The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-21
McPHEETEKs VS.. BLACKsoM.
A Witness Sent to Jail for Refusing to An
swer Certain Questions-Progress
of the Case

In the McPheeters- BlacksOm breach of prom.
Use trial, yesterday, the morning was spent in
presenting evidence showing that the reputa-
ton of Mrs. McPheeters in Marshall, H., where
she had taught school. for veracty, integrity
and chastity was good Among those who tes-
titled to the character of the plaintiff were Bur-
nett Archer John s. Schoheld, Supreme judge;
Circuit Judge Griffith, DIR. R. C. Pruitt, Captain
Ed ward Harlan, James 81. Black and j. c. Ryan,
all prominent citizens of Marshall, and they
had never heard anything derogatory to her
character until after the suit for breach of prom
Use had been filed. In the afternoon William a.
Ayers, who has been regarded as one of the
most important witnesses in the case,
was examined. He made a positive
denial of the accusations that he had ever been
intimate with Miss McPheeters, and said that he
had always regarded her as a lady. His testi-
mony was more of a sensational nature than
any that has yet been elected in the trial of the
case. He testified that he had been approached
by man named Bill Harris, who endeavored to
learn what his testimony would be, and said
that Harris had remarked to him that "there
were So OF Blacksoms side of the case where
there 81 on the other" Harris is said to
have figured rather conspicuously in obtaining
the dispositions derogatory to the character of
the plaintiff. Ayers claims that he told Harris
that he could not be bought" He ad
mitted the allegation made by the defense
that he stopped at a hotel in an Illinois village
in September, 1873, with a woman whom he
represen ted his wife, but denied that the
woman was Miss McPheeters. When questioned
as to who the woman was he emphatically re-
fused to tell, and when ordered by Judge Woods
to divulge the name he persisted in his refusal to
give the information. 81 will send you to jail
for contempt Of court, If you don't give the
name" said the Judge.
"You may send me to Jail, and I'll stay there
twenty-one years before FIJI TELL" answered the
witness.
The judge then ordered.llis confinement in jail
until he was willing TO testify. The wit
had been absent only few
minutes when message from him was received,
stating that he was willing to give the desired
information, and he was brought into court.
Tire name of the woman WAS written on a slip of
paper, and was handed to Blacksom's lawyers.
They accepted it satisfactory, stating that
they had no desire to give the name publicity.
In the eross-examinat alton, however, Ayers stated
that she was the wife of travelling salesman
for an Evansville boot and shoe firm.
Ayers testified that the only time
Miss McPheeters had ever rode in q
buggy with him once when she had hired
him to bring her from where she was teaching
school in York county, to her homo at Marshall,
at the end of her school term. The cross -exami-
nation failed to elicit anything contradictory in
his testimony. He will be placed on the witness
stand again this morning. The trial of the case
will proba bly, not conclude before tomorrow
morning.