The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09
Prompt and Wonderfully Intelligent Answers
to Complicated MISREPRESENTATION and
General Sherman as Witnesses.
The Annoyances to Which the President
Is Subjected by His Friends.
A Prospective Boom for John Sherman and
L. P. Morton as the Coming Candidates of
the Republicans for National HOnors.
IN THE wITNEss-BOX.

IN THE WITNEss-BOX.
Distinguished Men Who Prove Successful
Witnesses When Put Upon the Stand.
Bpecial to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 8--As witness Charles
A. Dana, the great New York editor, has proven
himself the most successful of any man who has
thus far appeared before the Pan-electric tele-
phone investigating committee. The appear
ance of Mr. Dana on Tuesday attracted a large
crowd ard his demeanor was scrutinized very
closely. Before this committee some Of the best
Awyers snd most experienced and shrewdest
men of the country have appeared. and it re-
quires an extraordinary standard of ability to
keep up the general average as witness set by
these men. The cross examination Of Mr.. Dana
by the chairman and other Democratic members
of the committee was very rigid, and he had an
opportunity to bring out whatever he had in him
of brightness. This investigation has been con-
Quoted on the go as ou-please plan, and wit
nesses have generally been permitted to record
their opinions with freedom. Especially was
this true with Mr.. Dana, and more respect was
paid to his opinion than any other mans. This
was on the account of the nature of his examina-
tion. He was called to give his opinions, and to
tell his reasons for the course he has pursued
in his great newspaper in criticising the admins
fration in regard to its course affecting Pan
electric and other telephone matters.
Mr.. Dana, early in his examination, secured an
easy posture by sitting forward in his chair
leaning bis arm on the committee table and rest
ing his head in an inclined manner. He antici-
pated the outcome of every question evidently,
for he dropped his face and began to ponder after
the questioner had spoken few words of his in
terrogatory. AS soon as the last syllable was
uttered, the witness began to answer. His Ian
guage was in that clear, bold English which has
characterized his writings and given him repu-
tation of being the tersest writer in the country
and there was that same vein of sarcasm and
philosophy in his language which has character
ICED his editorials.
After Mr. Dana had been on the witness-stand
for ever an hour, and had given prompt and
wonderfully intelligent answers to the most
Intricate and complicated questions going into
the minutest details Of the issue, the committee
was somewhat startled when he said, in answer
TO an inquiry, that he knew nothing of the tele-
phone matters, except as he read them in the
newspapers. 1t was presumed that a
man having such wonderful famii-
nrity with the details and the present
status of the case had kept close run of it in the
departments Mr. Dana was dressed in BIS reg
ulation blue with a low collar and black tie. He
has heavy body, and is bow-legged. He takes
long steps, and swings like sailor. His face is
nearly always downward, indicating constant
thought. He has begun to show his age, and his
face is not so full about the eyes as it was few
years ago. The small amount of hair the
lower part of his head is almost white, and his
full, short beard is of light gray.
The self-contained manner and the writings of
Mr. Dana as witness reminded me of the APP
pearance of Senator Sherman in the Criminal
Court here three or four years ago. A thief had
broken into Senator Shermans house and carried
away some silverware On the morning set for
the trial Senator Sherman appeared in the Grim
inal Court Another case was at bar but
rs soon as he stepped into the court
room the judge announced that he
would suspend the hearing and take up
me charge of burglary in which Senator Sher.
man was to figure as prosecuting witness. The
great inancier stood few minutes in the centre
Of the room with his hat in his hand, and as
BOON as the prisoner was arraigned stepped for
ward and took the witnesses chair He was not
asked for his name, vocation, etc., and the pre-
liminaries usual with witnesses were cut off,
The prosecuting officer, however began to ques-
lion Senator Sherman about his knowledge of
lhe case, when the latter remarked
NOW, If you will just give me an opportunity
| will tell you all about this thing in Two min
ntes'
rho Ctrrfa ad tha
and two minutes later Senator Sherman was 60
Ing out of the door. The statesman had caught
up the thread OF his discourse and rushed through
the facts rapidly as if he were debating to his
secretary and when he had completed, the court
simply asked him if he knew anything further
about the matter. and the defense
did not care to go into cross-examination.
but entered plea of guilty for the defendant
Senator Shermans brother the old General, who
marched to the sea. also proved very shrewd
witness during the famous starrouse trials. 1t
will be remembered that he took The bit in his
mouth and insisted upon telling his own story in
his own way, and although admonished many
times by the court that he was de-
parting from the issue and max
ing comments upon foreign matters,
anu giving 5rcdt ueai y. interesting luIor1na-
ton about affairs not connected with the case,
the old General invariably remarked that he
thought he knew what he was doing, and il he
could not do as he wanted to he would not do at
all. Very early in his examination, which lasted
three or four days, it was discovered that he was
q very smart witness, and was determined to
have his own way, and he was given all the rein
he wanted
THE COMING WEDDING.