St. Paul daily globe., 1891-10-24
The EVIDENCE ALL IN in,
Mr.. Donnelly Occupies the
Witness Chair Most Of
the Day.
He Denies Point Blank Many
Of the Charges Of
Col. King.
An Explanation Of His Con-
nection With the Ell PaSo
& Texas.
The Lawyers to Get in Their
Arguments in the Case
To-Day.

Ignatius Donnelly made an admirable
witness yesterday. He took the stand
in rebuttal of the fragrant charges of
political dishonesty testified to by Col.
King and Gen. LeDuc. He retained a
perfect composure throughout and the
drastic efforts of the attorneys for the
defense were not able to shake him in
the slightest degree. He testified in q
straightforward, frank way that counted
with both court and jury, and he made
deep impression upon the vast crowd
of witnesses that packed the court
room almost to suffocation.
Mr.. Donnelly had vivid remem-
brance of all the details of the occur
rcnces that Col. King had rected. and
he was ready and eager to meet the
arraignment. Either each particular
circumstance that was calculated to
compromise his political honesty and
legislative integrity was positively and
unequivocally denied or it was ex-
planned away. There were many things,
it is true, that had bad and forbidding
aspect as they fell from Col. King S
voluble lips, but when the Sage of MIN
niger had given frank construction of
them, they presented different phase.
Mr.. Donnelly is himself lawyer of no
mean abilities, and he knows just
how to put point in the most
telling way, and he improved his
talents in this respect yesterday.
1t was shown beyond peradventure that
there had been bitterness between him
self and the witnesses, and they all con-
fessed it. Many of them had been po-
litical foes who had fallen before him
whose political aspirations had been
blighted by the Sage's popularity.
Then there were others who lent ma
terial aid to Mr.. Donnelly's cause.
They are reputable citizens, who have
known him intimately for long term
OF years. both politically and in a bust
ness way, and they unhesitatingly con-
to Mr.. Donnelly's honesty.
"Cy" Wellington, too, was a host in
himself. Sngle-handed. he did battle
royal with Judge Flandrau, Capt. Hart
and Mr.. SQnires. He was never con-
fuSed-not for an instant. He was ac-
tive and on the alert, and handled the
case with adrOit generalship, such as
challenged the admiration OF the as
Semblage, composed as 1t was largely of
the brightest legal talent of the state,
who had been attracted to the struggle
of the intellectual gladiators.
All the testimony was put in yester
day and the court adjourned at 80
until 8 o'clock this morning. Then the
flood gates of Oratory will be opened.
The entire day. it is predicted, will be
consumed in the summing up" The
defense will first address the jury.
duty devolves. He stated last night
that he should claim that the Pioneer
Press had proven all the charges con-
tanned in the notorious King letter as
published by the Pioneer Press. More
over, he will claim that it was published
eleven years ago at the instance of Mr..
DOnnelly, in the face of the latter's tes-
tlmony that he never gave it for publi
cation. Mr.. Flandrau will also assert
that it was again used in the DOnnelly-
Strait campaign, without demurrer on
the part of Mr.. Donnelly, and these
facts he construes into tacit acquies-
cence, and a full justification of the
publication for which the libel suit was
brought.
Then the Defense.
Mr.. Wellington will make the effort
of his life in the afternoon. He appre-
ciateS, as a matter of course, the honors
that must come with a victory over
such brainy men as contend his posi-
ton. His address to the jury will be
mainly extemporaneous, illustrated by
legal citations from the best authorities.
The case will scarcely reach the
jury before o'clock this afternoon,
and then Will follow a tedious
and veXatious wait. through which both
parties TO the suit must suffer the doubt
and uncertainty that always attends the
deliberations of jurieS upon mooted
questions. Many there are who fancy
that the jury will disagree. although
there was a sentiment at the court house
among tue spectators yesterday that
Donnelly would get verdict.
Yesterdays Witnesses
John j. Rhodes was the first witness
yesterday morning. He testified on be-
half of the defendant. He had been
resident of Hastings for thirty years,
and had been intimately acquainted
with Mr.. DoEnelly all this time, and
was familiar with the Sage'S reputation
for political honesty and legislative in
tegrity, and it was bad, or had been
since 1868.
On the cross-eXamlnation he en-
phaticallv denied that he was on bad
terms with the plaintiff, but admitted
that he had never voted for him. Mr..
Wellington carried the witness on to
his own destruction. He compelled him
to swear that Donnelly had denounced
him from the stump i'll Hastings, and,
indeed, throughout all Dakota county,
for attempting to bribe Donnelly to sell
out the Alliance party TO jim Hill. He
also said Donnelly had repeatedly in
Vited him tO appear in public and make