The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-08-01
TACTICS OF THE DEFENSE.
Detective Cowie's Record Being Raked
UD for the Big Fire Case.
(From Fridays Daily.)


(From Fridays Daily.)
The defense in the big case of the
seven men accused of conspiracy and
arson in connection with the fire of the
Chicago Bedding company, has let a
small pointer slip which throws into
the hands of the prosecution a slight
inkling of the direction the defense is
looking in for material evidence. At
torney Lloyd is looking around for the
record of Detective Cowie Mr. Cowie
has a record and admits it himself.
In fact he goes so far as to say himself
that it is rather savory and that some
things he has done would probably not
bear the most scrutiniziDg a sharp at
Tornev could give it. Whether it
would or not the defense proposes to
rake it over before a jury, if possible,
for the purpose Of stirring up whatever
of prejudice it is possible to find in a
iury's mind. 1t may be considered by
some that it will look like rather far
! fetched evidence possibly, and Mr..
| Cowie does not seem to care how much
OF 1t is brought in, in case such mate
rial is admitted. In fact Mr.. Cowie
says if they wish to know just where to
find all they want all that it will be
necessary to do is to signify to him
that they want it and he will put them
on the right track. He intimates that
they will find enough of it, of good,
stiffly sensational character, but he
fails to see how bis past record can
have anything to do with somebody's
else having set the Bedding company
fire, if it was set.
81 have a record and I'm proud of
it, remarked Mr.. Cowie this morn
ing. have record of eighty seven
cases, in eighty-four Of which | secured
conviction. I have made enemies and
law suits by it. But that is neither
here nor there. If [ can prove these
men set the Chicago Bedding company
fire, what has my record got to do With
it?"
Mr.. Lloyd spent q good portion of
Thursday in Racine looking up Cowie's
record with reference to his connection,
if he had any, with the big Rosenblath
fire, which occurred there some two
years ago. He proposes then to go to
Milwaukee to dig up CoWie's connec-
ton with something there and then to
Chicago to fish up some connection
with an alleged bribery of Cinnamon.
There was whole lot of work done
Thursday afternoon by Detective
Cowie, Chief of Police Stemm and two
workmen with shovels. They are un-
aware that the reporter for this paper
knows anything about it, or that any
body else does, for they went out there
to the ruins Of the factory in an abso-
lutely light tight hackney, with the
curtains tightly drawn. When they
got out there they set the men at work
on certain portion of the ruins with
their shovels and dug up lot Of evil
dence. Just what this evidence is we
are bound not to disclose, but if it is
what is claimed for it, it is the most
damaging evidence yet brought to
light in the affair. 1t is very evident
that it is " signed, sealed and deliv-
cred" evidence, which was probably in
the office of the Bedding company.
The workmen were kept long while
at it and the stuff they got out was Of
intense interest to the two sleuths who
have been tracing the hair lines of the
alleged plot. This digging was prob
ably done at the instance of Rosenow,
who has been the one who has turned
the whole matter into the hands Of
Detective CowIe, and whom COwie is
closely shadowing all the while. He
seems to be the trump card Of the
prosecution and is alleged to under
stand his suit thoroughly.
The material dug up has been duly
taken care Of 1t was turned over to
the proper authorities and now lies in a
special cell at the county jail, to which
no one can have access without the
special permission of the prosecution.
Detective Cowie said today: Now
they may do what they wish. Take
Rosenow away from us. Put him on
the other side. Make him defend him
self the same as the rest have to and I
will guarantee we have evidence
enough in hand to convict the whole
lot of them yet" Mr.. CoWie is very
confident, DIS is also Chief Stemm.
SHOT IN THE LEG.