The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27


aidnt LET him alone he would shoot
him. That evidence was advanced as
Intending IN to show motive They proposed
certain Information TO the Cincinnati papers
that was calculated TO excite the feelings OF Mr..
Stilwell TO such an extent that he would not "let
Corwin alone,' thus bringing about thu state of
circumstances desired
Gen. Cary arose for the first time since the In
vestgaiion, began and argued the point at issue.
holding that there was no such confidence be-
that would prevent the employees of the former
TO testifyiDg in court ofjustice.
Mt. Harrison argued that the testimony was
irrelevant as the dispatch had been sent before
the homicide.
The examination Of the witness was continu-
had never received dispatches.
Q. Do you know who received this dispatch
that was published in the Cincinnati CONNER
cial in regard to the Indictment?
A 1t was sent to the superintendent OF tele-
graph at Columbus.
O. Who sent it?
This questioniwas objected to by Mr.. Thomp-
son, who insisted upon being heard by the court.
lie suggested that the court himself ask the wit
ness II Mr.. Corwin had anything to do with
sending ii, which the witness would be free 10
answer.
Mr.. Gordon persisted In going on with the ex-
animation. The question was asked, .WhO was
In the once al the time, when was also object
prosecution that any grand jury would be al
lowed to testify in court OF justice, and the
same thing would apply 10 telegraph operators
with greater reason. II was finally agreed that
| the witness might be asked:
|
operators?
The witness replied uuhesltotingly, "No one"
which seemed to have been very much un-
looked for answer, and elected considerable
commotion in the house at the time. The wit
ness continued: That dispatch was sent Sunday
| forenoon. heard that Mr.. Stilwell had been
! arrested on Saturday. The dispatch sent
| from the office, and was prepared there. am
not an operator, and do not know that / am en-
trusted with the secrets of the company.
| O. Then / will ask you who sent that dis
patch? The witness was silent.
r.
| warmth, and said that as the wi ness was not an
operator, he ought not to be intrusted with the
| secrets of the company according to Mr.. Thorn p
| son s plea, and that being entrusted with their
secrets, and an outsider, there was violation of
was lengthy letting off of wind by the attor-
| neys, who became warm and eloquent even
auditors. lack of iii feeling for the prisoner
was enthusiastically insisted upon by the prose-
cutors and exact and impartial judgment was
| all that was demanded by the defense. Pending
the discussion, the court adjourned to study up
authorities on the subject B.P.G.
THE CORwIN TRIAL CLOSING.
DRIFT oF>THURsDAY's THERMOMETERS DE-
TENSE IN THE ASCENDANT-rHE SITUATION
| REVIEWED.
From a Sp cial Correspondent OF tie Sentinel
ANDERSON, IND, Jan. 22.-To all practical
purposes the case for the prosecution and
defense closed to-day. The list of witnesses
has been exhausted and the circumstances
attending the tragic and painful taking of
of Col. Stilwell pretty fully rehearsed. So
far as my own observations go, am bound
to say that the common report gives Corwin
the justification, no matter how much the
speaker may be in sympathy with the kind
man who lies in the fresh made grave yOn-
der. The absorbed interest of the week con-
tinues. Not q syllable OF testimony is per-
| INIT fod IN all nm a ria oil hac lOct
that indescribable solemnity which sur
rounded the first session. The bandying of
epithets by the lawyers and coarse sugges-
tions from one to the other, the insinua-
tions preached in the cross-examinatiOn,
and points of the sort, tend to make the
case lose the melancholy and high wrought
interest that first attached to it. Hence
speculation as to the final issue of the trial
has most universally reduced itself to
one thing, viz: that Corwin will finally
be acquitted of the charge found in the in
dictment against him. The evidence ad
duced to-day will speak for itself. Conclu-
sions will be drawn as to whether there was
any justification in Corwin's conduct by
reading the testimony of the defense, which
was commenced and finished to-day. The
principal point endeavored to be established
| by the prisoners counsel was that there was
a deliberate intention on the part OF Stilwell
to assault Corwin with intent to kill. The
| evidence of o number of witnesses was taken
to prove that Stllwell had repeatedly made
| threats that he would shoot Corwin, who
had been, according to his (Stilwell's) belief,
| the chief instigator of his troubles. A curl
Gus feature in the testimony of to-day was
the contradiction of Mr.. Halford's evidence,
in several places, to that of Mr.. Trees, who tes-
tilted yesterday and this has created consid-
cradle comment. Mr.. HalfOrd testifies that
Mr.. Trees exclaimed to him they were
| leaving Mr.. Stilwell's yard, and watching
Mr.. Stilwell's movements:
"MY GOD, HE IS GOING OVER TO SHOOT COR
| wINw
| His friends have besn afraid of this ever
since this trouble began. Mr.. Trees. on the
contrary, states that the remark was not
made until after the shots were fired and
they were standing in front of his store.
Their testimony differs in several other mi
nor particulars; but the difference mention
ed above is believed to be the most import
ant as Mr. Halford's statement goes to show
a generalization on the part of Colonel Still
well to assault Corwin in his Office. The le-
gal question which was pending at the
passed over this morning after
the usual amount of discussion and the pre-
sentation of authority by both sides. The
point attempted to be made by the state,
which was to show some connection between
the sending of the dispatch and Mr.. Corwin,
written statement of the operator. Wester-
field hall was occupied by another large
crowd to-day, who exhibited the same
intense interest in the proceedings and pre-
served the utmost good order, except at
times when they were convulsed with
momentary laughter at some humorous in
cident in the examination of witnesses. At
nine O'Clock the court opened and investiga-
ton was resumed.
DAVIS A. BURR
Was the first witness called to the stand.
He testified that he was acquainted with the
telegraph operators at the depot and cross
roads. Nothing was elected from the witness
that had any bearing in the case. he testified
that he knew nothing about the sending
of the dispatch mentioned in yesterday
proceedings. and did not know that Corwin
had anything to do with sending the mes
sage to the Cincinnati Commercial.