The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-29
THE PRIESTS LIPS SEALED
Father Walters Excused from Testify
ing as to the Lafayette Conspiracy
DR.. Coulter's Resignation-Cosl Operators
Meet at Terre Haute-Dangerous Prisoner
Escapes at KokomO-M E. Conference.
EVIDENCE coNFIRMAroRY.


Witnesses Now Being Examined to strength
en- the States Case Against Murphy.
Special TO tile Indians poIis Journal
LAFAYETTE, Ind, March 23-Father Z.
p. Walters. pastor of st. Mary'e Catholic
Church, was q witness this afternoon in the
Murphy trial He did not get to testify
to any material point. The jury was sent
out while the lawyers discussed the ques-
ton of whether the witness could answer
the question whether Peter Clark. man
not now on trial. was q member of the
Catholic Church. The court ruled it out.
The State asked the witness if be had been
consulted prior to the riot by any member
of his congregation with reference to TAX
ing steps to prevent Rudolph speaking
here. but the defense objected and the
court ruled out the question. Father
Walters was excused for the present aud
the point VIII be argued later. IL Is be-
lieved the State will get through by
Wednesday night. Witnesses were put
through at o lively rate this morn
ing. but they did not seem to throw
much new light on the question of the guilt
or Innocence OF the defendant. Murphy.
John w. Graves testified that
Murphy and two companions went up
defendant was drunk. and the opera house
policeman asked Graves to 20 MP stairs and
get the drunken man out Graves found
the men In an aisle and told them TO sit
down or 60 down. Murphy. the defendant.
turned to his companions and said, Come
along. boys. there is no chance for Us up
here" The defense sought to secure an ad-
mission that this remark referred To the
fnct that there were no seats, but the wit
ness testified that there were vacant seats
MP In the gallery.
Jethro Neville, another witness. testified
that Murphy was standing within four or
nve feet of him, and somewhat In 'front.'
he did not see Murphy shoot. nor did he see
him have q revolver. He did not think
Murphy could have shot without him see
ing. This witness testified TO belief that
the report of the pistol came from point
further back In the room.
lodge of the A. p. A.. was witness this
morning. He was on the STAGE, and drew
his own revolver before Rudolph had
drawn. but he did not shoot
DIR. Alderman testified to seeing Murphy
in the position IN the house where the
State has repeatedly placed him. He heard
the shot and saw the tiash, but did not
know who fired it. George Kecheie testl-
at the opera house. He saw him standing
up and heard him ask Jamis0n to move
along in the row of seats SO be Murphy
could occupy the end scat. This witness
sat almost In front OF Murphy. anu
saw him get up load his revolver and
shoot. his weapon being pointed toward
Rudolph. who was on the stage. The de-
Tense tried to find out from Kechele whom
he told first about seeing the shooting and
to whom be had told the name of the
shooter. He replied hs had told members
of his family and two women employed at
the place where he works.
Robert j. ludlow. better known as
Jack ludlow. a railred engineer. was
examin ri at length in regard TO what he
saw at the opera house on the night of the
riot. His description of the scenes that
followed the shooting was highly graphic.
He said he saw men and women on the
floor. behind the seats. crawling and dodg-
ing IN every manner. endeavoring to keep
out of range of the bullets. ludlow was
the man that came in contact with Peter
j. Clark, present street commissioner of
this city. and knocked Clark down. He
did this with a seat that he tore loose from
the opera house floor. He had hardly
downed Clark. he said. and was IN the act
of giving him another blow. when some
one smashed him and he fell across the
PROSTATE body OF Clark. HudlOw's testi-
mony was the most interesting descripti
of the riot yet obtained.