The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-08
FOREMAN OF THE COY JURY
Purpose of DemOcratstO Prosecute a Man
Who Punished Tally-Sheet FOrgers.
The Scheme They Had to Indict John L.. Davis
How Witnesses We're Treated Who Re-
fused to Assist Bailey and the Gang.

~
not only a farmer whose skill and industry
have brought him broad lands and a good
bank account, but a citizen whose influence
is always for the best interests of his COM
munity. Mr.. Davis was foreman of the
jury that returned a verdict of guilty
against Coy and Bernhamer. On that &C
count he is hated by the Democrats, Whose
purpose has been, since Coy went to the
p~enitentiary, to secure revenge on Mr..
Davis. His sole offense was be-
cause he believed, from the law and
the facts. that Coy and Bernham-
er were tally-sheet forgers. When
Bailey began a system of unheard-of
abuse of federal power through the last
grand jury investigation of alleged cleo
ton ~offenses, Mr.. Davis was one of the
Republicans whose indictmenthe especially
desired. When the Coy trial was on Demo-
Gratis of Charlottesville and Montgomery
county were particularly busy in circulat-
ing the assertion that Mr.. Davis, as fore
man of the jury, dared not vote guilty be-
cause the tables would be turned on him,
and over the road he would 60. A
year ago these Democrats said that he
would be indicted after the election. Dis
trict Attorney Sellers knew about this me-
farious scheme against Davis and others
before he resigned. and one of the reasons
for that act was because he did not want to
have anything 10 do with the affair. Thus
the responsibility of perfecting and carry
ing into execution the plans of revenge the
Democrats had marked out was left to
Bailey. The man who, under Bailey's in
structiOns. had the management of the
scheme at the Charlottesville end, is n
Democrat who proclaims loudly for hon
est elections" about the time conven-
tiOns meet, and is noted for his abuse of
General Harrison during the past cam
paign.
About the time of the election Davis was
closely watched by these Coy avengers, who
a few days afterwards they were saying,
Nov Davis will have to take a dose of his
own medicine" and it was noised about
that Davis was a goner.n About Jan. 10
six subpGnas were sent to Postmaster Booze,
of Charlottesville, requesting him to en-
on George Keller, Bob Keller, William
Keller, Dan Keller, Tom Lewellen and John
Lewellen, who live in the section of country
known as Balhinch. Mr.. Booze asked
FORM Il The 3 9ntTl ben a Ds% a3 f;rst t to ps5-
and said that he did not want to get in
any FUSS" but when assurance was given
that mo trouble could come from serving
the ~subp9nas," he concluded to act, be-
CAUSE. DIS no Sdiu, III Is Cldiuieu. III Woulu
make him some money. He went out to
Dan Keller's house, but not finding him at
home, assured his mother n sister
that no harm was to come to him, as it was
Davis they wanted, Afterwards Denman,
In serving the subpoena on Keller, said
served on the COy-Bernhamer jury.
He again gave assurance, it is said,
that although a man at Alamo had told
where testimony could be had in regard to
a IN u ~ xvn 4D hn 6Dnn noe H.
would testify against HIM. By whose au-
thOrity Denman made these promises and
from whom he received the information
that Davis was the man they were
after" is not positively known. But it is
master Booze had contained such state
ments.
The examination of the men summoned
by Bailey and ClaypoOl proved, it is
charged, that the statements and promises
Bailey himself, in the United States grand
jury room, repeated to some of the men
summoned what Denman had said. Some
of these men had always been
The witnesses came to Indianapolis Jan.
"a. and were accompanied by a Democrat,
who acted as agent, who, approaching one
of them, asked him IF he knew of any per-
son who had violated the election law
The man said that he knew of a Democrat
nv - aloA oatA AO haO" thoO '"
Democrats had brought him some whisky
and cigars the Sunday before the election,
and said they were from Cleveland and
Thurman" and told him to see to it that q
paid. The agent said they did not want to
know anything about that. The man re-
piled hat he knew of no other instances,
and he was let alone. The agent was after
wards in the grand Jury room, and had a
consultation with Bailey.
While the grand jurymen were at dinner
information from a reliable source says
Baily took one of the witnesses into a small
room and asked him if John l.. Davis paid
him $40 for his vote. The man said no.
the first examined, he being questioned by
Judge Claypool,- who asked almost the same
questions asked by Bailey in the small
room. Claypool wanted to know If Davis
paid him $40 for his vote. The witness
answered emphatically in the negative. He
was then shown a letter, which Claypool
said was from a Democrat in Crawfords-
vile. and contained the information that
Davis had paid him 80 for his vote; "and,n
continued Claypool, you might as we'll
own up"
IF you will tell the truth on Davis we
will not hurt you, but will stand by you
and see you out" interposed Bailey.
Il have told the truth; and if the man
about what DAVIS did on election day he is
the man you want. and you had better send
for him, because l am not the man to be
used as a tool against Davis" the witness
replied. He was then asked if he had
not at one time been a Demo-
crat. and why he had shown his
ticket to Davis before he votedf He an
swered this by saying that he had been a
Democrat up to about q year ago, but that
the party had got too corrupt even for him,
and he showed his ticket to Davis, who was
standing with several men at the polls, to
let them know that he voted the Republic
an ticket, as he said he was going to do.
The letter from the Charlottesville Demo-
GRAFT was shown this man, but he did not
have it in his hands, and. therefore, could
not recognize the writing.
The ext witness examined, 1T is said,
was greeted with these words from Bailey:
Did You and Davis AVE a consultation
last nighti'n
NO." said the witness.
You lie, sir! You know you did.' Bailey
exclaimed, shaking his fist at him, and
letting the witness go.
When the next man was brought in he
was told that his brother had Just con-
fessed and he might as well confess also. He
replied that he had nothing to confess"
He was asked if he did not tell Bill Krout
paid $40 On a note with o part of the
money!
Il did not" said the witness.
"You did, sir, and you know You didp
shouted Bailey. "On the day of the cleo
ton, did Davis take you into an alley and
give you $10w
NO" was the answer.
Yes, he did, and we can prove it,"
axo1aimad Rai!av He then 1amanded