The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-17
Rufus CantrefI Says Connaway Gave
the GhOuls whisky and Other
wise Influenced Them.
CONNAwAY FAILED TO APPEAR
HE WILL BE IN THE CRIMINAL
COURT THIS MORNING.
After His Testimony the Argument
Will BE Heard and the Judge Will
Instruct the Jury.

Practically all of the testimony in the
Criminal Court in the prosecution and de-
fense of Sam Martin, accused of disturb
ing a grave and stealing from it a human
corpse, has been introduced and the case
will go to the jury some time during this
afternoon. When the court was adjourned
by Special Judge Thornton yesterday
afternoon but one witness was needed to
complete the case. That witness is Cass
Connaway. who acted as attorney for
Rufus Cantrell and the other ghouls dur
ing the months of their confinement IN the
ness in rebuttal of the testimony submitted
to the jury yesterday by Attorneys Gron-
ninger and McCray in defense of Martin.
The ghouls testified that Connaway had
coerced them into discriminating them
selves; that he piled them with whisky.
and besides favoring them in many other
ways assured them of immunity from pun
ishment if they would assist the police and
prosecution in convicting the white physi-
clans of the city who were suspected of be-
ing the confederates of the ghouls and
who, it is said, purchased the stolen bodies
from them. Although Connaway was SUBJ
poenaed as witness for yesterday after
noon and had been excused by Prosecutor
Ruckelshaus to attend to some professional
work at his Office on the promise that he
would come into court when notified, he
did not appear and all the efforts of the
prosecution to reach him were fruitless
The telephone at his office called sew
eral times and the stenographer employed
there answered that Connaway had gone
to the Criminal Court. Prosecutor Ruck-
~. xad hn nd of fhA Dx,~t
and promised that il a few minutes time
was given to the hearing of Connaway this
morning the State would be ready to open
the argument to the jury. Ruckelshaus
told Judge Thornton that he would issue
an attachment for Connaway If he did not
appear in the morning.
OPENING STATEMENTS
After Connaway is excused as a witness,
probably by $3.50 o'clock. Deputy Prosecutor
Charles Benedict will make the opening ar
gument for the state. He will be followed
by Taylor Gronninger and Frank McCray
for Martin and Prosecutor John Ruckels-
haus will close. Each side has been al
lowed two hours for argument, and in that
time the state will endeavor to convince
the jury that, despite the defense which
was attempted, Martin is self-confessed
ghoul and did not deny IL at the trial. The
state will argue that the defense made alb
lied on attacking the methods used In Sc
curing the confession of Martin as their
plea for the release Of the prisoner. In
their argument Attorneys McCray and
Gronninger will attempt TO point out to the
Jury what they consider an illegitimate
practice of law that was attempted by the
attorneys for the ghouls. They will argue
that Cantrell, Martin and the rest were un-
fairly treated and made to convict them
selves by statements and alleged confess
sions obtained under duress.
~ oh
hour in the delivery of his final instructions
| to the jury. and Ii Is probable that the jury
will retire to its room for deliberation In
| charge of Bailiff Mendenhall by O'Clock
| this afternoon. The speculation as to the
probable verdict of the jury among the men
| conyersant with the case has resulted In
| the nearly general belief that the Jury will
| find Martin guilty In few minutes and
| that his sentence 10 the penitentiary for
| from two TO fourteen years will be pro-
| nounced soon after.
During yesterdays proceedings Of the
| trial two or three sensational Incidents kept
the crowd OF curious which had gathered