The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-15
THE SHORr.PHELAN CASE.
An Examination Before Justice Patterson
at the TOmbs-The Case Adjourned
TO Next Saturday.

New York, Feb. 1.-THE examination in the
Short PheIan case began to-day by Justice Patter
sen at.the Tombs. The court was filled ~ spec
tatory. Captain Phelans arm still hung in
sling The Police Sergeant took charge or the
Captains revolver, which Rhelan carried In his
pocket. short came in later accompanied by his
counsel. he looked a trife pale. The prosecu.
tion called Phelsn to the witness stand. After be-
ing sworn, he said IN respon 10 the questions OF
bis counsel. my name is Thomas Phelsn and
live in Kansas City. on the eth OF January was
sitting in O'Donovan Rosss's Office with ny left
side 10 the table and my back to the door.
Richard Short came in with long
knife in his hand and said, 'EOw have got
you, and then he plunged the knife into my
breast. he then pulled ii out and stuck it into
my neck. tried 10 get away from him by runn-
ing around the table, but he managed to strike
me three times. Two men, who were IN the room.
ran out and tried to escape. [ got out at length
and made my way 10 the street, l bacalne ac-
Qusinted with Short last July"
On cross examination Phelan said: 81 have
sided in Kansas City twenty eight years With the
exception OF the time | was in the army, and the
three years in lived in Washington. took
three-m0nths trip abroad in 1888. Visited Ire
land England and Wales ! landed at Queens
town., and from there went 10 Cork.
st either of these places. 1 never was
in the employ OF tie British Government
I never made the acquaintance of any govern
ment officers while abroad. / mad conversation
with British detective, but didn't know he was
a British detective until after he left my hotel
At this point the counsel for the prosecution OBJ
ecled 10 the scope OF the cross examination, and
suggested IL be confined only to the assault on
fnelsn. The Court decided the examination must
be confined to the evidence OF the defense OF wit
ness. The cross examination continued. he
said, I came to New York last January for two
purposes, one 10 visit my sister, Mrs. Levy, at
Northampton, Mass, and 20 explain 70 certain
persons an article in the kansas City Journal, -
had talk with Kearney about the article, ana
my purpose in coming here. He had t0ld me the
boys down TO tie Office were angry with
me for talking TO reporters ID the
way the article represented I did He also said
something about an article in ODonOvan Rosa 5
paper. l told him man could publish a lie
When went down TO ROssa's Office had my lit
tie boys revolver with me. placed IL IN my over
coat pocket. don't know whether it was loaded
or not. l have been arrested twice ia Kansas
City-Once for tearing down, on st. Patricks Day,
8 picture IN a store representing Irshmen as
weapons. l was charged once with
stabbing man named Trout Norton.
l did not. boast about this affair
/ or say would 90 it again If anybody insulted
me- The article in the Kansas City Journal did
| not call me an iniormer: II said l gave the in
\ Queen. gave that information and would do fl
again under similar circumstances. II is true "a
a certain extent that an English detective got into
4 ny confidence. told him my name and where
! came from and where l was going. The reason
used Kearney's name and told what he had said
and done was because he openly boasted of what
he had done in England.
The defense then asked an adjournment until
Saturday next and the request Was granted Cap
! tain Phelsn afterward denounced the adjourn
ment unjust. He said Ii cost him loss of time
and money.