St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-19
BOTH HAVE ARGUED.
Officer Crich'S Case Will Go
to the Jury This Morn
ing.
Close Of the Insurance Mems
Convention With an Elab-
crate Banquet.
Doctors Of Minnesota Black
list DR.. La Paul, Of Min
neap0lis.
Several Interesting Cases
Come UP in the District
Court Grind.

Another day has passed and the erich
libel case has not gone to the jury. Still
more interest was shown in the case
yesterday by the still larger crowd in
attendance. A number of witnesses
were put on the stand, but no evidence
of startling nature was brought out.
The address of the attorneys to the jury
occupied most of the afternoon. after
which court was adjourned until $50
O'Clock this morning, when Judge Smith
will deliver the charge.
Ii. M. Lockhart, a fireman, testified
that he was Ill the house after the fire
and found nothing but one or two old
chairs. Charles Warner was anxious
to give evidence against Blake, but was
not allowed to do so. After a number
of unimpOrtant witnesses were exam
ined, recess of a few minutes was
taken. Afterwards the defense put in
its evidence in rebuttal.
Superintendent of Union Depot Dou-
gan was called by Judge Rea. He said
he didn't think any train arrived in st.
Paul from Chicago OH the afternoon of
Oct. 81; he was sure of that. G. E.
Brame. the attorney. SAID he went to
collect a bill of Blake from erich. He
erich. 81 told Mr.. Crich had an Or
der from Mr.. Blake for $50, and that |
had come to collect it. Il don't know
such man, said he. That's remark
ably strange, said ]. i never had any
transaction with Blake, and never have
known him. said Crich.
August LEIGH testified to seeing erich,
Griffin and Blake drinking sherry and
egg in the saloon at $50 Hennepin av-
enue on Oct. 80, 1889.
When court was called in the after
noon. Attorney Barker, for the plaintiff,
arose and, addressing the court, said he
protested against the accounts the news
papers were publishing of the trial,
They were all wrong. 1.-THE papers were
giving malicious turn to the story,
and they were not telling the truth.
Mr.. Barker was mad way through. He
wanted the reporters put out of the
court room or Judge Smith to repriInand
them.
Judge Rea said the reporters sat
where the evidence could be heard,
and were, to his knowledge, getting the
story straight, and if the published ac-
counts were erroneous, he thought they
must be typographical errors. Judge
Smith said the present case was differ
ent matter, and had nothing to do with
attorneys to proceed.
After waiting about twenty minutes
for several important witnesses, Judge
Rea was forced to make his closing ar
gumentS without their testimony. He
said Blake might be bad man for all
he knew. but wasn't his testimony per-
haps true? Did he not hear two boys
sentenced to be hung, in the very room
in which they sat, and convicted simply
on the testimony of criminal. their
brother, who conspired with them to
murder street car driver? He then
traced the evidence carefully and COM
pared both sides of the story. As the
judge warmed to his work he stood up
on the witness stand and leaned over
to the jury.
Il care not, gentlemen" said he,
"what kind of character man has,
even though he is stepped in crime, if
he speaks the truth, it is the TRUTH
Then he took up Blake's story, and
brought up all the evidence of other
witnesses to prove that Blake's story
was corrOborated.
There was one peculiar thread rum
ming through the whole testimony. he
said, and that was that erich, Griffin
and Blake were seen together time and
again, as was shown by the evidence OF
greatest detectives said he always found
out the most about crime by hanging
around the place where it was commit
ted, as there was something in human
nature that compelled criminals to visit
the place. This he considered damag-
ing fact against Griffin, who was seen
repeatedly near the burned dwelling.
The jury was not present, however, to
try that talented artist (pointing to
Crich), that exemplary policeman who
was paid to suppress crime and to pro-
tect the homes and lives and property
of the citizens, or to try the mounted
policeman, Griffin, to see whether they
should be behind the bars at Saltwater,
but to try damage suit.
After a recess of five minutes, when
court was called to order, Judge Rea
wished to introduce evidence to Impeach
the testimony of Griffin. Mr.. Barker
gave Judge Rea the option of finishing
his address without introducing the
evidence or allowing the witness to
testify and not finish his address. The
court said that it had been precedent
not to introduce evidence after closing
had commenced.
Continuing, Judge Rea said the evi.
dence given by Blake, Fleming, Mrs.
Houston. Mrs. Blake and others, was
sufficient to Indict erich and Griffin
before anv grand jury that ever sat in
the United States. He said he saw two
men walk out of this court room to be
hanged where the evidence was not one
whit stronger.
Here, hold on minute. object to
that your honor" exclaimed Attorney
Barker.
Judge Rea continued, however, not
taking the slightest notice Of the inter-
ruption, and concluded in a few min
utes.
Mr.. Barker, on behalf of the plaintiff,
opened his address by relating an anus
ing incident. He spoke i'll pleasing
voice and convincing manner, and at
times scared even to the poetical and
often became tragic, but was dramatic
throughout.
The plaintiff in the action, he said,
had brought forward as witnesses men
of unimpeachable character, but the
witnesses Of the defense were of
an entirely different kind. First of all
there was that outlaw, George Blake.
The next witness was Blake's brother In
crime, Preston, who, on the stand, with
out the shadow OF a tear or trace of re-
morse confessed that he was periurer.
Then there was Blake's brother-in-law
and his wife, who were intimidated by
Blake.
"The evidence don't show that she
was intimidated,' said Judge Rea, "and
the court has said so.'
There wasn't, eh.?" exclaimed Mr..
Blake. did she not say to erich and
Griffin when they called at the house
for the pictures that she was afraid to
give them up, as Blake would abuse her
as he had done time and again?'
"Oh. very we'll, very well, if that is
what you meap," said Judge Rea as an
audible smile went around the court
room at his expense.
Continuing, Mr.. Barker said that the
evidence of Paul Kicker, the bartender,
was most surprising as he remembered
back two years the fact of Blake's call