The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-02

Logsdon until week or ten days after
he came to Indianapolis, Mr.. Noel said
Then Spaan began to inquire into the
legal advice Noel had given Hilton L.
Brown. DIR. Hunt and others as to proceed
ing against Logsdon. Noel admitted that
at the time he was consulted by these per-
sons he had no evidence against Logsdon
save information furnished by Detective
Stahl and popular rumor.
Popular rumor IN the columns of the
indianapolis News?' asked Span. Noel
said that was not all the rumor. Testify
ing about his advice to the gentlemen
named, Noel went on to say he had never
tried a case under the bribery statute and
he had never read decision on il, to the
best Of his recollection. He gave an opin-
ion on five minutes examination of the
statute. he said. Span dissected the
statute outlining what constitutes bribery.
or attempted bribery. of a public officer.
and defining the penalties. questioning Noel
on each point. Noel replied he had given
the advice to go ahead to the persons
named because there can be no crime of
bribery without criminal intent. 1t was
no criminal intent. and therefore no viola
ton of law. The matter of using decoy
schemes as defense was brought up. Span
contended that the ruling of the Supreme
Court in the Banks case was that the jury
could or could not. as it willed, accept the
matter of decoy a defense. 1t did not
nave TO do Ii, he said.
Did you not believe this attempt would
ruin Logsdon?" asked Span. Noel re-
piled in the affirmative 1t was not done
simply to blacken Logsdon's character, he
said. or to ruin him in the newspapers.
SS-EXAMINATION.
On cross-examination by Duncan, Noel
stated that he only took charge of the in
vestigation with the express understanding
that Ii was to be broad and sweeping. He
stated at the time. he said, that he did not
want to be trammeled in securing testimony
at a critical time. He went over his con-
versations with Attorney Folk in st. Louis
again, and spoke of the character given
Stahl by Folk. When Stahl came here, he
said, he was informed by himself and DR..
Hunt that the most serious thing in Indian
apolis was the protection of gambling and
slot machines. Stahl was informed that
900 had been paid for protection to slot
machines during horse show week." Dun
can tried to bring out that the matter of
the telegram was not suggested until after
an alleged demand made by Logsdon for
$500 to secure protection for StahPs myth
ical machines. The whole purpose in using
Stahl. he said, was to find out who was
guilty Of placing tax on vice.
Noel, in answer to a question from Spaan
,sA<lI -
given the whole snap away like a great
big farmer" The word 'snap" was not in
his vocabulary, he said, and he did not use
the word farmer In that connection.
Thomas A Wynne testified that when the
investigation began it was the understand
ing it should be limited to the street
sprinkling and sweeping contracts. Moth
ing was said to Noel about anything else,
he said. certainly nothing about the ST.
Louis trip. The committee was not cogni-
zant of his acts in this direction. When
Wynne was cross-examined by Duncan, the
latter emphasized the fact that 1t was I'M
derstood at the start a wide scope was to
be given the investigation, and that all
kinds of evidence as to alleged official
crookedness had been admitted at the ses-
sions of the committee with his (Wynne's)
approval.
DETECTIVES QUESTIONED.
Detectives Colbert and Lancaster were
examined and testified as to the facts Of
the arrest of Stahl and to admissions made
to them about his being i'm the employ of
others for the purpose of getting evidence
against Logsdon. Superintendent Taffe
was also placed ON the stand for the same
purpose. The examination of these wit
nesses was very brief.
When Captain Gerber was placed on the
stand the session Hvened up again. Dun
can went after him with a sharp stick.
When Gerber testified he went to Stahl in
the guise of Martins attorney to secure a
confession from Stahl, Duncan rated him
for abusing the confidence of an impris-
oned man. He asked Gerber If he had not
lied when he told Stahl he was Martins at
torney. Gerber finally said he had not told
the exact truth. Span brought out that
the method employed by Gerber was an
artifice common to detectives and recog-
nized as SUCH Captain Gerber said Span
was employed by the city to ferret out
crime.
Quick as a flash Duncan asked: I'm fer
reting out crime, Captain Gerber, did you
ascertain that Gus Rahke had forty-eight
slot machines in operation?" Spaan OBJ
jected, and the question was ruled out.
The trial will be resumed at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. The prosecution may place Ed
w I.0QS1Op stand