The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-03
BUREAU OF THE SENTINEL, !
1920 NEW YORK-AvE., y. W.,
W .cnr,-g-CN- II n Tar 90 |

WAsHINGTON. ID. c., Jan. %.
The senate committee on judiciary
listened patiently and with apparent in
terest for nearly five hours today to the
testimony of seven good Indiana citizens
concerning the character OF William A.
Woods, nominated by the president to be
U. S. circuit Judge in consideration of
valuable services rendered to the g. o. p.
at critical tine.
Each word of damaging testimony that
fell from the lips of these witnesses was
received with rapt attention and apparent
eager interest by each one OF the senate
committee.
The knowing ones-those in full posses
sion of the facts about the proceedings as
they took place tn the committee today
declare that the case made out against
Woods is exceedingly strong-a good deal
stronger than was ever expected.
a Strong Case.
The Hon. James H. Rice said tonight
in reply to q question: "Was a strong case
made out? Well, should say so. 1t was
expected that strong presentation would
be made, but that OF today must have ex-
ceeded the most sanguine expectations of
Judge Woods opponents"
The Hon. Leon Bailey was fully as we'll
pleased with the result of the days work.
Last night Judge Claypool, Judge Nc
Mutt, Messrs. Rice, Bailey and others met
at the residence of Senator Voorhees, on
New Hampshire-aye. and held q long
consultation. At an early hour this
morning the gentlemen assembled in
Senator Voorhees, committee room and
there remained during today. Every now
and then the messenger to the senate
judiciary committee would appear at the
door of Senator Voorhees, room and sum-
mon one of the witnesses to appear before
the judiciary committee, and after his
examination the witness would return to
the room and another one would go before
the reverend senators to be examined
Everything was conducted easily and in
an eminently respectable manner, as all
senatorial investigations should be, COM
porting with the time-honored dignity Of
the senators.
Auin Secret.
An air Of secrecy and mystery was ap-
parent. At the door of the senate Judi
ciary committee room stood sentinel as
silent as marble statute. Not a word
from himl At each question of an in
quistive correspondent in search OF news
this senatorial Janus would compress his
lips tightly, shake his head mysteriously,
but never word would he utter. He
had his orders from the astute Yankee,
Senator Hoar, to be ever vigilant and keep
newspaper men from coming within the
sacred precincts of the sanctum sanctorum.
Each of the witnesses was requested not
to divulge anything of what took place.
Soon after the Indiana witnesses had
assembled in Senator Voorhees, room a
senate messenger appeared at the door
and called for Deputy u. s. District Clerk
Nichols, the first witness. who remained
with the committee short while, and then
Clerk Butler took his place and stayed
forty minutes. Their testimony was main
ly the court records in the Coy and Dud-
ley cases, transcripts Of which they filed
with the committee.
Mr.. Rice Tessihes
The Hon. James H. Rice was the next
witness. Mr.. Rice's testimony did not
deal with the legal aspect Of the case, but
he went over the incidents of the Coy and
Dudley cases and testified to the partisan
ship of Judge Woods as displayed time
and again, both as a citizen and in his
judicial capacity. Republican members
Of the committee catechised Mr.. Rice
concerning the politics of the Witnesses
who were present, in an endeavor to make
II appear that the whole opposition 10
Judge Woods originated and was being
carried on purely out of partisan spirit
The Dudley Letter.
The examination Of Mr.. Rice only con-
sumed about five or ten minutes and the
next witness was Leon o. Bailey. The
latter went into detail concerning the in
dictments and all matters bearing upon
the legal aspect of the case. Mr.. Bailey
held in his pocket the original Dudley
blocks-of-fve letter, and Senator Platt
(Conn.) asked to see il. Mr.. Bailey told
the senator that il was sealed up in pack
age, but that be had fac simile OF il and
askad II that would do as we'll Upan