The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-11

DR.. Frank B. wynne and DR.. Ernest c.
Reyer. score OF witnesses to prove the
insanity OF the negro and attorneys inter-
eSted In the case gathered in the county
cierk office yesterday morning TO attend
Peace Emerich listened to the protests OF
the prosecuting attorney and delayed &C
ton in the case until May 4.
Attorney Frank McCray handed the peu-
ton OF Cantrells brother to the justice or
the peace and called the first witness TO
testify to the sanity of Cantren. DR.. w B.
Fletcher. Before DIR. Fletcher could be
questioned Prosecuting Attorney John c.
Ruckleshaus interrupted the proceedings
by asking the commission TO delay the
nearing until he had had sufficient time time
in which to produce testimony that Cantrell
is sane man. Ruckleshaus insinuated
that the attorneys had broken faith with
him and had deceived the justice or the
peace into convening the insanity commits
sion. He said the attorneys had an ul-
terior motive in wanting Cantrell declared
insane and that in reality IL would work
great wrong to the state should the man
be declared mentally incompetent and not
eligible for service witness in several
important criminal cases to be heard In the
county Ruckelshaus said that the trial or
DR.. Alexander depended on Cantrells testi-
mony. To declare the witness an insane
man would be to allow an indicted man
to escape trial. and he asked Justice Emer-
ich to proceed with caution and to give
every chance to his medical colleagues on
the commission to hear all OF the testimony
as to the mental condition of Cantren
Ruckelshaus was interrupted by Attorney
Frank McCray, who declared that he had
no right to interfere with the proceedings
He said the office of county prosecutor was
not that Of county defender and II was not
the purpose of the law creating Ruckles-
hauss office to make him the defender or
any man accused of insanity. McCray SAID
Ruckleshaus was an interloper and he
asked the court to enjoin him from furtner
interruption of the proceedings.
CHARGES OF BROKEN FAITH.
Taylor Groninger McCrays associate in
the defense of Alexander, also objected TO
Ruckelshaus's presence, and in the wordy
war which followed unknown facts in the
trial of the ghouls and their alleged con-
federates, the physicians, were made pub
lie. Groninger said Ruckelshaus had
broken faith with them by ordering the
trial of the negroes set for Tuesday next.
Ruckelshaus replied he knew that was so,
but the other side had broken faith with
him first by persuadng the negroes 10 re-
fuse to testify against DIR. Alexander and
the others.
The court, after hearing the arguments.
announced that the commission would ad-
journ to meet May 4. and at that time
would investigate Cantrells sanity. >.
Cantrell was not in the room during the
hearing. Judge Afford refused to allow
him taken from the Jail, but his mother
and brother were there as witnesses TO
show that his parentage was clouded with
insanity. Many physicians and attorneys
and newspaper reporters who have talked
to Cantrell were present as witnesses for
the insanity theory but the witnesses who
are expected to show that Cantrel Is not
insane were not present, as the proceedings
were so hurried and so secretly taken that
the State had no time for preparation.
After the commission adjourned an alter
cation ensued between Taylor Groninger
and Cass Connaway, two attorneys for
Cantrell. Connaway knew nothing OF the
effort to have Cantrell declared insane un-
til he was informed of 1t by Journal re-
porter, and he was furious that the other
lawyers should have deceived him. He as
sailed Groninger's honor by saying that
he was not working for Cantrell as law
yer but for his fee, and that the "nigger"
was not paying 1t, but that 1t was being
paid by doctors of the city" Groninger
replied by telling Connaway he was falsi-
fer and by saying that his efforts in Can
trelfs behalf were not for the good of the
negro, as he was playing to the grand
stand" Groninger said Connaway was
looking for newspaper notoriety. and was
anxious to have his name and picture ap-
pear in the newspapers.
The attorneys were separated before
blows were struck, but they came together
In another part of the room a few minutes
later. Groninger demanded that Gonna
way retract the imputation he had made
as to his (Groninger's) motives In defend
ing Cantrell. and Connaway refused to do
so, but reiterated the assertions The men
were separated by their friends, each one
of them muttering angrily. and one saying
that IL the other were not careful there
would be an expose of the whole affair.
After the excitement was over Martin
Hugg, attorney for DIR. Alexander, I'm a con-
versation, said there was no truth at all
in the assertion that Dr. Alexander was
bearing any part of the expense of Can
trells lawyers. He said his client was not
depending on the sanity or insanity of Can
trell for an acquittal, but on the justice
and fair-mindedness of the jurors, who
would be guided by the law and the evi-
dapro IN tho case