Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-02-10
THEORY OF DEFENSE ;.
IN ALEXANDER TRIAL
Cantrill Paid For Testimony
Before Grand Jury.
CHIEF eHoUL MORAL MONSTER.
Expert Testimony To Be introduced
In Effort to Clear DR.. Alexander of
Completely In Famous Body Snatch
ing Case at indianapolis.

Indianapolis, Feb. 9.-The defense
in the trial of DR.. J. c. Alexander
charged with being implicated in the
grave robbing cases, outlined its de
tense as soon as the court opened to-
day. The opening statement was
made by Mr.. Spann. The defense
according to Mr.. Spaan proposed to
show that Dr. Alexander was of good
moral character, while the negroes
who testified against him were disrep-
utabIe and unworthy of belief
The defense is that when Cantrill
and Martin went to DR.. Alexander's s
office they went there for the pur-
pose of securing employment to clean
up the college as they had done that
kind of work at Chicago and other
places. DR. Alexander told them that
such employment was out of his de-
partment, but to call again and he
would give them an answer
In the meantime he consulted with
several members of the faculty and was
told that he nigh employ Cantrill, and
DR.. Alexander agreed to pay him $50
for the work. On the second trip
Cantrill told him that he was furnish
ing dissecting subjects for other col
leges and would like to furnish some
for DR.. Alexander. DR.. Alexander re-
piled that if he could get the bodies
legitimately he would pay him for
them.
The defense offered to prove that at
the time this conversation occurred
DIR. Alexander was writing to doctors
in different parts of the state asking
for material that could be furnished
under the law. The defense also pro
posed to show that the money ex,
pended by DR.. Alexander for Cantrill
IN the way of fines and with the pawn
brokers, was deducted from the
amount that DR.. Alexander agreed to
pay Cantrill.
The defense said that 1t would show
that while Cantrill was before the
grand jury he went to a telephone and
called UP DR.. Anderson, whose office
was across the hall from Dr. Alexan-
ders office in the Claypool building
Cantrtll, the defense asserted, made
himself known and asked DR.. Ander
son to inform DR.. Alexander that he
need not fear that he (CantrilD was
being paid for what he was doing, and
that no harm should come to DR.. Alex
ander. The defense said it would
show that Cantrill had received $55;
that this money came to him at diff
ferent times in a white envelope with
no signature, and the address printed
in disguised hand.
The theory of the defense as SET
forth to the jury was that some one
had sent this money to CantrilI to pay
him for the testimony he was giving
before the grand jury. Mr.. Spaan
said that the defense would introduce
expert testimony to show that a man
afflicted as CantrilI was-as shown bv
his discharge from the regular army
was moral monster and has no con.
ception of right and wrong.
Mr.. Spaan warned the jury not to Be
sWayed by outrageous stories in yellow
newspapers by spectacular display OF
shrouds in the court room or accounts
OF the finding of dead bodies in the
streets
DO you know" he exclaimed, what
it means to DR.. Joseph G. Alexander
If you do what the state asks you to
do?. 1t means to send him to dis
grace and dishonor to those who love
hlm and prison walls. 1t will break
his heart and the hearts of those who
rely on him"