The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-10
DETAILS THAT VARY
STATES WITNESSES IN SMITH CASE
DO NOT TELL SAME STORY.
Piano Player Suss Was Drunk
Fight-Other Witnesses.

The chief witnesses in the Thomas MUIR
der case yesterday were Frank Hunt, the
bartender, and George Suss. the piano
player at Brighton Beach. The interest in
the case increases as the attorneys get
farther into the details of the murder.
the crowd yesterday was no larger in
the court room than on the preceding day
because no more people could be seated.
outside the court room, lounging about
the corridors, was nearly as large an audi
ance as that inside. The ~loungers came
early and remained all day. Most of them
We're there to catch a view of the prisoner
as he passed to and from the Jail. Smith
looked as fresh and as neat and trim as
on the preceding day. AS on Tuesday, he
sat between his mother and step-father.
He paid no heed to the curious throng
back of him. His attention is entirely oc-
cupied with the proceedings in which he
is SO vitality interested. Over on the States
side of the room quite a number of Ander-
son people occupied chairs yesterday. They
We're all well-dressed business men.
Congressman-eleet Henry conducted the
examination for the first time yesterday.
Late IN the day he relieved John 3. ELAN
ana examined two witnesses. His work was
marked by numerous sharp parties with
the attorneys for the defense. At the adj
Journment of court last night the prisoners
attorneys announced themselves we'll
Pleased with the turn taken by the evil
dence, Smith noticed that his counsel had
scored one or two points and went back
TO Jail with a bright face. 1t was dur
ing the c-ross-examination of George Suss,
the piano player, that attorney Duncan
elected one or two points that caused a
smile to sweep over the faces of the pris-
Onpr nnA Iic o, G. -
Jail since he testified at the coroner's in
quest. He was considered one of the i'm
portant witnesses and the State deemed
1t proper to secure him. He is a rowing,
irresponsible fellow and there was no as
sIrance that he would remain in the city
Until the trial of the case. Suss is a stout
young German, with a very round face
and a very broken way of speaking the
English language.
Yesterday morning the defense took up
the cross-examination of the hackman who
drove Thomas and his party to Brighton
Beach. But little of a contradictory char
acter was brought out. Whitman saw
Ihomas put his hand on Smiths shoulder
at the beginning of the trouble but did not
see him strike. He said that he did not
was within five feet of Smith and Thomas
turing the entire trouble. On redirect ex-
anihation Whitman said that Dan Lynch,
tae bali player, was not sober. The wit
nesses insisted that it was daylight when
the affray happened.
bartender Frank Hunt, another witness
uI the tragedy, was put on the stand by
night for shorty Custer. who Vas iii.
morning of the murder when Smith first
zane TO the resort. He was there but fif-
Teen minutes and during the time ordered
d aoilars worth of beer sent into the piano
room. There were a number of people in
me room and, from the noise within, the
S S , supposed they were dancing.
Suss was playing the piano. Smith came
back to the resort about 4 o'clock. 1t was
not yet daylight. Thomas and his friends
Ihonlas before. He did not remember who
ordered the beer, but he was drawing the
ria1or when Smith walked in to the bar
room. The witness detailed the converse
ton and attitude of the two men. It all
began when Smith asked the bartender
how much he owed. Thomas had a pipe in
MS mouth, but laid it on the bar while
the bartender had his back turned. When
ne turned about again Thomas had his
were struggling towards the door. Thew
went out together. The door was open and
q moment he stepped to the door and saw
smith In his buggy. Thomas was stand
ing near the wheel. Smith took the whip
and fell about two feet from the porch.
Inc bartender saw a cut in the Frustrated
mans neck and blood upon the ground,
but at no time did he see a weapon in
the hands of either of the men. The
knife was afterwards found by Suss, the
musician. The witness identified a small
pearl handled knife handed to him by Mr..
Elan as the weapon found by Suss. When
Smith came back in an hour there was a
woman in the buggy with him. The bar
tended knew her as Myrtle Overturf, whom
he had often seen at the Beach. Smith had
no hat on. 1t was afterwards found under
Thomass body.
Hunt. on cross-eXamination, admitted
that he did not hear Smith apply offensive
names to Thomas. He emb that
the woman was with Smith when he Wis
tied the resort between ~ and O'clock.
They were drinking beer in the wine room.
which is referred to by the employees of
the place as the piano room.
Alfred Lacy, the colored hostler at the
Beach, was not on duty at the time of
the murder. He had gone to awaken the
day force. He had returned just after the
coroner arrived. He corroborated other
witnesses as to the position of the body
outside of the house and said that it was
impossible to tell when Suss, the piano
player, was drunk.
Philip Haslin, an employee of Kregelo.
Son & Irwin, identified a bundle of clothes
shown him as those worn by Thomas. The
garments We're cut in places and diseol-
ored. The bundle consisted of a light coat.
a negligee shirt and other garments. The
shirt was saturated with blood.