The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-05
FROM THE VARIOUS COURTS
Gen. CarDahan in the Conspiracy Trial
Tells About the Election Circular.
A Deputy Sheriff Brings DR.. Alexander and
Mrs. Johnson Heme-They Marry and
Later the Groom Goes to Jail.
INCIDENTS OF THE CONSPIRACY.
How and why the so-Caned Canadian Cir
cular Was Issued.

How and Why the So-Cailed Canadian Cir
cular Was Issued.
There were but few spectators st the conspir-
acy trial in the United States Court when it
began yssterda- morning. but 90 the forenoon
wore away visitors began to drop in, one by one.
until by 10 o'clock something of crowd heard
the thrice-told evidesce. None of the defend
ants were present when the court opened, and
il was nearly al hour before any of them came
in. Judge Woods took occasion during the
morning. when Sullivan, Metcalf. Budd aud
Couns Gilman were present. to order them to stand
up SO that the jury would know thsm, as o COM
plant had been made by one juror that be did
not know the defendants apart These gentle
men were thereupon formally introduced to the
jury by Judge McNutt pointing his finger at
each one and saying That's Sullivan there,
that's Budd." and so on. The jury looked the
men over closely 40 they were thus presented.
When this had been done Judge Woods told the
defendants here after to be present at the trial
unless some especial cause prevented. John w.
Kern was again absent, and it 10 understood
that he will not represent the defense in this
trial. rs he is to appear only for Span when his
case II called
The first witness called. Joel A. Baker, in
spector of the sixth precinct of Center town.
ship, testified to erasures having been made on
the outside tally-sheet In his precinct He
identified tho paper when it was presented to
him.
The interest Ia tho evidence In the morning
was confined to that Of Gen. James R. Carns-
han. who testified to having gone to the Grand
TIo<a al xrtth I'M Eior nd nxp
NJ. Ransdell. the day after the election. to see
Coy in regard to q report that he lCoyl was
sending out runners TO intercept men carrying
election returns to the county clerks ofice-rs-
ferrine especially to .'Goose" Eden and one or
two others. Coy positively denied havag any
thing to do with sending out such msn, and
said, lyon must think I'm a great chump TO do
that" He protested earnestly that he intended
to be hor es-, and that he had nothing
to do with the men who were rep
ressnting themselves to DO under his
instruction. When asked about the circular
issued to Republican judges of election, Gen.
Carnahan said the executive committee had de-
cided 10 send out such o document in order to
inform the judges what their duties were under
the law. William l.. Taylor prepared 1t and
sent il to the committee, who referred il to Jno.
b. Elan. Mr. Elan was to that the circn-
lar was in strict conformity to the Law. After
examining IL he returned IL to the committee.
About shis time was called away from home"
the witness continued, going, ss l now think.
days. during which time these circulars were
printed and sent out containing my name at the
bottom rs chairman. | never had anything to
do with getting mp the circular, never signed it.
never sent 1t out and never knew exactly what
was in it until this matter came up in court
The circular was sent out solely for the purpose
Of preventing frasd. and had other purpose
In the world. We made no attempt to conceal
its import, and never have"
Judge McNutt then read portions of the circu-
lars TO the jury. and asked witness il he had not
been indicted on charges growing out of the cir
culsr.
Eyes. sir, 1 have" replied General Carnahsn.
do you want my views on that question.
Judeep
"No sir; no sir" said Judge McNutt. hastily
II only want your knowledge. that's all. Your
views are not in any way material. You will
get chance to give them when you are put on
trial"
"How was this circular sent outl' asked Judge
McNutt
II don't know, SIR was not here and never
knew ANYTHING about 1t until this thing came up
in COURT
well how did your committee generally
send out circularsl'
'Why generally by mail I guess this one
went out that way. too. so far as know
General Carnahsn was on the stand but
short time. the defense not inquiring particu-
larly into the distribution of the circular beyond
the mere fact OF its being done. The General
answered all questions promptly. and had one
of the circulars in his pocket ready to submit it
to the court and jury. If he was requested to do
so.
William II. Morrison, an inspector in the
first precinct of the Eleventh ward. and q men,
Der of the canvassing board. said Henry Span
wrote the motion which was submitted by Capt.
Mchunh to count tine vote from the tally-steet
and advocated it in q speech. Witness protested
every time against the vote being counted from
the changed tally sheets, but 1t did no good, as
the canvassing was done in . hurry. Witness
then repeated the details OF the testimony he
gave at the former trials.
John w. Bowlus, city clerk, told of having
seen Sullivan and Coy at the canvassise board
He happened to step into the judges private
room about o'clock that night saw John L.
Sullivan and Joel A. Baker standing a corner
talking about tally that Baker had. He
then rehearsed the evidence given before rela-
tive TO Baker ana Dan Lemon leaving the court
house together. and how he followed them when
he saw Metcah and Budd together on Washing
ton street
There were no new Developments in the testi-
mony Of George w. S.ubbs which related to
his talk with Bernhamer when he warned him
against the course be was pursuing then in the
evidence of Charles Dennis and DR.. Il. A. Wag-
ner. who detailed the Room 90 incident, involv
ing Coy and Spaan. This brought the relation
up to the time when Counselman's papers were
before the board In regard to Counselmap.
the testimony of Austin f. Bradley was given.
He said: 81 met John Fl. Counse.man NJ the
canvassng board. We went from the court
house across tho street TO get drink. He told
me that he still held his papers: that he had Of
fsred them to Bsrnhamer, but he had refused
to take them. i overheard q conversation be-
tween Counselman and. Cook IN which Cook
said, We are going to fix the papers up and d.
vide the profits" W. H. Nckerson. who was
with Counselman and Bradley, corroborated the
latter's testimony.
In the afternoon the testimony came from
W. A. wilkins. Charles j. Many, o. r John
son. Howard Gale and David w. Coffin. The
latter, the foreman Of the grand jury which
returned the indictment, was questioned as to
his connection with the case Mr.. Coffin said
that he was member of the committee that
contributed money tn prosecute the violators Of
election frauds in 1856. He gathered all the ev-
idence he could. Judge McNutt tried to show
that Mr.. Coffin took more interest in the case
than his position grand juryman warranted.
going out OF the iury-room to procure evidence
and manifesting zeal that was improper, mas
much a. he had contributed money toward the
prosecution. Judge Woods here interfered and
said that Mr.. Collins conduct in the matter was
entirely proper and that il was his duty TO col
lect evidence in any way he could. The ruling
OF the court rather took the force out of Judge
McNutts cross-examination-
The shorthand report OF Harold Taylor, q
stenographer who was present at the canvassing
board when the contest was going on and took