Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 17.pdf/84

 THE LEGAL SIDE OF JOSEPH W. FOLK beyond his jurisdiction until he learned of the State investigation commenced. Time the changing of S 1,000 bills by State Sena after time he was confronted with witnesses, tors in the city of St. Louis. The sum but he stuck to his statement that he had moning of half the higher branch of the been an honest man throughout the twelve State Assembly followed, and each one years he had served in the Senate. Finally found Folk a most affable man. He met Folk found his weakness. "You are a God-fearing man?" he asked. them with a fund of good nature, never bullied and teased them, and thereby half "Yes, sir." "You and your wife say your prayers gaining their confidence, suddenly dragged from them the evidence he wished. In his together night and morning?" "Yes, sir." explanation of Folk's methods one of the "Senator Busch, go home and pray. Grand Jurors said: "He has a little room adjoining the Grand Jury room which we Pray to God for The Light and come back call the dark room. In that the witnesses to-morrow." Busch returned the next day. He was who are obdurate are made to sit. Other witnesses are brought in another way and weeping bitterly as he stepped into Folk's if Folk wishes to confront them, the obdu office, and rushing forward, he kissed the rate one is brought in, but only for a glance. prosecutor's hands. "I will tell all," he Folk never lets one witness dream what he said. "Thank God that I met you. I has obtained from another. He never prayed last night and was shown the way. changes his tone of voice, and for the months Take me before the Grand Jury at once." we were under him I did not see him lose He kept his word and unravelled such a his temper once. His method is to ask a story of corruption in high office as stag host of questions along collateral lines, and gered the State. Lieutenant-Governor John then, suddenly without a change of inflec A. Lee was haled before the astute prose cutor. He at first asserted that the stories tion, ask a direct question. Unless the wit ness is shrewd and watchful, he is bound circulated were the machinations of polit to fall into the trap, and a chance word is ical enemies. "I am running for Governor of this State sufficient to give this prosecutor the upper and my enemies wish to down me," he hand." One of Folk's favorite methods, used dur asserted. "Governor, we will see about that," was ing his investigation, is to follow up the start obtained by this chance word. Evidence of the quiet response. Folk at that time had information that bribery is the hardest sort of testimony to obtain. It is only by these slips that a Daniel J. Kelley, a New Yorker, the editor start can be made. When it has sufficiently of a baking-powder journal, and the repre developed to wring from a legislator that sentative of a trust in that line had fathered he has been offered a bribe, Folk relies on a bill through the State Legislative bodies the confronting method. All whom he giving his concern a monopoly of the prod suspects he summons, and they are left uct in the State. It was known as the singly in the dark room, and every half Alum bill, and no other concern was able hour or so brought into the chamber or to meet its requirements and dispose of into his private office to confront the in baking powder in the State. Kelley had former. He is asked no questions in the gone to Jefferson City as Brown. He had presence of the man who has told all, but been known to speak often with Lee, and later is called in and given a chance to purge this was the clue that Folk followed up. his conscience. Senator Busch was one of He pressed Lee quietly but surely. "Now these. He held out for a long while when Mr. Lee, you can help me if you will. You