no more successful in furnishing
discriminating evidence than were the
ministers and Y. M. c.. A. members.
She was identified by the police as a
woman who had been arrested a num-
Der of times, and it was shown that
she had been arrested at other places
than5the one in which she claimed to
be held as an unwilling inmate
The investigation by the grand jury
was a most searching one, being con-
tinued several weeks, during which
time the jury had before it every per-
son who was supposed to be able to
furnish any definite information on the
subject. According to the report made
to the court yesterday there was moth
adduced, the witnesses falling COM
pletely to substantiate charges made
by them outside the jury room.
The Jury's Report.
Regarding the investigation the re-
port says:4s sao41J -
The grand jury has carefully and thor
corning gambling, graft and public i'm.
morality. These charges made in the
public prints. from the pulpit and by in
quiry, in the opinion of the members of
the grand jury who were convinced that
where there was so much smoke there
investigation has failed to disclose any
facts susceptible of proof and upon which
indictments might be found in relation to
either gambling, graft or the social evil.
These charges were made in apparent
good faith. It was shown to the grand
jury that some of the charges were
based upon evidence secured by mem
bers of the Y. M. c. A, by private in
dividuals and by men employed for the
purpose of making such necessary in
designations. All of the parties engaged
in gathering this evidence who could be
reached, and many of those who had made
public disclosure based upon the informa-
were called before the grand jury and in
terrogated. None of the testimony adj
duced was of a character that could be
used in the successful prosecution of the
alleged offenders, being confessedly hear
say or, otherwise incompetent.
The inquiry went particularly to the
charges of "graftings'2 by officials and
was offered in support of the charge of
grating" and, while 1t was shown to
the satisfaction of the jury that gambling
by poker playing and policy had been
practiced, no specific proof could be ad-
duced.
The grand Jury greatly deplores the
want Of cooperation between the forces
and persons who claimed to be in possess
sion of facts in obtaining detailed informa-
ton relating to the charges of graft
ing'' and gambling, as well as other forms
of immortality, and who based public ut
terances upon their informat ton A full.
fair and impartial hearing has been given
to these persons and to all parties MAX
ing these charges and claiming to possess
evidence that would substantiate them
but in no case has the testimony both
been competent and pertinent.
: Would punish Property Owners.