Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-15
THE STATE eEsTa
NJ Pr.sss.s,.. 4, skc..Tt ally sheet o.sa
knAs Its Testinony.

n Prssssstisa In sk ktlally Sheet oasss
knAs Its Tsstinony.
CoLunBUa o., February L.
The only witness examined by the State
yesterday was Mr. James Poston. who Va
with Squire Martin . part OF the time
during the memorable evening when the
venerable justice was the object Of 70 much
solicitu.ie to members Of both parties Mr..
PostOn was asked to state the substance OF
. conversation between himself and Mr..
Isaac Hill the Sunday evening after the
the defense and . long argument ensued.
Mr.. Converse was the first 10 speak in sup
port Of the objection and made forcible
speech of considerable length. The objec.
tion was overruled, but before the State pro-
ceeded with the examination of the witness.
Mr.. McSweeny begged the indulgence OF
the court while he presented another view
Of the question. He then proceeded TO
argue that the testimony as to any propo-
sition made by Hill to Squire Martin. that
being the object Of Mr.. Poston's testimony,
was not competent even on the ground that
there was conspiracy to defeat the will Of
the people, for the reason that 1t did not
follow that proposition to bribe Squire
Martin. was proposition to defeat the will
Of the people Mr.. McSwceney argued
with great ingenuity that . public officer
might be bribed TO simply to do his duty.
and in that event, there would be no defeat
Of the will Of the people, and hence the
testimony not pointing to the common end
OF the alleged conspiracy, would be incom-
petent
Mr.. Huling replied on behalf of the State.
He accused Mr.. McSweeney of saying that
was bribed TO do his public duty. and
launched into discussion Of the testimony,
which showed clearly 70 his mind the con-
nection between the attempted bribery and
the forgery.
Mr.. McSweeney made brief rejoinder to
Mr. Huling, and recess was taken, the court
reserving the ruling on the new point raised
BY Mr.. NcSwseney until afternoon.
When court rr-sssemblea Judge Pugh
announced that tbs objection was over
ruled, and the examination Of Mr.. POston
proceeded. He sw0re that Mr.. Hill said to
him the Sunday night in question, that
Squire Martin ought to reject the returns
OF the two disputed precincts He said
further that il wAs important that Martin
should be seen. that he ought to be fixed,
and that he {Hill) had the money in his
boot to 6X him with The conversation
took place in front Of the Neil House, BE-
tween the hours of nine and eleven O'Clock
Mr.. P0sOn WAS crossexamined by Colo
mol Taylor, who WAS one Of the Republicans
who were playing detective by shadow
ing" Squire Martin on the evening in ques-
ton, and il therefore qualified as an expert
on the subject Nothing important was
developed by the cross-e xamination. Mr..
foston said that he told Hill that be
thought il would be no use attempting to
corrupt Martin. Left him shortly after
their conversation. Did not meet him
again during the evening. Admitted that
he had heard that Judge Thurman was in
favor Of throwing out the disputed pre-
cincts, and that he (Poston) had advised
Squire Martin 70 60 out and re Judge
Thurman that evening.
Mr.. Poston was the last witness called BY
the State, and Mr.. Huling announced that
the State rested
court to the fact that the defense had not
the citixSps' committee and Clark and
Lyle. for Granville's information. Mr..
Converse said that the defense desired to
have this contract before opening their
case.
This 10 the contract concerning which
Colonel Dun, Granville's attorney, exhib-
tied in open court . memorandum over Q
week ago. At that time he stated that be
had given the contract TO Mr.. Mills, of
Chicago. Mr.. Huling and Colonel Duff
both agreed 20 see that the contract was
forthcoming, Mr.. Huling stating 1t the
time that Mr. Mills xas expected to be
present at the time before the State rested
its case. The contract was telegraphed for
Immediately after the court adjourned,
and will be offered in evidence by the de-
fense as soon as il arrives. The defense
will begin its testimony this morning as
the usual hour.
Thomas J. Co4an appeared in court yes-
terday afternoon for the first time since the
He was accompanied by his attorney. Hon.
T. C. Campbell Alien o. Myers was alss