The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07
His Explanation Of the Charge that
He Had Made an Assault on
His Wife.
THREATENED TO LYNCH HIM
JENNINGS TELLS OF THE FORCEFUL
DEMAND FOR PAMPHLETS.
The Plaintiff Rehearses Some of His
Life Hfstory-ExaminatiOn to BE
Continued To-Morrow.

David A. jennings. plaintiff in the suit
for 100000 damages against twenty-eight
citizens of Salem. Ind. for alleged con-
spiracy, libel. etc, was the witness
stand in Federal Court yesterday. He be-
gan testifying shortly before noon and
was on the stand all the afternoon. When
court adjourned at 4:3O Attorney Rocker
had not concluded his direct examination.
Jennings will again be on the stand to-mor-
row morning. Attorney Hadley, for the
defense. made another motion yesterday
TO compel the plaintiff to state just what
allegation he would attempt to prove and
have the others stricken out, but Judge
Baker said he would entertain no motions
of that kind or make any rulings until the
plaintiff had finished his case.
Jennings told how he had been prosecuted
by the defendants while a resident of Sa-
lem: rehearsed his wife's illness and her
trip to Louisville. which he alleged was
instigated by some of the defendants in the
suit; his arrests on several charges which
he claimed were made by some of the con-
spirators, and then he entered into a thrill
ing recital of the assault made upon him
the night of Jan. 30. 1900, by most of the
defendants, when he said they beat him
and threatened to hang him in order to
gain possession of the pamphlets.
The witness said he went to Salem in
1881. he is a native of Caldwell, o., where
he went to school until he was sixteen.
Then he taught school for a few years
before attending college. He spent some
time In Germany, France and Switzerland
finishing his education. Returning to this
country, he went to Colorado. where he
taught school and engaged in newspaper
work several months before becoming a
resident of Salem. He is now in business
at Pleasantville, o. Jennings insisted upon
relating conversations held with his wife
ana the court admonished him that he
must relate only things that had a bearing
on the case before the jury.
WIFE WAS ILL
He told of his wife's nervous illness and
entered into detailed account of the time
IL was claimed he assaulted her. He said
the afternoon she left the house to go to
Asa Elliott's office and TO her dressmaker's
ne followed her and brought her home. He
opened the front door of the house and
she stepped in first. She stumbled against
something and fell to the floor He carried
her TO lounge, where she put her arms
around his neck and kissed him. Her nose
began to bleed and she went into the
kitchen. She opened the door and ran
around the house screaming murder" He
went out to the front gate and put his
arms around her and insisted on her going
into the house. Jennings said the scream
ing attracted a crowd and someone in the
crowd grew a pistol and another person
struck him.
Mrs. Jennings left him at the gate and
he found her in the Office at the iaiI where
ne pleaded with her to return He said
-Siedlock Mitchell and Brown. three of the
de1endants, were present and he told his
wife that they were his personal enemies
Who were seeking his downfall He was
arrested on affidavits charging him with
and on a warrant to keep the peace He
claimed the aftidavits were sworn To by
MS enemies. He secured his release by
was TO De done with his wife. After he
learned that his wife had been driven out
OF town presumably to Borden. he secured
morse ana started to follow her. He fell
from the horse and was badly injured
Inat was during the spring prior to the
aHeged assault upon him. Jennings told
OF the crowd that chased him and Claimed
her hands III
Jennings then told of the number Of
times he had to go TO court to be tried on
the warrants sworn out by his enemies
Attorney Rocker asked him TO relate the
s.CIy OF the might of the assault and the
spectators, nearly all of whom are Salem
people, took a fresh interest in the testi
mn nony. Jennings said he was accosted
by three men, He was led into an alley
not far from his home Mr.. Reed dernandoSS
the pamphlets which Jennings had printed
ana Jennings said he would get them for
home. o. " MS
CROWD HAD A ROPE.
But Reed told the other two men to
hoid me and he would go to my house after
the pamphlets continued JENNINGS
others joined the crowd and some one
struck me several blows on the face. They
led me little farther into the alley and
some one hit me over the head with a club
or biudgeOn and L fell to the ground
While l was lying on the snow partly I'M
conscious Reed returned and told the
crowd that he could not get into nv house
H., - Se1 the RanphIets; Reed told me that
pamphlets. and if they did | should have To
leave town.
-, II was lifted from the ground and saw
me crowd about me had increased. Reed |
Pace and Elliott did not wear masks hnf
me other men were disguised Some one
threw a rope over my head and / am nosi
tive IL was Eli Menaugh. | was struck !
several times and Reed said string him
up. Charles Schlagle then struck me i'm !
the race and shouted for help We were
then opposite the residence of Mr. Hudson
the prosecuting attorney. Mr. Hudson |
mas admitted since then that he heard me |
cry, out ne did not come to my assistance
They led me along and my watch fell from
my pocket i did not offer resistance until |
We reached Water street and the crowd |
turned with me as II they were going to /
take me TO the tannery.
They were leading me away from the |
and tried to stop. when some one t siySck
me ana fell. Reed said for the crowd TO !
take m back home and let me get the |
pamphl - They took me TO my house and /
told them ! would get the pamphlets for /
tnem MIS- Jennings was not at home and /
the children at first refused to open the /
Go9r until called TO them. We entered the 4
house and | unlocked my desk and gave
Reed rs OF the pamphlets There T,re
about 500 OF them altogether After Reed 4
got the pamphlets and started TO leave h. /
said 10 me Mr.. Jennings. remember what I /
told you about moving. You will have 10 l
At this point in the testimony OF the
complainant court was adjourned until TO- /
morrow morning.
During the morning session the cross
examination OF Mrs. Jennings was con-
cluded. Several dispositions were read but /
they threw TO new light the case
Lazy Negroes Fined.