The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-08
A GROUP OF POLICEMEN.
Ferriter Had Resisted Each of Them.
The RebuttaI.


special to the indianapolis Journal.
MARTINSVILLE, Ind, Oct. John, I
believe you said that you didn't remember
which hand the policeman laid on your
shoulder when he reached for your beer?''
was the opening question in the Ferriter
case to-day, put by Prosecutor WiItsie, as
the defendant stepped up to the witness
chair. Johns memory was defective on this
point. He did remember other little details
and Mr.. Wiltsie marveled that he forgot
some and remembered others so we'll
"Jahnny'' answered the states attorney
with a stony stare.
do you remember saying. when he
knocked you down the second time Fer
Christ's sake don't hit me and I'll go with
you and he replied. That's all 1 want,
John%"
81 don't remember saying anything to him
then" replied Ferriter Il am sure he
didn't call me my name. He hit me on the
lip and chin, and the blow cut the inside
of my lip"
"Your nose is the same shape 1t was be-
fore he hit you is it not?"
mo sir. It's a different shape since he
broke it."
isn't it fact mat your nose was broken
several years ago?'
mo, sir.
when he made you sit down on the steps
did you see anything in his hands?"
mo sir"
"You know a mace when you see one.
don't you? You have felt them before?5'
YES sir"
Ferriter said that when he arose from the
ground the officer made a threat to give
it to him again" He could only see the
oeicar indfrffro41xr b,tf c71ra he Gould
see the patrolman make some sort of
menacing motion The defendant identified
the revolver with which he killed Ware.
Mr.. Wiltsie had Ferriter put the weapon in
his right hip pocket and illustrate for the
jurys benefit, just how he had drawn the
revolver from his pocket.
John weren't you sitting there with
your hand back on your hip, watching every
movement OF the officer and waiting the OPP
portunity when he should turn his back, to
kill him2'
mo. sir"
The defendant protested that no such pre-
meditation moved him. After he shot, his
only anxiety was to get away.
"As you ran down the tracks. you pulled
back the hammer of this gun and fired
again?'
Il may have done So but have no recol-
lection Of it2"
THE REVOLVER FLOURISHED
Mr. Wiltsie nouTished the revolver, point
ing It now and then at the witness in a
careless way. as he questioned him about
the movements of Patroman Rockford,
who arrested him. The states questions
were designed to show that Ferrlters
movements were all made with much de-
liberation and that any blow he might have
received from the policeman could not have
impaired his faculties. Ferriter even noticed
that Rockford wore a dark brown overcoat.
He told Rockford that he knew he had shot
Ware, though he did not know he had
killed him. He denied telling the police
man that he did not know his own name.
Nor did he say to Rockford Damn yOu I
don't have 10 20 with you.
The state took Ferrder back to the dates
Of his former crimes Five times during
1890 and 1891, Patrolman Conkln arrested
this tough. and on two other occasions
ton. The defense made strenuous effort 10
keep the state from again going over this
ground Ferriter. however. claimed Conk-
lin only arrested him once
"Didnt YOU also resist Policemen Irish
and Shafer in 1862
Il don't know who made the arrest but
] know ! didn't resist the officers" said
Ferrter. who was at this point turned over
10 his attorneys by the state
Ferriter swore that he was acquitted in
the case where he was charged with at
tempting TO shoot a bartender, In 1886 he
was employed on the iron work Of the
he was approached by patroman, who.
Attorney GrifIths offered to show, tried to
make him lose his job. This evidence hear
ing on the alleged persecution by the police.