The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-18
Ten Jurors Voted for Acquittal and
the Other Two for the Conviction
of Young Allison.
PROSECUTED BY DEMOCRATS
Representative COoper's Effort to
Make Political Capital.
Ten Thousand Friends at Plainfield-
Methodist Ministers Ordained
by Bishop Newman.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
DANvILLE, Ind, Sept. 17.-After being
out all niRht. the jury in the case of the
State We. Henry Allison. charged with the
murder of Alive Williams, at Piainfield. last
October, reported they were unable to
agree. standing ten for acquittal and W
for conviction. judge Hadley then dis
charged the jury and announced that he
would hear q second trial at this term of
court. Allison has been confined in JAIL
for months, and il IS thought that bond
will be furnished him tomorrow. and he
will be released.
The particulars Of the shooting will be re-
membered more especially because OF the
undue prominence given it at the time
b. Democrats. On the night of Oct. q
Representative George w. Cooper spoke in
Plainfield. and Alva Williams. with a
gang. was in town to raise hell in the
Republican Quaker town." as they ex-
pressed ia. In the course of the evening
they began to follow Henry Allison. a sew
enteen-year-old boy. They insulted him
and pursued him to the door of the hall
where the speaking was held. Allison was
with three companions, who were Demo-
Gratis. but who were not molested. Just
outside the hall some one in the gang
struck Allison on the cheek, cutting a deep
cash. the scar Of which still shows. Alli-
son reiterated. the gang following. crying:
shoot him. Kill him." Allison backed
thirty feet and stopped. where a buggy
snds the crowd prevented him going
further. The Williams gang closed in on
him. and tho boy Allison. not knowing
what was to be his fate, fred, with such
effect that Williams died in q short time.
Immediately the incident was taken up
by the Democracy and used as campaign
thunder. Mr.. Cooper was being hard
pressed In his campaign. and he saw that
affray was written, the telegraph operator
called from his bed, and the article sent TO
the Indianapolis Sentinel. The incident
was worked by the Democratic press and
by Mr.. Cooper for all that could be gotten
that convened indicted Allison for
manslaughter, and tho second one
indicted him for murder in the first
degree. This second indictment proved de-
~fective. and ne was tried on the first.
after a desperate effort was made to have
the present grand jury lndict him in the
first degree. l.. A. Barrett. Cooper's lieu
tenant here. volunteered his services as
assistant prosecutor. and the Democratic
CCDtA6A COIIDllttce cnlOlOy Oh MI. NeRi.
ing. o young Democrat from Indian
apOlis. to assist him also. The
defense was conducted by Hogate *
Clark and l.. Il. McConp. The trial
brought ont the facts as set out above, and
a verdict of acouittsl was OK pected by all
who heard the evidence. There were. how
ever. W Democrats on the Jury, and they
hold out for conviction. General disgust
Is ex expressed at the fierce persecution of the
boy defendant by the entire Democratic or
ganizatioD, and many who thought some
measure of guilt attached to him. now feel
OF acquIttal was not promptly returned.