The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-05

IT.
seated the attorneys for his prosecution.
William T. Brown. with number of vol
umes Of law books in front of him, and
Deputy Charles Benedict with notes of the
proceedings as far as they had progressed.
and Prosecutor John c. Ruckelshaus as
propounder of the questions of eXamina-
ton. showed their determination to vigor-
ously prosecute DIR. Alexander. His alleged
crimes the theft and conceament of the
body of Mrs. Rose Neidlinger from the New
Augusta Cemetery. after its burial In July
last as enumerated in the indictment OF
four counts returned against him. furnished
the theme for Deputy Prosecutor Charles
Benedict, who opeEed the case for the State.
BENEDICT'S STATEMENT.
In his opening statement. Benedict dwelt
on the evidence from which the State hoped
to secure conviction and the testimony
which will be introduced to support it.
He said that Alexander was not only guilty
of the specific charges of the indictment.
but that in order TO prove the guilt of the
defendant it would be necessary TO take
the jury over the history of the depreda
tions of the ghouls in Marion county dur
ing the last two years. He declared that
Alexander knew of the operations of
Cantrell and his band and had aided him to
success in them. He said that an under
stood contract, an agreement which would
be proven, was the motive Tor CantrellS $
violations of graves and that indirectly
Alexander was as guilty of reaching his
hand into grave and desecratingly draw
ing its corpse out of il as Cantrell. his
hired tool, was and Cantrell would confess
to the crimes.
After the conclusion of Benedict's opening
statement Manson Neidlinger, widower of
the woman whose body was stolen and
later found in a picking vat in the Central
College of Physicians ana Surgeons. was
the first witness for the State. Neidiinger
testified to the burial of his wife and later
70 he of ha in ifc
place. The condition of the body, naked
and bruised and lacerated from it's rough
treatment as it came from the cellar of
the college, was described TO the Jury by
the witness. The manner of its discovery,
Alexanders profession of innocence of the
source of supply of the dissection subject
the subsequent reburial of the body at the
expense of the college and the threats and
conversation of Neidlinger with Alexander
were narrated by the witness. Cross-ex-
animation of short duration followed the
the witness had concluded and Rufus
Cantrell, king of the ghouls." was brought
to the court by a deputy sheriff and sworn
witness against his alleged former en-
ployer.
AN ANXIOUS LOOK.
When Cantrell was called TO the stand
there was a perceptibly anxious look on the
faces of the attorneys directly interested
in the case in hearing. the score or more at
torneys interested in other defendants, the
medical students and a number of ply
sicians standing in points of vantage
around the courtroom. and Alexander him
self, with his wife's face rejecting the
apprehension of her husband. Cantrell
was accompanied by his attorney. Cass
Connaway, who seated himself with the at
torneys for the prosecution, but took no
part in the proceedings.
Cantrell was the center of attraction in
the courtroom after his appearance. When
he began his testimony under the ques-
tionins of Prosecutor Ruckelshaus IL was
with low voice, hardly audible to him
self, let alone the jurors. He was directed
to speak louder several times by his ques-
toner, but not until Judge Bailey COM
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6, COL. %