The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-26
DanviIIe Grand Jury Caught Him I'm q
Lie Regarding the Diagrams
Drawn at Michigan City.
HOW He COACHED NOAH BANEY
THEY SLEPT SIDE by SIDE For
THREE WEEKS IN PRISON.
Explanation Why No Indictments
Were FOund-StOries Verifying Him
shaw Found to BE Fakes"
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Speclai 10 the indianapolis journal.
DANVILLE, Ind, Sept. 25.-The grand
jury adjourned to-day and filed a report i'm
the Hinshaw case with the evidence OF the
principal witnesses. The report states that
the grand jury has carefully examined the
witnesses. and the jurors are unanimous in
the opinion that no indictment should be
returned against Baney, Van Tassel or
Whitney. In view of the great public in
terest in the case the evidence Of James O.
Parker Warden Harley. DR.. Spinning,
Noah Baney, Guy Van Tassel and Carrie
James made public. Certain papers
connected with the case are also of public
interest. Prosecutor Gulley now holds
them. The first was a note which Convict
Wilson, Buffalo man, in the prison, and
a cellmate of Baney wrote to Van TasseL
Part of the note is illegible, but it reads,
in part:
Friend Van-This partner of yours is a
nice bloke to have anything to do with.
He would put the rope around your neck
to get out of doing his time. He wrote to
Duncan & Smith to go to that real-estate
man to get money to pay their expenses
here to see him.
Prosecutor Gulley has in his possession
the plans which Baney says he studied in
order to be able to go through the Hinshaw
house. The first diagram was one showing
the National road from Indianapolis to
Bellevile. The writing on it was compared
with Hinshaw's, and some of the jurors
thought they resembled. Hinshaw denied
under oath having made the diagram. The
next diagram was one of the Hinshaw
house and surroundings, which Baney said
Hinshaw drew. This diagram is drawn ON
a letter head of F. A. Boorst auditor OF
De Kalb county. 1t was in evidence that
many of these letter heads were lying
around the prison. On the reverse side of
this sheet is a diagram showing how the
streets run in Belleville in the neighbor-
hood of the Hinshaw house. Hinshaw
would not say whether the writing on this
sheet was his or not. He would not say ii
was not his. There was a letter "a" made
in a very neat manner. and Hinshaw said
he had tried thousand times to make an
"a'' like that. The grand jury did not un-
derstand why he should have made this re-
mark.
Another diagram was one which Baney
said had been made out to examine him by.
He had spent some weeks studying the mats
ter and a diagram was placed before him
showing simply the cross streets at the
Hinshaw house. On this Baney was to
draw the house, where the horse was
hitched and show the location of the fur
niture. The sheet shows a rude drawing OF
the house which Baney says he made and
tracing showing where the rig was driven
and hitched. He says he was warned about
the two east doors to the house, that Mrs.
Hinshaw was found at the south Of the two
doors, and that all passing in and out was
by this door, as the other door had cup
board in front Of it, and could not be
opened.
BANEY WAS COACHED.
He says he was also directed very care
fully where he was to hitch the horse as
he was told they had another witness who
saw the horse there that night. He was
also to be particular to say that revolver
was found in the cupboard, as that was the
usual place of keeping it. and other evil
dence could be had showing that it was
usually kept there. Most OF these instruc-
tions he says he got from Hinshaw when
they slept on adjoining cots for some time.
Baney says he was induced to tell this
story by a desire ITO escape prison and be-
cause $1,000 was offered him. Wilson the
Buffalo man, told him of the scheme at the
time of fShe Hinshaw trial. when they were
reading OF it in the papers. With this sug-
gestion Baney followed the plan, with the
result as known after Hinshaws s friends
took hold of it. Baney testified that for
three weeks he slept on cot next to Hin
shaw, where they could talk, and Hmshaw
gave him many pointers. Baney also had
permission to visit Hnshaws $ photograph
gallery in the prison as often as ne pleased.
Hinshaw. He says i was not known he
had preserved any of the plans, as they
frequently took them from him or ordered
him to destroy them. On one occasion h6
tore up another piece of paper instead of
the plan, and thus deceived them. For all
of his work, If 1t was successful, he was TO
Ia csaf1 ff.tt asa I'll =
release Hinshaw was TO be preserved, he
said, and would be presented TO the Gov
ernor and a, pardon secured Tor him. lie
was thus to bo protected from punishment.
Baney says he had made six months good
time in prison. and on account of his break
for liberty with St Claire he would have
lost this credit of good time but for the
efforts Of Hinshaw's friends. Through their
he did not lose his six months,
and was released from prison ~ me same
time as Van Tassel, who went up for the same
period, and had his good time to his credit
with no demeTits. Baney says that notning
but the help of these friends Of Hinshaw
him from having to stay In prison
six months longer or for being tried for
escaping from prison, which Is a penal OF
Mr. Cullev says that DR.. Spinning was an
unfortunate witness for Hinshaw. and he
points out what he thinks Is q flat contra
dicton between his evidence ana blnshaWs :.
DR.. Spinning was asked:
1--WE called you back TO find out abol1t
that diagram. Did you say that Mr.. Him
shaw drew that for your
He drew you another one. When was
that? How long after that?"
This was not very plain and had to
draw him q larger one on paper, ruled both
ways, that we have there for prescription
what was your object in having him
draw that for you?
HINSHAW DREW A DIAGRAM.
''Baney kept telling me and trying to draw
plats Of the house. and ! didn't know any
thing about the house there and had
Hinshaw draw a diagram Of his house to
see If Baney knew anything, TO find out If
Baney was getting at the truth of it,
How long has that been?'
II think that must have been the middle
of July
Before he went to Belleville?"
yes, few days before that
where is the other diagram he drew?"
Il don't know what did with that. but
/ thought ] took II to my room and put il
in a grip, but / can't find il any place. I
don't know where il is.
DO you remember where you had il
last?"
Il had Il In the hospital Office. In my
room, and in my coat pocket, but where
had II last / don't remember"
had it DiapQ Whara d