The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-30
THE GREAT ISLANDER SUIT
After Forty-Nine Days of Work, the
Testimony Is Closed.
The Examination of Captain Rice Proves
the Cause of Another Exciting aud
Sensational Scene
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

mony in the now celebrated Cougar Mandler
SANDER suit is all in. This day began the
tenth week of the trial, and this evening
closed forty,nice days of actual work in the
case The defense closed their rebuttal this
morning, and the plaintiff ended the case
this evening by sur-rebuttal. The plaintiffs
sur-rebuttal was unimportant, its tendency
being to show that the temperance camp
meeting at battle-ground was largely at
tended on the day when Captain Wallace
and Mrs. Cougar were said to have taken a
walk together.
Immediately after dinner the most excit-
ing scene of the whole trial occurred. Cap
tain Alex Rice, former partner of Wallace,
and for whom an attachment was ISSUED,
was put upon the stand by the defense, after
four days Absence and asked the following,
as an impeaching question:
did, or did you not, in the month of
March, 1882 speak to Dr. Seawright, in your
office, and say that committee ought to be
appointed by the church to examine into the
conduct of Captain Wallace and Mrs. Cougar,
for fear it would bring the church into dis
repute, and did not DR.. Seawright reply that
person never got any thanks for any such
thing?'
The question was objected to, and the OBJ
lection sustained. The question was then
asked if he did not say, in the presence of
DR.. Seawright, that Captain Wallace once,
when he returned from fishing excursion
to the Kankakee, stated to his family that
he had received an important telegram from
Frankfort, and that he (Wallace) went to
Frankfort and there took a horse and buggy
and drove out to Rossville, where Mrs.
Cougar was to speak, and that Captain Wal
lace and Mrs, Cougar drove back in the
evening to Frankfort and put up together at
the Coulter House, and did you not say
that there ought to be committee appoint
ed by the church to see Captain Wallace and
Mrs. Cougar? The question was objected and
sustained.
Captain Wallace arose, however, and said,
excitedly; II want to see any man who
makes such a statement 1t is only put for
ward to cast slurs upon my character. 1t is
not true, and 1 want the matter Investigated
at once"
Said the Judge: "The matter is not before
the court and this conduct is reprehensible."
Captain Wallace responded: 81 have stood a
great many of these low-fung assertions, and
l am not going to stand it. l would like to
see the man that would swear to it,
The court said: "Withdraw your objec-
ton, and we can investigate"
Mr.. Davidson-"This is not the place to
attend to that matter"
Wallace Striking his hands together)-"I
won't stand it, and want to see the man who
will testify that 1 was ever at the Coulter
House with Mrs Cougar"
The Judge said: This is all out of order"
but Wallace still continuing, he called upon
the sheriff to maintain decorum.
The witness was then dismissed, and Wal
lace went out of the courtroom Meeting
DR.. Seawright he said: 81 will kill you if
you swear to such a thing as that" Sea-
wright said that Rice told him the story A
few more words passed. and Wallace came
back and said: 81 knew it was lie; he will
not swear to it'
The court again called him to order, and
said: This case must be tried according to-,
the rules of law, and the question is not be-
fore the court" A great many improper
questions had been asked in this trial, and
the Judge hoped to see no more scenes like
the present.
Argument in the case will begin tomorrow
afternoon, at 1 o'clock, There will be three
speeches on each side, and the speakers will
not be limited. The lawyers wanted to put
off the argument until Monday, but the
court would not permit postponement. Mr..
Lansdon, of the defense, will open the argu-
ment