The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-29
PROHIBS AT WAR In COURT
Ritter HinkIe Libel Suit Proves a Draw.
ing Attraction This Week.
The Captain Had q Little the Best OF IL ies-
t~erday-L, ID. & W. First Mortgage
Bonds Good-Brrns Convicted.

Considerable interest is centered in the
attraction now on the boards in the Circuit
Court room before Judge Bartholomew. OF
the Superior Court bench. The cause that
several days is the Ritter-Hinkle libel suit.
Some time ago. when Can't Eli Ritter
was talked of as the Prohibition
candidate for the presidency, Leonard
HinKle published in the Phslanx. the
party organ. and in q circular. statements
alleged to be deroQatory to Ritters char
acter. and especially his professional in
tegrity. Ritter brought suit against the
author Of the publication. asking $4,000
damages. The case was filed IN the Cir
cult Court, and an affidavit for o change of
venue from the Judge having been filed,
Judge bartholomew was called into the
case. Capt. ;. NJ. Shepard appears for Mr..
Ritter and McCullough& Span for Hinkle.
In the opening statement made TO the
tury Nr. Spasn delineated the facts which
he claimed the defense would be able to
prove. He claimed that the defense would
be able to prove unfair treatment OF his
client by Captain Ritter, and would also
prove that he was not loyal to the party. IN
support of which he said they would prove
that Mr.. Ritter, in 1884, supported Blaine.
although there was a Prohibition candi-
date In the field. The defense pleads iusti-
f~icatIon. and claim that inasmuch as Capt.
Ritter was a candidate for the nomination
for the presidency it was proper that the
people should know what sort of o man he
was.
the plaintiff and testified to statements
made to him by Hinkle concerning Mr..
Ritter prior to the ~latter's candidacy. Mr..
Rose. one of Captain Ritter's bitterest op-
ponents. was put upon the stand and testii-
fed as to the printing of the alleged libel
Gus circular. Mr. Rose said that the oireu-
lar had been printed for use at the Prohibi-
tion convention, in Cincinnati. to defeat
Ritter; but that they were not so used.
Rose became terribly mixed under Mr..
~bhepard's questioning. n his testimony
lacked consistency.
Among other things, the circular which
has caused the trouble accused Mr.. Ritter
pf dealing unfairly with Hlnkle when he
was defending the latter at Noblesville on
q charge OF assault and battery. of which
he was convicted. Judge Chaplin. of An
derson. who presided at the trial of that
case. was introduced by the plaintiff and
testified that the defense was skillfully
conducted and that all IL was possible for
the feelings of the jury against the defend
ant. A vigorous fight Is being made on
both sides. Mr.. Ritter seeking vindicetion
more than money. and the defense fighting
hard on the line of Justification. The trial
will probably occupy several days
Burns Sentenced.
Joseph Burns was on trial in the Grim
inal Court room. yesterday, charged with
robbery. He was tried about q week ago
IN connection with Charles Nicewander,
tor the same offense. Nicewander was con-
victed and sentenced to ten years in the
.ansforu hut prrno ocruoI Ha
was indicted for another robbery, being
accused of having robbed John Cominsky
on the night of Oct. 10. Burns proved an
alibi for that night. but, it appearing that
midnight of the day previous. he asked
and was granted permission to introduce
evidence as to his whereabouts on that
night. and proved an alibl for that night
also.
The Jury, after wranglIng with the ev-
idence for about four hours. returned q
verdict of guilty. and fixed Burnss punish
ment at seven years In the penItentlary
and q fine of 500.
l., ID. & w. Bonds Good.
A suit of long standing was decided In
the Supreme Court yesterday. it being that
of Benjamin f. Sands and r b. f. PIERCE,
trustees, against the l., ID. q w. railway.
It was TO enforce the security of a first
MORTGAGE amounting to 81. 500, 600. Sands
and Peirce were successors to m and
Crane, deceased, and the suit was brought
In 1875, in the Marion County
Superior Court on the securities of the
Loan and Trust Company and Noble &.
Butler, trustee. holders of junior mort
cages. were also made defendants. Judg-
ment was rendered to Sands and PIERCE In
the Superior Court, was later affirmed by
the Superior Court general term, and was
yesterday reafirmed by the Supreme Court
Judge Olds writing the opinion.
scanion Damage SUIT.
The hearing of the evidence was COM
pleted yesterday morning in the ScanIon
damage suit against the city wherein Mrs.
Stella o. Scanlon seeks S25. eco against the
city for injuries received by having her
foot caught in q defective culvert. The
greater part of the day was spent in argu-
ment by the attorneys. who made frequent
use OF the pair OF shoes worn by Mrs. Sean
lon at the time. ME-. Potts. who appears
for the plaintiff. used them to emphatical-
ly illustrate, in connection with o diagram
of the. culvert. just how the accident hap
pened. After about fifteen minutes de-
liberation, the Jury brought In O sealed
verdict, to be opened this morning.
Fled with Another Woman.
Jessie Ryan yesterday began suit in the
Superior Court. seeking q divorce from
Harry Ryan on the grounds of unfaithful-
ness. abandonment and failure to provide.
Mrs. Ryan alleges that the defendant had
been intimate with one Myrtle Thompson,
and that he had abandoned her Mrs. Ryan,
and fled to Chicago with the other woman,
leaving her in q destitute condition. Be-
fore leaving for Chicago. Ryan induced his
wife to sign q chattel mortgage upon all
their household effects by q misrepresenfa-
tion of facts. and after securing about $500
upon them left her. In her complaint Mrs.
Ryan asks for custody OF their two chill
azen and 81. 600 aIimony.
Contractors Sued by che Government.
Last year the United States government
advertised for bids for the erection of som
buildings on governments ground at Fort
Thomas. in Kentucky. The firm of Barnes
& Barnes, of Logansport. were the lowest
bidders. Their figures were accepted. and
GmvnlanHc