The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-21
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS
ACouple Of Legal Farces, in Which Scan
dial Forms the Main Groundwork.
Continuation Of the Search for the Missing
Mrs. Harley Chapter in the
Monroe County Shooting -Gleanings.
INDIANA.

Special to tho IndiAnapoIis journal.
vINoENNEs, March 2O--The Knox Circuit
Court has been engaged the past few
days on an important sensational case,
which has occupied the public mind more or less
for nearly q year The case was that Of the
State of Indiana vs.. s. S. Hollingsworth, for
shooting with sntsnt to kill William Sachs.
Last June, on the night Of the 9th, between 10
and Ii o'clock, several shots were heard in the
neighborhood of Main, Fourth and Fifth streets,
and it was aseertained that the county treasurer,
S. S Holingsworth, had been exchanging shots
with Policeman William Sachs. The particulars,
as obtained, were simply that Sachs was coming
down the street., and saw Hollingsworth standing
on the threshhold of his home, and, crossing
over the street, spoke to Hollingsworth, who
moved off few steps, when the firing COM
menced. Nine shots were fred, which
did not result any more seriously
than mere grazing Of Hollingsworth's head
and the perforation Of his coat Both parties
We're arrested and bound over to court, and a
recent grand jury indicted both for shooting
with intent to kill. Hollingsworths case came
up for trial on several occasions, but was post
poned, time and again, on account of the alb
sence of Mrs. Eliza Sachs, the woman in the
case. She would suddenly disappear on each
day set for trial. until, finally, the court got out
of patience, and ordered her arrested and placed
under 5000 bond. She was found in Terre
Haute, and brought here in the custody of the
sheriff 1t was also charged by the prosecuting
attorney that City Marshal Runner had helped
Mrs. Sachs to get away on a passenger train,
when he knew the court had issued an attach
ment for her, and that he would prepare affida-
Wits and charges against Runner for contempt CT
court. The trouble grew moro and more
complicated, until yesterday when Mrs Sachs
was brought weeping into court. The case was
called promptly, and half of Thursday was
passed in empanneling a jury. The State en-
deavored TO show that Holingsworth had fired
first in the street duel, and that he was guilty of
felony punishable with imprisonment in the
penitentiary The defense strove to prove that
Hollingsworth had only done his duty in defend
ing his life, and, after many weary hours of
sparring on both sides, the case was given to the
jury.
The parties engaged in this shooting affair are
Of considerable prominence, in the State as we'll
as local William Sachs is at present door
keeper of tho Indiana Legislature, while Hol-
lincsworth is treasurer of Knox county, serving
his second term. Sachs accuses Hollingsworth
of improper intimacy with his wife, Eliza Sachs,
and has sued Hollingsworth in the Knox Circuit
Court, in civil suit, for Sl0.0 900 damages. Mr..
Sachs has always been regarded upfTsat,
reliable citizen, and highly esteemed by his
neighbors.
Mrs Sachs is a lady attractive both in feature
and FORM and, as a witness in court she was
the cynosure Of all eyes. During the trial, the
courtroom was crowded with an anxious audi
ence, bent upon seeing and hearing everything
of interest.
The jury was out several hours, and, unex-
peetedly, brought in a verdict of not guilty. 1t
was generally expected that Hollingsworth would
be heavily fined.
Immediately thereafter the court called the
case of the State VS. Sachs, for shooting at Hol-
lingsworth with intent to kill 1t only took three
Or four hours to finish this case, and Sachs was
found not guilty.
At once the court called up the case of the
State VS.. Mrs. Purrie, for perjury. This case
excites more interest than the others. but SO far
as it has progressed the witnesses absolutely re-
fuse to testify, and it will be continued until
tomorrow. Mrs. Purrie keeps house of bad
repute, and the grand jury indicted her for per-
juring herself in giving evidence in connection
with the Sachs Holiingsworth case. Citizens
unanimously regard these criminal trials, which
have excited the attention of the people SO much,
as ridiculous legal farces.