The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-19
THE SECOND ,NTRILL FARCE.


The Journal has been watching the prog
ress of the second trial of Caleb Powers,
in Georgetown Ky, TO see if there has been
any change in the procedure which will
make the second trial less outrageous than
the first. Doubtless many others have been
noting the proceedings with the same pur-
pose. In the first place, Judge Cantrill,
whose conduct in the former trial has been
denounced as travesty even upon the
forms of justice, has insisted on presiding
over the second trial. The defense, at the
outset, asked that another judge might sit
to try the case. This motion Judge Can
trill overruled If he had been an impartial
judge. intent on giving an impartial trial,
he would have allowed the motion. His rul-
ings in the selection of jury were clearly
made with a purpose to convict, since, when
the twelve men had been selected, every
one of them was found to be a Goebel DEM
ocrat. When the defense called attention TO
this fact and made a motion TO set aside the
jury because its members were all GOebel
partisaps, Judge Cantrill refused TO listen
20 it. Thus the second trial of Powers is
going OF under a partisan judge, who is
said to be claiming a seat in the United
States Senate as vindication of his con-
duct in the trial Of Powers. and before a
jury every one of whom was selected be-
cause he will render such a verdict as the
Goebel managers demand. Another point
which is worthy of notice is that after the
Goeber lawyers told the Governor of Indi-
ana that the partisan feeling over the as
sassl& alton had subsidized, yet with this re
ported change of feeling Judge Cantrill has
every man who goes into. court searched for
weapons. 1t may be added that judge who
will not take the word of citizens on such
matter declares that he does not believe
the people of the community. 1t will be
further observed that there is little change
i'm the character of the witnesses thus far.
One of the new witnesses who could have
been called in the last trial appeared with
story, but on cross-examination the man
admitted that he had been arrested for
various crimes, including attempt to
commit murder and to defraud the govern
ment. He is, however. deputy sheriff. An
other witness is under indictment for being
engaged in the conspiracy to assassinate
Mr. Goebel. AS was stated in court. this
witness is a man with rope around his
neck If he duplicates other men he will
save himself. OF course, the prosecution
will deny any such understanding, but the
average man knows that a witness in such
position does not need promise
The Journal is simply speaking its own
conclusions from the proceedings thus far
in this second trial. 1t does not know what
is in the mind of Governor Durbin, or of
others who may have their attention called
To the proceedings thus far in this second
travesty upon justice under Judge Cantrill;
| but for itself it has TO say that to put any
man into the hands of the Cantrill-Camp-
| bell cabal is to turn him to men who
are intent on taking his life, and that the
victim of this hate had just as we'll be sent
to the gallows here without trial as to be
| put into the hands of men who will outrage
| the forms of justice to hang him.