The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-26
THRAWLEY's TRIAL
Yesterdays Testimony Seemed Favor
able to the state.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
RICHMOND. Ind, May 25.-1nterest IN
the trial of John Thrawley, charged with
the murder of Rufus Shoemaker, was in
creased to-day and a large lobby was pres
ent both morning and afternoon The State
has not yet completed the introduction of
evidence, and the case will occupy all the
week at least. A large number of witnesses
was introduced to-day. but number of
them testified to nothing new. Thrawley is
claiming self-defense that he clinched with
Shoemaker, and fired the shot while in that
position, and that Shoemaker had previous
ly reached for his revolver. Evidence was
brought out by the State to show Shoe
maker right-handed, and that when the
body was found the glove was off the left
hand, which would seem to be inconsistent
with the story that Shoemaker had reached
for his revolver. 1t was also shown that
Shoemaker had no revolver. The State
also brought out that the tracks made by
Thrawley in approaching Shoemaker did not
come within from eight to ten feet of where
the body fell, and hence no struggle could
have taken place. 1t was also brought out
that the snow, which was four or five inches
deep, was unbroken around the body.
Michael Harvey one of the men who first
reached Shoemaker and who helped to carry
him home and wash him, testified that no
sign of powder burns or singed hair were
seem When the body was washed piece
of tobacco was found in the mouth
piece of tobacco was in the left trousers
pocket and 1t is the theory of the state
evidently that ShoemakerS glove had been
taken off his left hand to enable MIN 10
take the tobacco from, his left pocket, ana
for no other reason. The only weapon on
his person was an old knife, which had been
used in cutting off piece of tobacco.
This afternoon the most important testl-
mony that of Prof D. w. Dennis. OF
and biology He was secured by the state
to make experiments with the revolver that
Thrawley used in doing the killing: The
point was to show that II ThraWley d1o the
shooting as he claimed, while clinched with
Shoemaker there must have been powder
marks on Shoemaker face, total absence
of which has been testified to. The defense,
through Judge FOrkner, entered strenuous
mony, but the objection was overruled
Professor Dennis had taken pieces of white
cardboard and had used Thrawley's revolt
YER with the same kind of ammunition USED
experiments They showed that powder, as
far as the white cardboard is concerned, at
three four or five feet, would nave been
imbedded in the cardboard, and at shorter
distances the board might nave Deen
scorched burned or set on fire. He gave IT
as his opinion that the human skin would
burn easier than the cardboard, but would
not take fire so soon. He also gave II as
his opinion that pistol pointed directly at
the human skin at nine inches would GER
tainly scorch, and at two and one-half feet
he would expect the powder to show marks.
Taken as a whole, the evidence seemed TO
he favorable to the State. Judge Forkner
gave Professor Dennis a searching cross
Examination, and was able to bring out
some points that may prove of benefit to
the defense.