Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-12-29

Robert NJ. Snyder, Kansas CITY mil
1ionaire, has written fiais after the
worlds most remarkable crusade
against bribery The death OF Snyder
is the climax of a series OF m1sfor-
tunes and tragedies that has pursued
so re1entlessly the men who were
caught in the Doodle trap sprung by
Joseph w. Folk four years ago, that
the question has been asked whether
fate has not joined hands with the
law to heap punishment upon their
heads.
TWENTY-FIVE men were indicted by
st. Louis grand juries for participation
in three great briberies, in which more
than 100000 was paid for the votes
of assemblymen. Misfortune of some
kind-death, insanity, want or loss OF
fortune-has visited the families OF 10
of them. Three of them are dead
Snyder, whose case was probably
the most celebrated OF all, was under
Indictment in st. Louis when he was
thrown out of his automobile within
a few blocks of his magnificent home,
= on Independence boulevard, Kansas
City, on the night of October 81, and
killed When the circuit attorney OF
St Louis a few days later entered a
nolle prosequi in the case the docket OF
the Doodle cases which Folk instituted
during the two years that he had brlD
cry under investigation.
But seven men were sent to the pen
itentiary for bribery. One other is
under sentence, but his case is pending
in the supreme court. But not one Of
the men-eyen those who escaped the
penitentiary by turning states evi
oence-would pass through the ex
periences of the last four years for al
the bribe money that the wealthies
corporation of the country could pu
up to buy votes. The lawmaker WIFI
is tempted to sell his vote may lear
something to his advantage bys study
ing carefully the unpleasant expert
ences of the men who gave and re
ceived brides in St. Louis.
Began Doodle Crusade
If the ST. Louis hsodlers sowed tn
wind they reape9 che tornado. Mex
to Snyder, Charles H. Turner, VIII
died brokep-aearted in New York las
summer, virtual outcaSt from 8
Louis, erhere he made forum
amounting to millions of dollars, wa
the most lavish bride giver expose
during the fight against corruption
He was the first man caught. Whe
the late Red" Calvin, veteran new
paper reporter. walked into the ofic
of Folk early in January, 1902, an
told him that Charles H. Turner an
Philip Stock, his legislative agen
had placed S14T,500 in escrow in tu
trust companies vaults to bride IL
municipal assembly to pass a fra
chise bill for the Suburban Street Ra
way company, the Doodle crusade
gan Two days later Turner was vi
tually on his knees before the circu
attorney begging for mercy The on
alternative to the penitentiary was
go on the witness stand and tell Il
whole corrupt and shameful story. +
chose the alternative. At the time
his exposure he was president of b
trust company as Wen as of the sire
railway company. He was prompt
retired, and pretty soon the stoc
holders of the trust company decid
that they needed another man at t
head of the institution.
Turner found that he could not
main in business in ST. Loms, in spi
of his big fortune. He went to NJ
York and was almost forgotten in l
old home-save for his perfidy in br
ing the city's Reconsideration
died, of a broken heart
Snyder's last days were full
trouble Within the month of ]
death the bleaching bones of his s.
Cary NJ. Snyder, were found in Ioi
" spot near Hfllsboro, Ore 7
young man. fugitive from justice
two years, had probably been m