St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-07
ARE HEARD IN THE MUIR
PLY CASE.
QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY
LARGELY THE ISSUE IN THE SEN
SATIONAL TRIAL OF THE
WEEK.
PROMINENT CITIZENS AGREE
That the Defendant Personally Is
All Right, Although Reticent
to His Place.

The trial of Aid. Murphy was re-
sumed in the municipal court yester-
day morning in the presence of about
the same crowd of interested parties
and curious spectators who have fire.
quented the court room since the be-
ginning of the proceedings, so that
Bailiff Mcmahon had his hands full
maintaining order. Many young girls
lent their moral support to the prose-
cution by their presence. Mrs. Root
was called by Attorney Johns, who
questioned her concerning her brother
in-law who had accompanied her on
the trip to Murphy's place to show
that Root was engaged in a similar
work in Valley City, N. D., and had
been imprisoned for some offense. Mr..
Butler objected, and Attorney Johns
yielded.
Mrs. Root could not swear that Helen
Craig was the woman in the stall that
night, although the resemblance was
good.
Charles E. Smith, foreman of con-
struction for the Standard Oil COM
with the woman Helen, and with him
was a fellow named Joe O'Brien. He
saw no indecent acts, although he re-
membered the fight distinctly.
He remembered seeing Mrs. Root and
Mrs. Murphy in the adjoining stall.
Mr.. Butler asked Mr.. Smith what
Helen Craig and O'Brien were talking
about. Smith said he had paid no
attention to their conversation, but
finally admitted that the two were
quarreling over ring
Helen Craig, thoroughly seIf-pos-
sessed, calmly said she had gone into
the restaurant, entered a stall and or
dered supper, taking off her coat and
hat. OBrien was there, and they had
an argument
WAS there ANYTHING imnroner done
there?"
mo, sir" demurely.
On cross-examination Helen said she
came from Detroit, Mich, and was
married to George Craig, but they are
not living together
who's JOG O'Brien?"
"A lumberman from Sandstone"
rs he your lover?"
He is my friend"
I1e1NS SOu DSeH LO26tner!'
we have not, but he has been COM
ing to see me-
DO you go to Murphy's place
often?"
yes, two or three times a day. 1
take my meals there
Did O'Brien drag you out of the
stall that night?"
No; he was angry, though
She baffied Mr.. Buffers cross-eX-
animation as to details.
James Brady, one of Murphy's bar
tenders, was asked for his knowledge
of the row between O'Brien and the
Craig woman, and told practically the
same story as the preceding witness
On cross-eXamination Mr.. Butler
revealed the fact that Brady had once
been a partner Of Provencher who
kept the Infamous .Woodbine. .t.,
Mr.. Butler met much the same lack
of memory on Brady's part as had
characterized Smith and the Craig
woman. Witness could not remember
a thing except that O'Brien put his
head in the doorway and said: Come
out here" Subsequently O'Brien had
assisted the woman to come out" by
taking her by the shoulder.
Frank G. Davis said he had been a
waiter at the restaurant ever since the
5th of January. He recognized the bill
of fare. He was in the place on the
night the w. c. T. U. raid was made,
but could remember nothing material.
Eugene Grannagh, who keeps the
restaurant, was recalled. AS he took
the stand Mr.. Butler called a Mr.
Smith to the front and asked Grannagh
if he knew him, for the purpose Of
laying foundation to impeach.
Didn't you tell him that was Muir
phys place?" asked the county attor-
ney.
''Have you frequently said, This is
Murphy's place.? was asked, and
Grannagh replied that he had.
Did they ever ask you,' said Mr..
Johns, 'if it was Murphy's restaur-
anti"
mo" said Grannagh, "Murphy's
place"
well, it is Murphy's place, isn't it?"
asked Mr.. Butler quickly.
YES" slowly replied Grannagh. At
torney Johns was angry and declared
Grannagh was an honest man.
Mr. Butler sarcaStically replied that
he so considered him, particularly in
view Of his answer to the last question.
When Grannagh left the stand Mr..
Johns asked that the jury be permitted
to go at once to view the Murphy place.
The court asked the jurors if they
cared to visit the premises, and they
said they would.
The court granted the mOtlOn, ana
thereupon Mr.. Butler asked that the
jury, for the trip, be taken in charge
by the sheriff and be attended by the
court in person. Judge Orr could not
see why, and asked the jurors each
what he thought, and all but two said
they had a perfectly clear idea of the
place. The court thereupon said he
would not order view, and instead of
that ordered a recess till 2 o'clock
With the opening of the afternoon
session the court room was crowded to
the doors. Outside was an equally
large crowd vainly endeavoring to gain
admittance. Extra chairs had to be
provided for the large number Of ladies
present. The first move of Attorney
Johns created some little excitement
and wonder The attorney for the de-
fense began summoning men of in
tegrity to testify to Murphy's good
character.
Thomas Tierney, a man who said he
was engaged in the feed business, said
he knew Murphy.
'I think his reputation for peace
able and orderly man is good"
Mr.. Johns called Thomas Conroy,
clerk of the court.
He said he never heard Murphy's re-
putation called into question. In fact,
he had never heard it discussed one
way or the other
Corporation Attorney Edward J.
Darragh has lived here since 1884; he
knows defendant, Murphy, and always
knew Murphy to have a good general
reputation
Mayor Robert A. Smith said:
Il RT.. Co.