The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-22

ness of the time by overlooking their amuse-
ments and conversing with some of them as : o
the offenses charged against the1. One of the
number was, like himself. United States pris-
ouer, who is held for selling LIQUOR without
government license. The fellow won Perkins's
sympathetic ear. He wanted to know of the
witness if the government paid railroad fares
| for prisoners their way home after the term
of sentence had expired. 81 am here without
cent, he said land the government must either
get me ticket or will have to foot it to my home
| in Fort Wayne" Perkins, experience with United
1 States law had not gone that far, and he could
/ give him no definite information. man
charged with DEMONSTRATING also sought the CON-
| pany of the somewhat prominent prisoner. and
4 he told him of the weakness of the case against
| him. McCaw, held for murder in the first de-
| gree, came 10 for Perkins's consideration, which
| led him to express good opinion of the man.
This mode of killing time was disturbed by
many callers to see Perkins. Curiosity
| got the better Of those who probably
| never saw Perkins to know him. They were re-
| fused admittance at the JAIL but the prisoners
| friends saw him in the cage and talked with him
through the bars. When politician of the true
Democratic order came, Perkins was permitted
to come into the jaier's Office 1t there
Journal reporter saw him yesterday afternoon.
He turned to the reporter with a characteristic
greeting Of good-fellOwship for every body. He
remarked upon the beauty of the day. saying:
at would not be so bad if there was rain or
snow outside but this bright sunshine that see
| through the windows makes me feel lone
some"
How long do you expect to stay9"
TASK my attorneys about that / will ans
swer no questions referring to the case before
the Commissioner
II hear that you have made overtures to the
government"
'There is not word of truth in it. I am not
ready to say anything, except under the advice
OF my attorneys. If did tell all know it would
implicate nobody"
Up to this time the prisoner had eaten moth
ing, and his nephew went out to get, him two
ham sandwiches, which he ate with great relish
He excused the poverty of his lunch with, II
have as yet made no arrangement for my meals,
but If stay here all night l expect to be made
as comfortable as possible with what will be
sent from home" He retained his usual
good spirits and chatty humor in everything ex-
cept the election case. In time he returned be-
hind the bars, to await developments in his be-
half that did not occur during the afternoon.
Mr.. Perkinss evening was Shorn of its usual
domestic comforts, although a relative relieved
him OF the necessity OF supper on jail fare by
bringing him that meal from the prisoners
home. The expectation of something occurring
to-day to unlock the prison doors for him made
him still reticent at any suggestion leading him
TO talk OF the case and the probable testimony
he could give if SO inclined. He is a submissive
client, for, in this respect, his lawyers have com
plete control of his expressions, and their advice
has been to say nothing at ALL He
is seemingly content to bear the
burden of one nights Imprisonment for
the sake OF the cause, for it has been definitely
settled to try the habeas corpus route for his
lease Whether the papers will be filed to-day.
in the United States Circuit Court, or in one of
the State or county courts is not definitely
known, but it is certain the habeas corpus pro-
cess will appear in one or the other Something
of popular opinion has been that the State
courts could not interfere in the retention of a
man for contempt of another court But it is
argued that the contempt exists in a refusal to
testify on an uncommon ground, and that any
court has the right to pass upon the validity OF
the punishment, but not on the punishment it's
elf If 1t arose from the ordinary causes of COM
initial for contempt
There is another feature probable. VIM. F.
A. Bernhamer, one of the accused is his own
attorney, and as yet he has not directly,
on his own behalf, raised a question as to
the jurisdiction of the Commissioners court.
It Is true that in the beginning he con-
sented, with Mr.. Span, who is also his own at
torney, that Messrs Duncan and Smith. appear
ing for Coy and Counselman, should argue any
question in the interest of all of the accused, but
Mr.. Bernhamer is expected to day to do some
thing that will revive the objections to jurisdc-
ton. Out of this it is hoped some way will ap-
pear for Mr. Perkins's release and the blocking
of the whole case.
The run of gossip took this turn last night, but
it is noticeable that there has been a cessation
among Democrats of the cry of persecution-not
ssuly hg the accused but by the party leaders in
sympathy with them The investigation is re-
garded as more serious than they claimed it
would be- Yet while the Democratic politicians are
deeply interested, the people whom they are sup
posed to represent are not inclined to express an
opinion for or against the prosecution They &C
cept it as sequence of election villiany, and if
anything favor a thorough investigation and the
punishment of the guilty parties
A we'll known Democrat, in reference to the
Perkins incident said, last night Sam never
had sympathy with anybody. He is not altogeth-
err a bad man, but his partisanShip has brought
this trouble upon him."
The assistant turnkey at the JAIL Robert EN-
NETT. said at 10 o'clock last night that Mr..
Perkins went to bed two hours before that time.
lin the jai2" asked the reporter.
Eyes. He is in the jail"
"Do you mean in a cell2"
HE is in jail under lock and key. No; no
one called on him this evening was anything
sent him from home except his supper"
1t is understood that the prisoners attorneys
requested the sheriff to allow Mr. Perkins no
more privileges than he would an ordinary pris-
oner. He spent the night in the Jail building,
but whether with the comforts of a room in the
sheriffs residence or in the dreariness of cell
is left to whatever inference the brief converse
ton with the assistant turnkey may suggest