davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
UNsEEMLY THINGS IN COURT.

All who have watched the progress of the
Wagner trial must agree that the attorneys
engaged manifested great skill and ability
in their management of this already cele-
brated case. The prosecutors displayed
great industry and ingenuity in gathering
up the threads of circumstance, and for a
time it seemed as If the prisoner could not
escape the meshes of the web they wove.
But her own counsel. on the other hand,
were not at loss, but as readily found
the weak spots in the fabric and unwound
the twisted threads until the knots and
tangles were made straight and truth and
innocence were no longer yelled. All this
exhibition of intellectual acuteness and legal
sional credit of these lawyers. but 1t is
unfortunate that any of them should have
permitted their regulations as gentlemen to
suffer at the same time. The undignifed
sparring of the opposing counsel and the
exchange of coarse personalities and vul-
gar epithets were uncalled for and indie
cent displays of feeling, and excited moth
ing but disgust in the minds of all per-
sons who wish to retain proper respect
for courts and court proceedings. y great
deal is heard from time to time about the
dignity of courts but it seemed to specta-
tors unaccustomed to such scenes as if the
dignity Of the court in this case would
have been greatly conserved had the
wrangling lawyers been called sternly
to order; would a severe fine have been
misplaced when two of them designated
each other as pup and liar" respective
ly. Any Judge is certainly justified in hold
ing that the exchange of such epithets in
his presence is contempt OF court, and the
offender deserving of punishment. 1t may
be that such personal attacks are common
among lawyers. and that it is only the UNI
usual interest of the community in this
particular trial which has brought them
into notice. but however this is, there should
be a reform before the legal fraternity suf-
fers further in public estimation.
While on this theme ii may be pertinent
to add that the evident disposition OF a
certain class OF visitors at the recent trial
to look upon the proceedings as a show for
their amusement and to applaud or other
wise manifest their sentiments was a ten
dency which might we'll have been checked
Crime is already regarded too lightly. by
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
IyCoSsEaUENTIAL CRITICISM.

If Mr.. Cleveland's administration had
been as able and as generally satisfactory
10 the whole country as his admirers pre-
dicted at the date OF his nomination, he
could not have been the object of even
more angry criticism and abuse by men in
his own party than ne now is by the same
men, In fact, the better the administration
the fercer the hostility OF men in his own
party They are the great unsatisfed.
They are the men who shout in campaigns
and do any kind of disreputable work
asked or them in the expectation Of reward
by an Office They DO not get the Office.
and they turn and rsnd the President.
They will not even take time to, reason
about the matter They viii refuse TO con-
slider that the number OF offices is pr2c-
tically limited while the number OF appli-
cants is practically countless Each one
believes that he should have had a place
from which to draw a salary II no others
could be rewarded. Each recounts his ser
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
ANNIE WAGNER,S CASE.

The verdict Of mot guilty in the case
OF Annie Wagner was foregone conclu-
sion far as it is possible to predict the
action of a jury. The great weight of ev-
idence in favor of the accused; her
previous good character was clearly es-
tablished; a sufficient motive for the COM
mission of the crime was not shown, and
the prosecution failed, in fact, at every
point The woman was tried on the spe-
cifc charge of numbering the mother of her
employer but she was also accused of hay
ing poisoned his father and his nine-year-old
daughter. The motive, as alleged was her
desire to marry her employer, whose wife
and infant child had died from natural
causes a few months before the death Of
the others. The employer himself was the
first to suggest this motive. announcing
with great seIf-complacency his belief that
the girl was in love with him. On the wit
ness stand he was unable to show an in
discreet act on her part or a word to in
dictate undue affection, and only betrayed
his own possession of an unusual degree
Of masculine vanity in attrbuting her care
full performance OF household duties to es-
described or speech repeated which was
incompatible with the most complete limo
cence, and her own appearance wit
ness confirmed the impression that she
a victim of unfortunate circumstances
and malicious neighborhood gossip. No
woman guilty of the heinous crime with
which she was charged could have borne
herself with such artless simplicity the
witness stand, nor have stood searching
cross-examination without break in the
thread of her story. What was proved to
the faithfulness and industry of this maid
of-all-worIx. Here was a model servant
one who cooked the food and cleaned the
house, and. when emergency called washed,
and waited upon his mother she had
been trained to DO in the fatherland and
as it seemed her duty to do here. She was
the sort of girl for whom al housekeepers
yearn and mourn because she is hard to
find. But because of her very faithful
ness she was met with suspicion and with
charges of evil doing The meaning Of her
kindest acts was distorted and her words
rrlisinterpreted until. a result, she has
been imprisoned for year and held before
nOcence has been proved, but who shall
restore her simple faith in human kind;
who make good to her the loss she has
suffered in the bIackening of her good
name and the deprivation OF her liberty?
1t is a pitiful case. even with the best
result that could be hoped from the trial.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE
OPEN.

The indications that the pretended in
gress will result in the practical whitewash-
ing of the administration Since the ignoble
failure of my plans Mr.. Cleveland's chief
concern has been to escape a vote of censure
by Congress. The Cuckoo element is so
overwhelmingly strong in the House that
nothing need be expected from that body but
a subservient response to the executive de-
nand. but 1t was hoped the Senate might
show more independence. Senator Morgan,
chairman of the committee foreign rela-
tions, is a man of broad and patriotic views,
QUESTION OF Hawaii or the establishment of
an American protectorate there. The terms
Of his resolution call for thorough and
impartial investigation of the Hawaiian in
cident and it was hoped at first that it
would be made in that spirit, but the an
nOuncement that it viii be conducted with
closed doors practically ends that hope.
The American people have long since
learned that secret Investigations do not
investigate and are not intended to. The
spirit of our institutions demands publicity
in public affairs. and the presumption al
ways is that secrecy hides some Interior
motive An investigation behind closed
doors is confessedly either one-sided or par
tial and incomplete. 1t starts out with the
assumption that the people, in whose inter-
est the investigation is professedly made.
are not entitled to know the whole truth,
and can only have such portion Of it as a
majority of the committee choose TO en-
body in their report which, in such cases, is
usually framed with view of distorting
and disappearing the facts. That kind
of an investigation and report are not worth
anything. If the Senate investigation is to
be OF that kind it can be predicted in adj
vance that it will end in a cuckoo report
embarrassing the administration and APP
proving all it has done Let US have an
open-door investigation
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
STATE PRESS OPINION.

1t is not the stagnation Of the money
market but the lack of employment. that
is paralyZinS the country now.-Monticello
Herald.
What a happy New Year it would be If
the country could have the assurance that
the Wilson bill will be defeated.-New AL
bany Tribune.
There is literally no justification for the
Wilson BILL The rank and file even of the
Democratic party must despise it for its
unfairness. Republican.
If the administration will only be as
anxious to shelve the tariff bill it is to
shelve the Hawaiian matter, the country
will say well and good. "-Aluncie News.
The Democratic party's Christmas gift to
the idle and hungry millions of the United
States is the Wilson bill to turn over to
Europe the markets OF this cOuntry.-RuSh-
vile Republican.
Free raw material, the latest shibboleth
of the free-trade Democracy, is gift to
capital, and an impoverishment to thou
sands Of small capitalists who own sheep
farms. coal. iron or timber lands.-Hunt-
ington Herald.
Secretary Gresham is an enemy to reci-
procity, to promoting commercial enter
prises among the American republics, and,
In short would, If Ii were In his power
strike down every great measure ADVOCATED t9ei
heartily detests.-Muncie Times.
If one-half Of those who now calling
upon Republicans in Congress to save them
from the free-trade abyss had voted for
what they are now asking (protection)
there would have been no Democratic Con-
gress, no Democratic President and no dam
ger of free trade.-Newport Hoosier State.
The Wilson bin will not only cause an
immense shrinkage in values, If it passes.
but it will also w.pe out hundreds of mil
lions of capital in the form of mill build
ings machinery and tools, in addition to
what the prospects OF contemplated dele
shen Times.
those walking about the streets looking for
a job, will no doubt be pleased to learn
that the oyerworked statesmen down at
Washington have voted themselves s2S2, 900
mileage fees in going to and from the ex-
ira session last fall. What other name
than stealing can you give TO this act?
South Bend Tribune.
The tariff-reformers argue that our man.
ufacturers will gain as many customers In
foreign markets they lose here through
the Wilson bill, This is possible, but the
lowest prices will control every market,
and the lowest priced labor Will do the
work-Marion Chronicle
Senator Voorhees, does not expect, of
course, to get favorable action on his pro-
posed bill providing for State bank
rency, but he is sufficiently adept in the
ways Of tie demagogue to USE the ridicu-
to his support lot of the moSSback infia-
tionists who became Offended al ms course
in leading the fight in the Senate against
the Sherman silver-purchasing act-Lafay-
Courier
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
THE SCHOOL MONEY CONSPIRACY.

1t may be assumed that State officer
was ever so directly charged with designs
upon public money as was Attorneygeneral
Smith by the township trustees in their
meeting Wednesday. The amendment made
to the law for the distribution Of the school
ningly devised scheme to authorize the At
orneygeneral to collect school-fund bal
ances, worthy of a legislative body led by
such men as McHugh. of Tippecanoe, and
lobbied by men OF the same stripe. Those
who read the statements Of trustees pub
lished yesterday will remember that several
declared they had expended for the purposes
indicated the money appropriated by the
State, and that the money they held at the
end Of last June was money collected by
special local leves for school buildings.
That money is as much special fund as
any money can be, and Attorneygeneral
Smith in equity has more right to draw
it for the State than he would to claim
the bank deposit of a private citizen. For
the Attorney-genera 20 attempt to compel
the transfer of such money to the State
treasury, or, rather, to transfer 80 per cent.
to the State treasury and 10 per cent to
his pocket, is simply Infamous. 1t has
been said by some sharp person that pub
lie office is private snap If he had had
the example of Attorney-general Smith be-
fore him when he made his comment, he
might have said that sometimes it would
be difficult to distinguish between a public
officer and the man who seeks to open it's
vaults with the tools of burglar. The
courts may sustain this sort OF thing but,
considering the suspicious circumstances I'M
der which the usual act for the distribution
of the State school funds amended. the
whole thing appears conspiracy to plumber
the people A2llG
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

vices as seen by him through a magnify
ing glass, and the sacrifices he has made
for the party Fitness is not taken into
consideration; in fact, few of these COM
plaint-makers take qualification into con-
sideration. If they did they would shut
themselves out They insist that there
should be a change all around-that every
railway postal clerk and route carrier
shall be discharged forthwith. 70 the end
that Democrats may have the places. Sug-
gcst to them that changing the railway
postal clerks rapidly would demoralize the
postal service and make the prompt de-
livery of mail matter impossible for weeks
and even months. and they will turn upon
you with the retort that a Democratic adj
lninistration is bound to give the offices
to the men who did the work in the cam
paign, and that it is none of the publics
business. True, Mr.. Cleveland has APP
pointed few mugwumps, but not over
half dozen, and these because they are
men of high character who must be recog-
nized for leaving the Republican party.
In this State, none but Democrats have
been put in office, but the howl of the dis
appointed is as angry in Indiana as else
where.
In this connection, it may be added that.
in a limited sense, General Harrison was
criticised and abused by the same sort of
men in the Republican party. Many of
them were good men, but there were not
places enough to so around. The result
was that they were not happy during
administration which is now admitted by
the best newspapers of the country to have
been one of the best the country ever en-
joyed. During Abraham Lincoln's admin
istration, while the country was engaged
in life and death struggle, there is evil
dence TO the effect that one Of the great
est annoyances of Mr.. Lincoln were the
persistent place-seekers who insisted on
presenting their claims If battles were lost.
The unappeased were those who raised a
protest against his denomination.
Intelligent men fully understand the ami
of these assailants of administrations.
and they know that their hostile criticism
of presid ents rather than OF ineficiency.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

Mr. Bergman. the brother-in-law of An
ME Wagner, who has stood by her so nobly
through her year Of trouble deserves the
praise and admiration of the public. He is
a laboring man with a family TO support,
but he has given his time and his, little
savings freely for the benefit of his wifes
unfortunate sister. 1t is true that he and
his wife the only relatives and al
most the only friends the girl had on this
side OF the world, but it does not follow
S matter OF course that he should have
made such heavy sacrifices for her. Not
every brother-in-law would have done so
under like circumstances. There is no
doubt that his display Of confidence in her
innocence aided in the formation of public
opinion and probably had its influence on
the jury; but at time in the history of
the case a considerable part OF the COM
munity would have held him justifable
had he abandoned her to her fate. In fol-
lowing the course he has he has displayed
unusual nobility of character, and is en-
titled to the respect of the community.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
THE RACE In 1895.
Nothing Undignified or Illogical i'm Har-
risOn Being Candidate.

Chicago Tribune.
There recently has been a movement In
some quarters. by whose authority made
the Tribune is ignorant, having for it's OBJ
ject the presidential candidacy of Mr.. Harr1-
At the mere mention of such move
ment certain Democratic newspapers have
been moved to expression of contempt and
derision as If such a proposition were too
ridiculous to be made seriously. But why
should not Mr. Harrison be a candidate il his
friends so desire? What is there ridiculous
in the proposition? What is there that is
noe dignified, logical, and eminently proper
in 1t?
Mr.. Harrison was nominated in 1888 fairly
and in a dignified manner for the presiden-
cy. He made an admirable campaign. 1t
was free from personality and mud-throw-
ing. He signally defeated Mr.. Cleveland on
the issues of the day. He served four years
and his administration commanded the re-
spect of the whole country. Even his poIit-
zeal enemies testified TO its excellence. The
country was unusually prosperous all
through his term. Wages were high, money
was plenty and worl1inernen were content
administration had the confidence OF
the country There was no tariff panic
ers Ina, 9 no Nan M Alien 4 sanda Ther
was no conspiracy To destroy a government
of the people and set UP a monarchy No
mistakes We're made
In Dir. harris0ns second campaign Moth
ing occurred which reflected upon his char
acter and standing a worthy representa-
1--WE OF the American people. his utteranceS
were digniied sensible and patriotic He
man. His record was one OF which his
countrymen were proud. Republicans did
not have to apologize for their candidate.
They made aggressive campaign. and
they were defeated not because of any dis
satisfaction with Mr.. Harrison. hut because
the majority of the people, deluded by Dem
change" They got their change and IL is
safe to say they no hslariousiy enthusi-
astic over il. There nothing III Mr..
Harrison's first campaign. in his honest
and clean administration. in his second cam
paiEn, in his defeat that warrants any
jeering comment. II the candidate IN the
next election shall be Mr.. Mckinley or Mr..
enthusiasm. If IL should be MT Harrison
he, too. will be supported with an enthu-
siasn inspired by his splendid record. IL
is premature to jeer at Mr.. Harrisons can
didacy. IL Is no more ridiculous that Mr..
Harrison should be nominated third time
Ii be ridiculous will someone be kind enough
10 say why? The candidate may be neither
one OF the gentlemen named. Ii is too
early to forecast for 1896. but there is no oc-
casion for jeering at the mention of Mr..
Harrson's name in that connection. His
record will not justify It,
There Is as much reason why General Har-
rison should be nominated three times and
elected twice by the Republican party as
there was Mr.. Cleveland should be nogni-
mated three times and elected twice by the
Democratic party.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

will henceforth be with them and who will
renounce the Democratic party and its
Cheap John form of government" One
swallow does not make summer. and it
will take good many conversions to make
Louisiana a Republican State. but this
young man sees the light 50 clearly that it
furnishes ground TO hope he may be able
TO pilot others out of darkness. BY the
way. he hits the Democratic party hard
when he speaks Of its Cheap John form of
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29
Keep Them on the Pay Roll.

OF dispensing with the services of any Of
their holiday force after Christmas: Don't.
Retain the names OF every man, woman
and child the pay roll, even if, in many
cases. work can be provided only for one
week in two or one week in three. Half a
loaf third of loaf is a great deal bet
ter than no bread. and Ii is for the inter-
est OF the entire community that the num-
Der or the wholly une1npioyed In Boston
ing to tide over the winter months for
many a wage Garner our employers at
little If am sacrifice on their part, will
render To the city a most important and
valuable service. Keep employees on the pay
roll though they can only work half time
for while. They will not fail to appreci-
ate such boon. They will manifest their
appreciation not only now, but in the good
times that are surely coming, by working
more jealousy in their employers interest
than ever before.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

The Prendergast trial is responsible for
the introduction Of a new term in medical
Jurisprudence. Some OF the medical experts
testified their belief that the defendant was
a paranoiac. a paranoiac is a person who
chronic form or insanity developing in a
neuropsychopathic constitution. presenting
systematized decisions of more or less def
mite scope. while in other directions there
may appear fair amount of mental
health If paranofa is species of insanity
would it not be a saving of time to say SO?
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29


Under the general topic of the Bible in
the public schools, President Burroughs.
of Wabash College, and Rev. F. E. Dew
hurst. of Plymouth Church, expressed SEN
timents in their respective papers before
the State Teachers Association which, If
accepted by ALL would dissipate all the
fears which some entertain regarding God
less schools The ground they took and
so ably sustained is that it is the function
of the public school to inculcate the morals
which are the basis Of good conduct and
that teaching could be so important To
do this they did not insist upon the reading
the Bible in the schools, but in incul-
eating its ethics and. in general manner,
the belief in the Supreme Being, which, in
a country in which the oath Is administered
to officers to insure faithful discharge
Of duty, and in the courts TO insure justice.
is essential to good government. The speak
ers did not put the idea In these words,
but that was the thought which both, from
different points of view, elaborated. Abra-
ham Lincoln did not write an important
state paper in which he did not allude to
the Providence which governs the moral
world, and yet no zealot of creed could
object. Whatever morals beliefs are
necessary to insure good citizenship should
be taught in the public school, leaving
the creeds which affect the future life to
the church and the home.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

During the discussion in the library as
ISOLATION yesterday II was stated that sta
tistics show that in proportion to the popu-
lation Michigan has Is per cent. more books
than Indiana; Ohio has 81 per cent more,
and Illinois Sc per cent more This Is not
a pleasant fact to have published, and yet,
If true, it ought not to be concealed. The
explanation may lie partly in the fact that
the other States named have larger urban
population than Indiana and presumably
larger city Libraries, but there is reason to
believe it is due in n large part to better
laws for the encouragement of country
and small town libraries IL Indiana can
ever get Legislature that will take an in
terest in something besides partisan poll
tics this state OF things should be rene
dieI
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

The New Orleans Times Democrat pub
fishes a letter from a correspondent who
signs himself New Republican" in which
the writer says every intelligent Louisi-
anian is at heart Republican, and that the
only reason he votes the Democratic ticket
Is or account OF the negro supremacy bug
new generation born at the close Of the
war. "and that since coming of age he has
gone 70 the polls and voted the Democratic
ticket as his friends have done, lust like
a lot OF sheep He adds: 81 have seen the
error OF my ways and the Republican party
will claim one Southern white man who
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-29

The township trustees. among other things
which they criticised. assailed the school
why per cent OF the price of the school
books should be paid out of the school
funds for the privilege Of selling them. No
wonder they puzzled In all trade, the
man who sells is paid commission; that
is. in all trade except the Indiana school
book monopoly