The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-27


ing to the law and evidence.
He no doubt thought that Perkins had a mo-
tive in doing what he did, but he believed he
had accomplices. 1t was gratifying to hum to
know that the interests OF this large city were
looked after by excellent men like VIM. Hender-
son and Captain Ritter and others of the COM
mittee of one hundred With that committee
watching over him he slept more sereneiy and
went home late at nights with absolute safety.
1t was good thing for a large community to
have In it so many men who are not as other
are. To this committee went Perkins,
promising to convict Coy alone, and yet the
election OF Ayres was of no Importance 10 any
one but Perkins himself He was the only one
interested in Ayres if he could get him in office
for week, for day even, so he could get the
forfeiture of that bond set aside. But no
county grand jury would bring an Indlct-
mens against these men for forgery on
the testimony of Perkins alone. who
testified only against Coy. The case was get
grand jury member OF that committee of one
hundred eneaked and became its foreman That
was the jury that accepted Perkinss statement:
and returned an Indictment against Coy ana
ten Others as to whom Perkins at first said he
had knowledge. Upon this the attorney
based his appeal as to Matters innocence. whose
statement on the witness stand is sustained ey
Perkins's first statement. as it appears In the
agreement with the States prosecuting attor-
ney and his deputy. Captain Ritter The argu-
ment was linked with frequent references TO
Matters high character as a citizen and vet
soldier of the Eleventh Indiana, to which
forty FIVE reputable citizens had testified.
Many the testimony of the miserable Perkins
goes down, leaving Mattler without suspicion
against him.
The court after Mr. Kern had spoken nearly
two hours adjourned until 100 o'clock.
Resuming after the recess, Mr.. Kern expressed
his liking for Captain Many, a man who. re-
moved from prejudces and recognizing the sem
timent that makes the whole world kin, went
upon the stand with feeling broad enough and
full enough to do Matter justice in testfying
that his tally-sheet was not scratched when it
before L
pesses whom he could name, coming with venom
and political hate The jury could not under
stand the Indianapolis politicians, who were
imbued with prejudice and trickery, and yet
Many not one of them, and for that reason
he was the township trustee to-day. The testi-
mony Of McLain, Republican, county clerk
just going out of office. showed, too, that the
Matter papers were not changed. The attorney
believed that on going 20 the jury room the ju-
light in the face of what Many and McLain had
said. He urged that Perkins committed perjury
when he said he told all he knew;
i Mnsn of ~ the " county to ipdics Gov. by
agreement with men who wished to strike
down one man, offensive partisan. one who
scalp they wanted CAPTAIN Ritter made the
agreement person who says he is neither
Democrat nor Republican. He is too good to
belong to either of the great political parties
There are men of that kind Ritter represented
an organization that wanted Coy alone, and told
Perkins if he would testify enough to convict
this man now involves others on testimony un-
corroborated in a single fact This testimony of
Perkins is the soul and heart the inspiration of
the case. everything that gives its life. Without
it there would be nothing left. and the only
question is. has the jury the courage to say So
Accept 1t as true. he Is traitor, scoun-
drel to be Stunned by all men.
man whom all people should greet
he passed along the streets. make way for the
leper. make way for the leper." But there was
man, one Bradbury, who came IN the other
6aty and ifad IN PARK Ia
knew that Perkins was guilty of this awful
crime. and yet said his reputation was good. but
he thought the tally-sEeet forgery had damaged it
somewhat Judge Claypool is very seldom dra-
matte, but that occasion he was. Placing
his back against the judges desk. he turned to
the audience and said 'All who have been sum
moned to testify as to 1.-THE reputation of Perkins
are now excused" and there was NOT q man SO
depravsd as TO get up and go out
The election in Marion county in 1886 went
adversely to the Republican party except in one
or two instances, and late that night it came to
the ears of a few Democratic candidates who had
small majorities that circular had been issued
couutermandlng the law governing the returns.
This circular, harmless, and yet violation of
the law, said that the minority judge was en-
titled to the returns No one had . right to
them but the inspectors. The Republicans.
with an army of deputies had possession of tho
clerks Office whore the inside papers were to be
returned. With the outside papers in the hands
of the minority judges, the Republicans would
have had the whole canvassing machinery in their
hands. For years the Democrats had been
WONDER
alarmed. especially as the Republican county
clerk was to appoint, 1t was said, John w.
Coons to keep the tallies of the canvass-Coons,
who is charged with counting Dan Lemon out
of his Office. Upon this Coy, suspecting his po-
lirical adversaries, sent his messenger to tell
the inspectors to keep their returns until the
day of the canvass. In this connection the at
torney said that the district attorney apologized
for the author of this circular, when he knew it
to be violation of the law. Carna-
han goes free while these defendants
are ali tria hair fan W N
tears and suspense the verdict of the jury.
Reverting to the incidents of the canvassing
board. he traced the actions of Span there as
the attorney for Democrats referred to the cleo
ton of Bernhamer as chairman because he was
the only lawyer on the board, and the meaning |
less term used by Democrats during the excite |
mens of the canvass. take your medicine and |
said in it all one little man, Simeon Coy stood |
ck-ribbed in defense of his partys rights. He |
sarcastcally reviewed the testimony of MIR. !
Stubs, constantly playing upon tine name. and |
calling him 'the gifted and errat;c Stubs" APP
pealiug to the jury with Matters army service |
and domestic affiiction, the attorney said "But |
they don't want Matter; it is Coy they want |
Coys services as a Democrat were then brought |
in review. with the insinuation that his work |
had been appreciated by Vice president Hen |
bricks, and that Coy. ''the humble carriage |
maker, with big brain, big heart" was elected |
without opposition as chairman of the Demo !
cratic central committee in 1884 to share with |
Thomas A. Hendricks the honor of that cam |
paign. The District Attorney and Judge Clay |
pool may sneer at the character evidence in IA |
vor of Coy, but seventy-fve Witnesses came for |
ward and without exception testified to his good |
reputation. Reputation is everything, but in |
heated campaigns misconceptions are formed |
He remembered when q boy, of his prejudice, |
created by Democratic papers, against Abraham |
Lincoln, whom he now regarded as the greatest. |
the nobiest the most humane man since the |
time of Washington So the partisan newspa- |
pers have excited the prejudices against Coy, and
for what purpose2 1t was not necessary to say. |
for the jury knew. Yet the most vlndictive |
prosecution ever made was that against Coy. It |
had gone so far as to try to destroy his moral |
standing. Coy was charitable man, honor |
able man. one whose friends rallied |
about him in this hour of his adyer- |
sity and supported him through all the |
storms of hate and persecution. He is before |
this jury begging for no sympathy. asking for no
mercy, but demanding an acquittal because |
there is no evidence maintain the charge |
against him. He appears before yon brave.
open faced. fearless little man, who has commit
ted crime 1t is only question Of courage |
for the Republicans on the jury TO meet fairly