Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-05-20
10 PROSECUTE WITNESSES
Col, Thorn Says That Papers
Charging Perjury Are in Frepara-
ton Col. Felker pours Oil ON the
Troubled Waters Witnesses Can
not BE Arrested ut Present,

| hCrR ulSDarmont case, l ne SOnSaUOn-
al closing scene Friday evening caused
by the statement OF Judge Fish that
he would dtshar Hoxie had been the
topic OF the conversation ON every
street corner, II was expected that
! Immediate action would be taken by
the court Saturday morning, but
when court convened at O'Clock the
court said; AS TO the matter re-
terred To last night, concerning the
power OF the court to disbar an attor.
noy for facts which appear in open
court. have, after due reflection, de-
cided that the proper procedure
would be to issue an order TO show
cause. The order should be heard NJ
some future time, have been called
here to perform one specified duty &c
/ | shall instruct the district attorney
to have the testimony written and
shall turn the matter over To Judge
! Webb.
| The only sensational features dur
Ing the morning session was u heated
debate opened by Mr.. Hayden, who
arose after Judge Fish had rendered
! his decision about the Hoxie matter
and said tho prosecution or some one
in their behalf was torrorizing wit
nosses and that he considered this UNI
| professional conduct. MIR. Hayden
stated that IL was already in the press
that witnesses were to be proceeded
against and that II was but one of the
despiCable methods used to intimidnte
the witness.
Col Thorn arose his hair fairly
hristlinp with heat. and replied that
the statements were true. The pros-
ecution were now preparing papers to
serve ON some of the witnesses who
had told him one story and had gone
on the stand and testified to something
entirely opposite or had entirely for
gotten; and who would cause this Inn
mediate ard wonderful change IN their
memories but the defense or some
one In their behalf Col. Thorn stated
that the statement In the press was
correct as papers were now being pre-
pared against some of the witnesses
and he should sign them himself, for
he knew witnesses lad committed per
Jury Mr.. Thorr spoke with We
! hcmence, using the full power of his
lungs and the bats were disturbed In
! their slumbcrs in the recesses of the
court house,
Attorney Fclkcr then arose and
made one of his speeches that comes
! like oil to the troubled waters, lie
t;9ted that he knew the situation far
too well III the Waupaca court, where
ylucc several trials the bltterest feel
| Ing prevailed, where society WAS divid-
ed by enmty; those who had been
| friends were now enemies. nelghborf
did not speak brother was against
brother, husband against wife All
this he knew full well and the de-
Tense was going 10 refrain from adding
anything TO the fact or from rekiud-
| ling burnt-out fires
He further said "A witness came
to me trembling and shaking with
fear. stating that the district attorney
said he, the witness. must go to Judge
Fish and tell him one thing more and
all would be welt. We did not bring
these witnesses here; we have not
tempered with them, and while | find
no fau't with your honor. your prlc-
tice Is different from Judge Webbs
II Is different from the practice In
Winnebago county. You have asked
! three witnesses to remain after they
had testified. This being unusual, II
has caused them great CONSERVATION
and fear. Witnesses have been APP
| preached and told to do differently and
to &C. back and tell the truth. | do not
say the prosecution has done this, but
1t has been and is being done. con
slider IL improper that witnesses
called here should be subjected to ar
rest. / think your honor should
throw a protecting cloak about them. "
The court took the same view of the
case and said that all witnesses shf uld
be free from arrest while these pro-
ceedings lasted, when his authority
ceased. As 10 his request - have wit
Lesses remain, this was the practice In
his circuit and II was for the purpose OF
recalling them to ask questions upon
come subject that he wished further In
formation on.
Mr.. Felker stated that there was a
witness present who was liable to lose
his Job because the court had asked
him TO remain, and II the court would
let him go he would give his personal
word that witness would return upon
call. He was allowed TO 30 subject TO
call. This Is the witness, Vossburg,
who was called by the prosecution TO
testify TO have taken Goldberg to New
London one night after o'clock. He
proved very unwilling witness, or
better for the defense than the proseeu-
ton who called him.
Charge No. was then taken up and
Goldberg called on the stand. He tes-
tilted to having cashed several county
orders for Plopper but had never raised