The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-16
JURY HAS BANKS CASE
AN EVENING SESSION HELD IN THE
CRIMINAL COURT.
Banks Ordered to BE in Court mt o
O'Clock This Morning-Other
Court Cases.

Judge Afford, of the Criminal Court. held
night session last night to finish the
Banks bribery case. The case went to the
jury at $50 and Judge Afford remained
il the courtroom until nearly 10 o'clock to
be present in the event that the jury
reached a verdict. Quite crowd as
sembled in the courtroom awaiting de-
cision but when Judge Afford was seen
to put on his overcoat, it began to dis
perse. Banks, who is out on bond. was
ordered to report to the court at o'clock
this morning when it is hoped the jury will
have a verdict.
The testimony yesterday was Tor the de-
Tense. What the defense would be had not
been intimated by the defendant or his
attorneys, and the character of the testi-
mony came as surprise 1t was claimed
by the defense that Banks had been given
$50 by Mayor Taggart to buy a ballot from
]. Wesley Bridges, who he is charged with
attempting to bribe. and then Bridges was
TO have been arrested. 1t was asserted that
the alleged attempt at bribery was plan
TO trap Bridges. Banks was the nrst 10
testify, and through him the line of defense
first became known. Banks said ne met
Bridges in a. saloon, and that Bridges OF
fered to make piece of money. He said
Bridges asked what the Democrats would
be willing TO pay for ballot and that he
promptly reported the matter to Mayor
Taggart. According to his testimony Mayor
Taggart gave him $50 with which to APP
proach Bridges, and had an arrangement
made with Detective Dugan to arrest
Bridges at the polls on the morning OF the
election If Bridges had ballot In his
possession. He also claims that he had a
similar conversation with Horace Kramer
and Charles Polster, who are prominent in
local Democratic politics.
BANKS'S MEMORY.
Banks said he did not remember all of the
conversation taken down in shorthand by
Walter Carpenter. but did not deny that
he had approached Bridges. He practically
admitted all of the evidence against him to
be true but alleged it was for the purpose
of trapping Bridges. In the cross-examin-
alton Attorney Martin Hugg closely ques-
toned Banks. showing the jury that Banks
had been arrested many times on charges
o. gambling, assault and battery and tor
being in shooting scrape" Banks adj
mitted all this but said he could not say
how many times he was arrested.
Mayor Taggart, Detectives Dugan,
Kramer and several employees Of the city
testified for Banks. Their testimony was
to substantiate the defense's story that the
whole alleged bribery arrangement was for
the purpose of trapping Bridges.
The argument began yesterday afternoon,
Prosecutor Ruckelshaus opening for the
State. He said there was nothing in the
story that Banks approached Bridges for
the purpose of trapping him. John J..
Rockford and John Mccullough followed
for the defense, arguing along the line of
the testimony and also that there was no
intent shown on the part of Banks, admit
ting that he had offered Bridges money for
ballot. Martin Hugg closed for the State.
Judge Afford instructed the jury. setting
cut the penalty for the crime as being from
and $500 fine. He said the jurors should
consider the demeanor of the witnesses on
the stand and the probability or improb-
ability of the testimony. The defendant s
attorneys also filed instructions, following
the line of their testimony.