In 1902, Ellis Wainwright, and American capitalist and
brewer was indicted for conspiracy to bribe members of the state legislature in
the Suburban Railway boodle scandal. Rather than face up to charges he fled the
country and became a fugitive in Paris.
Wainwright was charged with co-signing a $75,000 bank loan for the bribe
money. By time he fled America, Ellis Wainwright had
created quite a name for himself. He was the son of a prominent brewer
and building contractor (Samuel Wainwright) and had studied in Paris. Once he moved back to Missouri the began a
career as a capitalist, building contractor and financier. In
1892, he completed one of his greatest accomplishments a 10 story building
holding 225 offices, The Wainwright Building in St. Louis. it was heralded as being
among the first skyscrapers in the world. Wainwright also
consolidated his fathers Wainright Brewery Company and established the St.
Louis Brewing Association.
You can just imagine how much excitement there was when the news broke that Ellis Wainwright was indicted with bribery and fled. The major newspapers carried the stories. But there was nothing America could do. The treaty with France and other countries did not allow us to pursue these fugitives in their homeland, and bribery was not an extraditable offense. President Theodore Roosevelt hands were tied, and he could not take action, so in his third annual address to congress, Roosevelt laid out his intentions of "making bribery an extraditable offense with foreign powers".
You can just imagine how much excitement there was when the news broke that Ellis Wainwright was indicted with bribery and fled. The major newspapers carried the stories. But there was nothing America could do. The treaty with France and other countries did not allow us to pursue these fugitives in their homeland, and bribery was not an extraditable offense. President Theodore Roosevelt hands were tied, and he could not take action, so in his third annual address to congress, Roosevelt laid out his intentions of "making bribery an extraditable offense with foreign powers".
"Steps have been taken by the State Department looking to the making of bribery an extraditable offense with foreign powers. The need of more effective treaties covering this crime is manifest. The exposures and prosecutions of official corruption in St. Louis, Mo., and other cities and States have resulted in a number of givers and takers of bribes becoming fugitives in foreign lands. Bribery has not been included in extradition treaties heretofore, as the necessity for it has not arisen. While there may have been as much official corruption in former years, there has been more developed and brought to light in the immediate past than in the preceding century of our country's history. It should be the policy of the United States to leave no place on earth where a corrupt man fleeing from this country can rest in peace."
Theodore Roosevelt continued, with bravado, calling out any man who participates in bribery to be "as wicked as the murderer".
"There can be no crime more serious
than bribery. Other offenses violate one law while corruption strikes at the
foundation of all law. Under our form of Government all authority is vested in
the people and by them delegated to those who represent them in official
capacity. There can be no offense heavier than that of him in whom such a
sacred trust has been reposed, who sells it for his own gain and enrichment;
and no less heavy is the offense of the bribe giver. He is worse than the
thief, for the thief robs the individual, while the corrupt official plunders
an entire city or State. He is as wicked as the murderer, for the murderer may
only take one life against the law, while the corrupt official and the man who
corrupts the official alike aim at the assassination of the commonwealth
itself. Government of the people, by the people, for the people will perish
from the face of the earth if bribery is tolerated."
Ellis Wainwright was exiled for 9 years, and then returned to St. Louis, Missouri and turned himself in. He was freed on $20,000 bail. here is an excerpt from a New York Times article of April 8, 1911.
"Ellis Wainwright, retired millionaire brewer, indicted for bribery in the Suburban Railway boodle scandal in 1902, and who has been a fugitive in Paris ever since, walked into Judge Hitchcock's court, at the Four Courts, this morning, and surrendered. Within fifteen minutes the long-sought alleged boodler, having given $20,000 bail, with August A. Busch, C. Marauard Forster, and Herman C. Stifel as sureties, was on the way to the St. Louis Club, where he is to lvie.
Only Cirucit Attorney Jones and Sheriff Nolte knew of Wainwright's coming, havein been told last night by M. G. Reynolds, Wainwright's attorney. Jones announced, as soon as Wainwright had given bond, that he will ask former Gov. Folk, now in San Francisco, to prosecute for the State. The penalty is two to seven years in the penitentiary. Folk said several months ago if Wainwright returned he would aid in the prosecution.
'All the evidence necessary or the Wainwright trial is intact in my office,' said Circuit Attorney Jones, after the surrender. 'Not a paper is missing'"
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2017). Theodore Roosevelt: Third Annual Message. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29544 [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Ellis Wainwright. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Wainwright [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
Query.nytimes.com. (2017). EXILED NINE YEARS, RETURNS FOR TRIAL; Wainwright, Wealthy Brewer of St. Louis, Under Indictment, Fled to Paris.. [online] Available at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C00EFDF1031E233A2575BC0A9629C946096D6CF [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
The Wainwright Building. (2017). The Wainwright Building. [online] Available at: http://thewainwrightbuildingstl.weebly.com/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
Query.nytimes.com. (2017). EXILED NINE YEARS, RETURNS FOR TRIAL; Wainwright, Wealthy Brewer of St. Louis, Under Indictment, Fled to Paris.. [online] Available at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C00EFDF1031E233A2575BC0A9629C946096D6CF [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
The Wainwright Building. (2017). The Wainwright Building. [online] Available at: http://thewainwrightbuildingstl.weebly.com/ [Accessed 28 Dec. 2017].
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