The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-18
FALSE WITNESS.
Continued from Page /.

ignorance. The statement made in court
this morning by MIR. Shoemaker that she
had dictated IL TO him was false In toto.
Mr.. Shoemaker here arose and excitedly
cried: az did not say so; explicitly"
One after another the three judges In
terrupted him with "There is no doubt
whatever of your having said It," The
district attorney then declared that he
had q COPY OF the affidavit made and In
his office before the woman. MIR. Shoe
maker then pleaded for time TO rebut
this charge against his character n
Judge Thayer msaningly. retorted: You
are certainly in a position requiring
thoughtfulness."
John Sweckler was next called and
he corroborated the preceding witness,
saving that he was first employed by
Shoemaker to get the woman on Noyem-
Der a, the second day OF the trial.
Four or five days afterward, Mr.. shoe
maker dictated the affidavit TO q steno-
grapher. This was before the woman
had been procured. He took II from his
briefs. After Sweckler had been given
the affidavit, he turned Z over TO Detee-
tive Geyer, who said he would procure
the woman. Mr.. Graham was pursuing
the inquiry about making OF the affidavit
when Shoemaker excitedly jumped TO his
feet and said: 81 will acknowledge that
/ dictated the affidavit TO the steno-
%grapher."
''Sit down, don't say a word" mutter-
ed Rotan and a number OF other lawyers,
whispering to Shoemaker, In the midst OF
which Sweckler emphatically repeated;
"Blanche Hannigan was not known
and had not yet been procured when the
affidavit was prepared"
During all this scene, Holmes sat I'm
the dock, his cold, blue eyes levelled at
Shoemaker, q sneering smile on his lips.
Shoepaker, his face livid with excite
ment, finally broke from his colleague
and exclaimed to the court 81 ask II l
will have an opportunity to refute these
"At the proper time, sir, and in the
proper place." interrupted Judge Thay-
or, severely.
But the dismayed attorney went on
and whipped himself almost into a fren-
zy. Tears stood in his eyes and his voice
was hoarse and broken as he cried 81 am
sure l can show my innocence OF any
Thing rejecting upon me as a member OF
this bar.
"Tbis is a trap-a damnable trap, set
by the district attorney to destroy tho
hunblest member of this bar. appeal
to the court 10 grant me time to defend
myself. appeal TO the members OF the
press, ~ turning TO the score OF reporters
seated nearby, "to withhold all that has
been said against Ee in this court today
until / nave had an opportunity to clear
myself of this charge"
Judge Thsyer again cautioned the at
torney udner the present condition of
affairs. sir, think you will find safety in
silence" he said Impressively. The
young lawyer sank exhausted into his
chair, just in IRON of the desk where sat
the man accused OF a score Of crimes,
smiling with cynical amusement at his
one time counsellor.
Here Mr.. Graham publicity announced
that not a shadow OF reproach attached to
Mr.. Rotan IN The matter and the members
of the court individually expressed their
appreciation of that fact. Mr.. Rotan,
showing evidence of his greet at the
painful scene, thanked Mr.. Graham and
the court for this statement.
Bessie Hamill, the stenographer, to
whom Shoemaker dictated the affidavit,
then detailed the circumstances, saying
that no N but the attorney n herself
were present at the time. She corrobo-
rated the statements OF the previous wit
nesses on the other points.
Mr.. Graham then said that rs this afi-
davit, with its so-called new evidence, had
been made the basis OF the application
for the continuance. and as il had been
proved a fabrication, the application
should fall.
The court sustained him and ordered
the argument for a new trial to proceed.