The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-11
Attorney General Sternly Accuses Him
of Being Recreant I'm His Duty az
an Omcer of the Law.
EVIDENCE IN DUDLEY HEARING
FOR DEPOSED SHERIFF
HAD LAPsEs OF MEMORY.
Entire Day Occupied by Testimony Of
Dudley and TOwnspeOple Of Sui
livan-Hearing To-Day.

That lynching bees have a peculiar effect
on the memory Of participants and specta-
tors. causing a pronounced hiatus, Is an
important psychological fact brought out
by the hearing before Governor Durbin of
John S. Dudley, deposed sheriff of Sullivan
county. Mr.. Dudley is making a desperate
fight for reinstatement and is being backed
up by townspeople of Sullivan, the princi-
pal witnesses. The hearing began before
the Governor yesterday morning. continued
throughout the day and will be taken up
again this morning. The testimony was in
teresting at all times and occasionally bor-
dered on the sensational
Attorney General William L. Taylor and
Assistant Attorney General Merrill Moores,
representing the State, are seeking to show
that the lynching of the negro James Dill
lard was the result entirely of Dudley's
failure to take proper precautions against
a mob and failure to use every effort to
protect him after the mob had formed.
John S. Bays, Of Sullivan, principal coun-
sci for the ex-sheriff, is endeavoring to
prove by testimony that there was no
means of knowing that mob had been or
ganized and that after the trouble came
Dudley tried with all his might to save
billiards. neck.
SEARCHING EXAMINATION.
Cross-examination proceeded like the fir
ing of rifle shots, but the witnesses for the
defense bore the fusillade fairly well. They
answered with great caution and weighed
their words carefully. Now and then, when
apparently in deep water, they were
coached by Bays. who would nod his head
or murmur yes" or mo- at critical
moments. In cross-examination Governor
Durbin displayed the shrewdness of
trained criminal lawyer. After the attor-
neys would get through with witnesses he
would lean over the edge of his table,
glasses in hand, and while lingering some
pencilled notes he would review the evil
dence thoroughly, frequently bringing out
important details that the attorneys them
selves had failed to elicit Several times
in contradictions. Smiling grimly, the Gov
ernor would add to his tabulated facts and
wait for the next.
Dudley's witnesses attempted to show
that the lynching took but a very short
time One of them. William F. Douthitt
assistant prosecuting attorney for the dis
trict i'm which Sullivan county Is located
made the statement that when Dudley
brought the negro back TO Sullivan i'm a
buggy il took but minute or less to
snatch the negro from the vehicle and
however Edward S. Sparrow, a tailor of
Sullivan. told the Governor that IL must
have taken thirty-five or forty minutes
Sparrow testimony was disqueting TO At
torney Bays and to Dudley. who fidgeted
and squirmed until Sparrow was safely
out of the chair.
STERNLY ARRAIGNED.
Attorney General Taylor, after severe
questioning, got the fact from Sparrow
that he had assisted in adjusting the rome
around billiards. neck. Sparrow testified
that ne was not there to help the mob. but
merely as a spectator.
dramatic incident of the trial was the
stern arraignment OF Prosecutor Douthitt
by Attorney General Taylor. Douthitt had
said that in his opinion the sheriff had
taken reasonable precautions and had tried
to save the prisoners life. He admitted