The Indianapolis journal., 1890-06-01
MISREPRESENTATION
The Variety Of Testimony offered at the
Trial of that Peculiar Attorney.
1t Seems He Had Wicked Partner Who Dis
appeared About the Time the Government
Began to Investigate Wilson's Business.

The trial of Lee f. Wileon, the ex-Demo-
cratic Representative from Shelby county.
charged with violating the pension laws.
was resumed yesterday before Judge
Woods The time was used partly in ex-
amining witnesses for the defense some of
whom were called specially to testify to
Wilson's reputation as good citizen, an
upright attorney and an honest man.
Deputy Clerk Chuden, of Shelby county.
it was said by the prosecution, had
changed his testimony voluntarily from
that given before the grand jury. This
was in relation to Wilson making minutes
on the judges docket. 1t was the wish
to get this difference of testimony on the
record, and District Attorney Chambers
asked permission to call Foreman Barney,
OF the grand jury, to the stand. Judge
Woods would not grant the request. and
the prosecution thereupon recalled Judge
Hord to explain statement made by him
In his former testimony. Judge Hord, on
taking the stand, said he did not wish
to be understood as testifying that
proceedings in his court were in the nature
of common law procedure at all. but that
cases brought to correct DEGREES of divorce
must be brought under the code. He SO
stated to Wilson. Chuden was then put on
the stand by the prosecution, and testified
that there were no other cases In the record
of 1888 made up by him where there was
failure to set out proof of publication,
S exceps .nose unuen ;invehs.ighaaion hd h IN an an
put the fact of such proof. together with
statement as to the paper in which publica-
tion was made.
The defense then examined Wilson, who
spoke OF the methods OF business in his Of
fice and the number of persons in his en-
ploy. He appeared to have number of
clerks, aids and general purpose persons
about him. He made pretension of doing
general business before all departments at
Washington, covering pensions back pay,
1t was also developed In his testimony
that man named John M.
Hayes was quasi-partner of Wilson's in
some of his transactions. and that he dis
against Wilson were developing.
No one now was able to
tell where he is. Two letters were intro
duced by defendant from ex-Commissioner
Black to Wilson. stating that the women
for whom he was attorney could not be re-
instated on the rolls except OH proof of
annulment of marriage contracts with
second husbands.
Wilson's counsel yesterday made an eff
fort to delay calling witnesses in the hope,
evidently, of posponing their clients exam
ination. They dallied along until Judge
Woods patience was we'll nigh exhausted.
He told them they must call witness,
and they called Wilson's father, who
was not in court. The defendant
went out on pretense of hunting his father
and the court waited. After some time had
elapsed, Judge Woods informed Wilson's
attorneys that if they did not put a wit
ness on the stand he would declare the
testimony for the defense closed
and allow the prosecution to call
their witnesses in rebuttal. This
brought them to time. though Judge Clay
pool was very indignant at the action of
the court, which was certainly justified by
the circumstances. The result was the de-
fendant had to 60 on the stand, something
his attorneys had hoped to prevent.
The court continued in session until
o'clock and adjourned further hearing till
Wednesday morning at $50 o'clock, to
enable District Attorney Chambers to fulfill
an engagement to lecture before the literary
societies of Shurtleff College. at Alton, III l.,
Monday evening. Monday afternoon the
case against Martha Houk will be taken
nm by the cOurt