Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-03
TESTIFY IN DOODLE" CASE
Former Lieutenant Governor of Mis-
souri, Tells of Action of
senator Fnrris.

JEFFERSON CITY, No, Aug. 2-Thc
taking of testimony was begun today in the
trial OF Senator Frank H. Harris, on the
charge Of bribery Senator f. r Dowell of
La Belle. testified concerning the organi-
cation Of the senate in 1901 and the appoint
ment Of committees by Lieutenant Cover
nor John A. Lee as president of the senate.
Senator Dowell was member of the Grim
inal Jurisprudence committee.
Former Lieutenant Governor Lee was
then called to the stand. Lee testified that
Senator Harris came to his room in the
rear Of the senate chamber during the
legislative session in 1901 and said that the
house and senate bills for the repeal of the
law prohibiting the use of alum in the
manufacture Of baking powder could not be
smothered in committee. Later Harris
came to him, he testified, and said the
bills would never be reported from the
committee for the sum of $1,000. making
81 OCO for each member of the committee
on criminal jurisprudence except Senator
Dowell, who was not in the deal.
Lee testified that Farris asked him to
refer the matter to d. J. Kelly of New
York and that he wrote letter to Kelly
informing him of Farris' suggestion. Kelly
telegraphed him to communicate with MIN
CKelly) over the long distance telephone
and I've did so.
Attorneys for the defense objected to this
conversation being repeated. Judge Davis
sent the jury from the room and the attor-
neys on both sides argued the point The
arguments continued until the noon recess.
When court reconvened Judge Davis
overruled objections TO the telephone con
versation and Lee was permitted to detail
it. He told of having informed Kelley of
the proposition to smother the so-called
alu bill in the committee for 5000 and
said that Kelley told him he would confer
with other persons and report later. The
next day he received a telegram from
Kelley saying the proposition was ac-
cepted
The defense in the Farris trial seemed
to have gained an advantage today in the
cross examination of John A. Lee, the
prosecuting witness in the case.
At a former trial Lee said he went to
St Louis on the 226 train the day the
! legislature adjourned in March, 1901 and
that Farris and Daniel J. Kelley went on
the same train and they had a talk. Today
| he said he was not certain but he believed
| that he went on the O'Clock train. The
| defense proved at the former trial that
| Farris did not go until the o'clock train
| so now Lees testimony corresponds, but
the defense claim to have witnesses tC
! prove that Lee went on the 2:26 train, as
| he said at the former trial.
Today Lee admitted that the letter writ.
| ten to d. j. Kelley. in which he said he
kept $1,000 for himself and sent the other
! 5000 back to him, was written by himself
! At the former trial he denounced the letter
! as a forgery He claimed today that he
| did not examine the letter closely before.
Lee testified today also that Attorney
| General Crow had promised him immunity
| If he would testify against Farris and tha
! Governor Folk, Attorney General Hadle!
and Prosecuting Attorney Belch had prom
ised to dismiss an ivsat .meut charginl
! bribery and not prosecute him IL he tes
| titled at this trial.
The indictment was dismissed quietly to
day and the record was brought into cour
while Lee was testifying to show tina
! point.
The court adjourned with Lee on thu
| stand