St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-06
BASE DIR. BALL.
He Admits Having Slandered
Cleveland on Hearsay.

Cleveland on Hearsay.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Feb. 5.-There was
a large attendance in the supreme court
this morning when the Ball-Post libel
suit was again taken up before Judge
Daniels, several ministers being pres
ent. Rev. DIR. Ball continued his evil
dence. He was asked where he got his
information leading him to characterize
the Beaver Island club as disreputable
Institution, when respectable citizens
were in the habit of taking their fami-
lies there. The doctor replied that he
got the opinion from certain remarks he
had heard on river steamer. DIR. Ball
confessed that he visited a negreSS who
had been janitreSS of the building in
which Mr.. CleVeland's Office was located
for the purpose of getting points about
Mr.Cleveland. He said that what he had
done was at the Solicitation of ministers
who wanted the information. The evil
dence then led up to the terrible tale,
which, the witness said. was not written
by him, bat the facts of which he adj
mitted were furnished by him. He
gave the points to the editor whu wrote
the article. The letter written BY
the Christian Union, was read. In it
DIR. Ball charged Mr.. Cleveland with
seduction, and also stated that while
Mr.. Cleveland and two other gentlemen
were returning from down the river, all
being drunk, one of them fell out of a
carriage and was killed. There were
other statements of serious nature re-
flecting upon Mr.. Cieyelaud's character.
DR.. Ball said he learned later that Mr..
Cleveland was not with the party at all,
and had printed statement in the pub
lie press to that effect. This concluded
Dr. BaiPs testimony, and a recess was
taken. After recess Henry r. Jones
swore that in the campaign in which he
was elected county treasurer he had put
up $3.50, which was
PUT IN DIR. Balls HANDS.
George W. Hayward testified that DR..
Ball had applied to the Independent Re
publican club, of which Hayward was a
member, for money, in 1881, but did
not get it. Editor Godkin, of the
Post, was recalled. He admitted
writing one or two articles
produced that were printed in the Post.
He was not sure about the second arti-
Gle. None was written with any NAL
ice towards DR.. Bali. He had caused
inquiries TO be made in Buffalo regard
ing DR.. Ball, and was led to believe
that he was a fussy man who dabbled
III pOiiGiSS' liz dlSO CduSGu q
friend to make inquiries from Mr..
Cleveland as to the truth of the
charges against him, and was informed
that they were pack of lies, except
the one so.called early fault" DR..
George Lewis followed Mr.. Godkin.
"Did you have conversation with Mr..
Ball in 1884 in regard to the private
character of Grover Clevelahd?'' asked
Mr.. Millburn for the defense. 81
really have no recollection of it" the
witness replied. On further question
ing i'll regard to the scandal, DIR.
Lewis remembered that Mrs. Baker
brought Maria Halpiu to his office and
her. She said she was just
out OF the asylum where she had been
placed wrongfully. ~ don't think the
name of Grover Cleveland was men
toned in connection with her incarcer-
ati0n," he said. Addressing Mr.. Moot,
for the plaintiff, Mr.. Lewis continued,
Il don't recollect anything about these
conversations. | saw Mrs. Baker after
wards and she said she was 'Grever
Cleveland woman
SHE TALKED A GOOD DEAL.
but there was nothing to fix it in my
mind"
Mr.. Milbnrn objected, and the last
part OF this statement was stricken out.
MI. Godkin was recalled, and Mr.. Moot
questioned him." What can YOU recall
that is detrimental to Dr. Balls charac-
ter? | see that you wrote that that the
accounts of DR.. Ball grow worse and
worse Did you try to find out whether
DR.. Ball had taken pains to discover the
truth of his statementS?' was asked. II
don't think did," replied Mr.. Godkin.
''lf the story DR.. Bali tells in the Abbott
were true, would you still have feeling
against him?' IL should, for think a
minister is unqualified to pursue such
line of business. l. think on such lines
as the Maria HalDin story, ministers
are especially disqualified, for they are
very credulous and not likely TO conduct
an investigation in a Judicial manner"
The Owensville incident was brought
up. MIR. Godkin had commented on the
report of the story as he had found it in
the indianapolis Sentinel. He, of course,
knew that the article in the Sentinel
was an anonymous communication from
OwensyilIe. did you think that DE-.
Ball had been undertaking something
in the line that Mr.. Cleveland was ac-
cused OFF" asked Mr.. Moot. 81 thought
it very likely. From the language of
the Sentinel thought it was church
row. and especially as the term,
Insult to Christian lady, was used.i
After a lengthy direct and cross-exam-
ination of Mr.. Godkin by Mr. Moot, Mr..
Milburn took the witness ia hand, re-
turned to the direct examination, after
which the defense submitted their case.
and ut 5 O'Clock cUnrt adjourned till
$3.50 tomorrow morning