The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-29

long QellOoEatlOD
come to a conclusion. began to spread
as bit of mysterious news among the knowing
ones on the streets. Each person thought he of
all others had been made the depository of the
secret, and yet when o'clock came they began
to drop into the federal building one by one, or
in doubles and groups OF three and four. Soon
early corners began to scatter in the hall of the
third floor, where the court and district attor-
ney rooms are. AS in the marshars Office below.
the people began to crowd, while many walked
up and down the hall, as the court room door
remained locked and forbidding to all who
sought an entrance.
It was az this time that Coy came into the
assistant district attorneys room, following
John w. Kern Within a minute two John
n. sullivan appeared, and not far behind him
was j. G. McNutt Frank and Stephen j. Mat
tier were the next to arrive, with Judge Nc
Mutt. in five minutes thereafter, walking in
rapidly al If he had with him un welcome news
Politicians and friends of the defendants Joined
the group that had collected. and each
minute seemed to bring new ar
rival. until the room was full, with the
blazing CRATE fire and the flaming jets of tho
chandelier giving q cheefulnesS to the scene
In the crowd were one or two Democrats from
outside the city, notably Charles G.. Offut. of
Greenfield, but the rest OF the politicians were
the familiar ones who take greater or less part
in local campaigns. 1t expected that
court would open at 7:30 o'clock ard in the
interval the attorneys aud defend ants began,
little by little, to separate themselves from the
others. At one time Coy and Sullivan could be
seen talking together, at another the two. with
Judge McNutt and son. and then the four With
MIR. Kern. Coy nervous, but apparently
cheerful, although there could be detected in
his demeanor forced effort to joke on the
probabilities of the result Sullivan
was moody, had little to say, and
seemed to be refecting the
effect his gross insult and attack on Judge Clay
pool would have in intensifying public opinion
against him and the defendants whose case
to be decided within the next hour. Stephen j.
Matter bad nothing to say to anyone. He was
only q looker-on but his agitation showed itself,
md he an ed off frop 81 inter nat
surrounded the others with whom he had been
tried. The half hour of waiting wore on and
was nearly at an end when inquiry to
Bernhsmers Whereabouts. No one had seen
him, one could tell where he was. until
. suggestion came as If from the outside
crowd that he had gone home hour
before. messenger was sent there, and
after sufficient lapse OF time to hear
from him, the inquiry took "a new form. HAS
Bernhamer conner He has not, everybody said,
but the consultation between Judge McNntt,
Mr. Kern, Coy and Sullivan went on with law
book now and then being brought in for refer
ence. After while Judge McNutt and Snlli-
van were left alone, Kern and Coy having by
this time gone into the court room, which had
been opened.
One by the crowd in the assistant district
attorneys office became smaller. 1t went to
swell the large audience that had gathered in
the courtroom FIVE minutes after it access
sible. Here wers other friends of the defendants,
but for the most part the audience was made up
OF business and professional men. 1t had far
different characteristics than those of the
seen
financial men. there representative business men
and in another part of the room lawyers sand
wiching DOCTORS stood or sat accordingly as for
tune favored them in their desire to observe
to proceedings for which all patiently waited
Politicians OF both parties were conspicuous
Many came from their downtown resorts, or
wherever they happened to hear the news Of
the juryis readiness to return its verdict. About
the attorneys tables sat those who. through
friendship or sympathy, wanted to get as near
possible to the defer dants.
them
bis pompadour and cropped hair glstening as If
with an extra touch of the brush. He wore
played with his cane. dividing atter-
tion between that and unliehted
cigar. He talked with Kern awhile,
then with Sullivan, and again with acquaint
ances and reporters. To of the latter who
asked him if he had any intmation to the
verdict, he replied. las usual. have drawn the
was forced, and needed no close observer see
that the little boss of Marion county Democ-
racy would have heeu willing TO exchange places
with anyone of the audience Again he said,
I'm be here next week. but on bond perhaps.
If go to JAIL come over and play Gominos with
me- You know never play cards"
1t was now after o'clock. aud the audience
increasing every minute. Bernbamers pres
ence still wanting. The audience began to
speculate on his absence, but always with the
certainty that ne would come IN at the last mo-
mont. All eyes vera turned on the jurors. If
to read from their faces the verdict that
either to release from all further trial
sign to punishment the men whose mis-
deeds in politics have made them notorious.
Not one of the twelve, though, betrayed by look
what they had to tell the court They were
tired and each kept TO himself his thoughts, ex-
cent now and then when MIR. Kern, who contin-
ned to the time Of waiting by exchanging
words with two three of them, Finally he
pulled his chair in front of juror Davis, of
Charlottesville and began conversation with
him on general topics II believe" said Kern,
that we could pass the time proftahy if you
gentlemen would hear nv speech again."
1--WE will hear it" said juror Dickinson, and
then all laughed, il they could tell the en-
gaeing orator that his well-ro undad periods and
pretty phrases had been Intellectual But Kern
knew that already. for few minutes before he
had said: The jury has agreed to convict Coy
and Bernhamer and acquit Matter. will bet
81 ,060 though with member OF the commit
tse of one hundred that Coy will never go the
penitentiary"
''You intend. then to take the matter to the
Circuit Court on e-rorsl was suggested.
Certainly. We going before Judge
Gresham inst az soon as We can get there
Still the time went 90, and the waited,
but at 500 Marshal Hawkins entered and be-
hind was Judge Woods. followed by District
Attorney Sellers and others. after whom came |
j ud9e McNutt and last of all Bernhamer In
an instant there seemed to be turned into the |
room as many people as were there before They |
crowded forward, filling almost every inch of |
space within the bsr. and extending In q packed |
body TO the door
Court was opened Immediately and the Judge, |
at once turning to the jury. abou, TO ask |
the formal question as to agreement. when |
J Judge McNutt iDterposei with a query TO the |
form of putting in an objection he desired to |
make to the verdict He wished to object to it |
because communication in the form of a tele- |
gram had been sent to one of the jurors during |
the day, which he claimed had influenced |
the decision. Judge Wood told him he |
could make the objection either before |
Or after the verdict. Turning again to the jurors
the Judge asked if they had agreed upon |
dict. Foreman Davis responded that they had,
and handed to the clerk of the court paper |
which that officer read. with impressive
silence pervading the overcrowded room. Its /
form the always used. and told the
court auditors and defendants that simeon Coy |
md w. F. A Bernhamer had been found
guilty: as charged in the indictment.
md that Stephen J. Matter was acquitted.
Coy's face flushed little. He looked steadily
1t the clerk with sign of tears. but without q
'ob expression to tell of the strength of the
emotion he no doubt felt Bernhamer might
have been attorney instead OF defendant
20 far any of emotion his part was
Matter smiled. but stoidly |