The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-09

would stand UP in the House chamber
and talk insolently TO those who cham
rioned their cause. Jerry was . mem
Der OF the combine. He Joined the
famous birthday party held at Julius
Lehr1ann's house when the S47 500 was
divided into equal packages ana DIS
tributed among nineteen men. He took
his $500. Folk got him and sent him
ito the penitentiary for two years In
the prime of his manhood he entered
prison July 1S, 1904. When he served
his term out his eyes were sightless.
He walked out of the prison last sum
mer a free man, but he will never see
the light of day again unless sur
geons skill can restore the sight which
now seems to be permanently impaired.
All day long he sits in darkened
room in little North st. Louis home,
unable to work, a charge upon his
friends. But for the friendship OF Ed
Butler Hannigan would be In actual
want.
Ellis Wainwright, millionaire
brewer who was a director In the
Suburban Railway Company when it
attempted to buy up the Council and
House of Delegates, has been sxiled
in Paris for more than four years. An
Indictment for bribery is pending
against him in st. Louis and he dare
not return. His property interests
have deprecated many thousands OF
dollars during his enforced absence.
Charles Gutke. former member OF
the House of Delegates, was indicted
for bribery in September. 1902 So
many Of the boodlers had run away to
escape punishment that the courts
would not accept bail at less than $2o,-
600. Ed Butler signed bonds until he
would not be accepted on more. As
consequence Gutke was confined In jail
olr nTr~f r1cr ~
1S-year-old son, Eugene. was stricken
down with galloping consumption and
died. Gutke was later permitted to
turn States evidence and escaped pros
ecution.
Folk Gets His Vengeance
Charles Kratz was the first member
of the City Council to be indicted for
bribery. He was charged with partici-
patton in the Suburban bribery deal
and. like Murrell. he fed TO Mexico be-
fore his case came to trial.
After two years persistent work
Folk succeeded in influencing the
United States Government to make a
treaty with Mexico covering the crime
of bribery. The Attorney General OF
the United States construed this treaty
to be retroactive and under its pro-
visions kratz was extradited- Scarcely
had he returned TO st. Louis in the
spring of 1908. when he was attacked
by appendicitis and for months how
cred between life and death. His sick
ness, however, might have been consid-
cred a turn of fortune in his favor.
because it enabled him to get his case
carried on the dockets until after Folk
was elected Governor, and when he
was tried at Butler. Mo. he was ac-
quilted. Before he was tried one of his
children died.
Louis Decker, liveryman. is the
only member of the old House of
Delegates combine who was convicted
after Folk quit the Circuit Attorneys
Office. His conviction FASTENED the
death of his aged mother. which oc-
CURED "a few weeks after the jury
found him guilty
Edmund Bersch. once prosperous
insurance broker, was the first OF the
House of Delegates combine to begin a
term OF service in the penitentiary.
His mind gave way under the strain,
and he spent the greater part OF his
eighteen months imprisonment in the
hospital When he left the peni-
tiary he was broken in health-a men
tai and physical wreck.
There was one divorce directly at
tributable to the Doodle crusade. John
c. Brinkmeyer was formerly mem
Der of the House of Delegates. He
was leader in the city lighting
bribery an agent OF Snyder, but was