The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-17

| The Doodle cases were commenced in
Justice Jones' court yesterday. The case
| will last probably week and perhaps
! longer.
It is estimated that nearly $50 witnesses
will be examined including every teacher
| in the city. every janitor and employe and
perhaps everybody who has had a contract
TO furnish supplies or do work for the
school board.
1t will De long, exciting and hard
fought case from the beginning to the end
| and will not conclude till after the most
thorough and searching examination OF
the witnesses and investigation Of the
| charges.
1t is estimated that it will require three
days to secure a jury and Justice Jones
surmises that jurors will have to be
brought from the country owing TO the
supposition that everybody in the city
has formed opinions rs to the guilt or liz
ocence Of the defendants.
THE TRIAL OPENS.
At 1:3O Yesterday Justice Jones appeared
in his court dressed from head to foot with
bran new clothes His court room was
self up in it till the hour of trial arrived,
but he had to seek refuge somewhere from
the curious people who piled him with
questions aud he sought the privacy Of
his own den because it offsred him the
most security He told his grievances
there to IA couple of newspaper representa-
tiveS who sympathiZed with him. He
said he was actually hoarse from answer
ing foolish questions aud every time one
entered he said 2 p. m. without waiting to
be asked when the treat would commence.
Long before the hour set, A. II. Ward,
one of the defendants, peeped through the
window but did not enter. Fifteen min
ntes afterwards be entered and was the
first interested party to show up.
At LOO 5. Il. Amidon came in like a
cyclone followed by his partner Mr.. Con-
lev, and their co-counsel Mr.. Sturde-
want. At their heels Vic Cole, another Of
the defendants, entered, and then the
room began to fill up.
Judge Jones peeled off his coat and took
his seat on the bench; he was initiated by
Constable Forby who also peeled off his
coat and took n seat on the window sill.
At promptly = o'clock there was hustle
at the door and County Attorney Boone
came dashing in, nodded to the prose-
cutting witness, A. II. Reed, and took his
seat uear the bench.
Are you ready for trial? asked Justice
Jones and a stiffness prevailed to hear the
reply. County attorney Boone said that
owing to the absence of some six of the
witnesses from the city he would ask for .
postponement of the case till next Thurs
day at o'clock. He said that the testi-
mony of those witnesses was material and
that he was unable to say why they were
absent.
LEGAL sPARRINo.
When County Attorney Boone had taken
caaf Sun a y,,id m m
room like stalk of Kansas corn after
refreshing July shower, and objected. He
spoke as pathetically as If he was preach
ing a funeral sermon, and insisted that his
clients should have a speedy trial He
said the public WAS prejudiced against
them and that the sooner the case would
be tried, the sooner they would DO restored
to their place in the confidence of their
fellow citizens. He blamed nearly all this
prejudice to the newspapers, which. he
said had tried and retired the case, and
convicted the accused. He then went to
the law aud argued from il that the trial
should be a speedy one. He said that the
county attorney should make affidavit
setting forth reasons for a continuance,
which should he OF a character to justify
continuation of the case.
The county attorney denied that he was
bound to do any such thing and insisted
OH being given time to get his witnesses.
D
the arguments of both sides and he pro-
ceeded to accommodate both by saying that
the procuring of jury would last until
about Thursday anyway. which time Mr..
Boone thought he would be able to get his
witnesses.
That will suit me-" said Boone.
''That will suit me, said Amidon.
At this time Judge Wall, co-counsel
with Mr.. Boone entered and took seat
beside the county attorney.
James F. Comfy for the defense then pre-
sented motion TO Quash the complaint
He argued at length that the second count
in the complaint was entirely too vague in
as much as that it did not state who, il
any, paid money to the defendants for
their votes to secure them positions III the
schools of the city. He thought that the
count should be more definite in order 20
apprise the defense or the identity of those
whom they must face In the trlal-in other
words the defendants were entitled TO the
right of knowing who their accusers were.
Mr.. Comfy made quite an able argument
apparently but Judge Wall didn't think
so for he said that it was
unnecessary to answer it considering
the ability OF the justice as a
lawyer. He consented, however. to make
a few remarks iu reply to MIR. Comfy, not
because, as be said. that it was necessary
so far as the court was concerned, but
because he desired to set his friend Comfy
right in the error he had made.
While Mr.. Comfy was hunting up an au-
thori;y on the subject Mr.. Sturdevant for
the defense made fifteen minutes argu-
ment in favor of the motion TO quasb. He
seemed TO have torn the complaint all to
pieces, SO far as the opinion of the specta-
tors went Everybody thought he had
sealed the fate of the complaint, but when
he sat down Judge Wall arose and said:
"Ny friend Sturdevaut has made an BILE
and an admirable speech but un-
fortunately he has made it on
the wrong section of the law:
the complaint has been brought under
an entirely different section"
Justice Jones remarked that all the
talk was unnecessary as the defendants. by
their action in giving bail. waived all the
defects, if any, there may be in the indici
uent.
..srbe supreme court has held differ
eptly,r said Mr.. Amidon.
ait mas not," said Justice Jones. az
know that TO my sorrow" and then the
Justice reciied a little experience be had
with that same decision few years ago
when he was practiciug law.
.ioRBIp CURIOSITY.
Justice Jones then announced that be
would hold the trial in the common pleas
court room in the county building. I'm
der ordinary circumstances" said he, AZ
do not believe ia gratifying the morbid
curiosity OF the public, but this Is a case
in which all the people have al interest
and have concluded that IL - my duty TO
-~,,,ra a nj sce for the trial of The case IN az