The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-12

in the criminal division of the district
court yesterday afternoon, when K1ttie
Welch, one of the states witnesses in
the case against James Hogan, charged
with keeping a disorderly house, testi-
fed that a police officer had told her
not to give any damaging evidence
against Hogan.
Attorney Stan Donnelly, represent
ing the defendant, was examining the
witness.
is it not true, Miss Welch, that you
told Officer Murphy, while going down
in the elevator at noon that you in
tended throwing the harpoon into
Hogan?" asked Donnelly.
NO, sir; it is not. l do not know
the officers name, but he told me that
whatever 1 did, not to give any damag-
ing testimony against Hogan"
The unlocked for statement came as
a surprise to the attorney, and caused
much comment among the spectators
in the crowded court room. The bailiff
raped for order.
When asked if he thought the police
department was trying to protect the
men under indictment for keeping dis
orderly houses, County Attorney Kane
had little to say except that he dis
credited the statement made by the
witness.
Il don't even know that there were
any policemen in court this morning"
said Mr.. Kane, land I am sure there
is no officer by the name of Murphy
who has any connection with this case.
The police have shown every DISPOSE
ton to assist us in the trial of these
cases, and without their evidence it
would be almost impossible to secure
convictions. 1 shall pay NO attention
to this matter"
Hogan is one of the several saloon
keepers recently indicted for keeping
a lnT.1xv 6oiv,
he maintained wine rooms in connec-
ton with his saloon, which were fire.
quented by men and women of a ques-
tionable character. He was proprietor
of the "WOOdbine," a resort on Mime
sofa street.
In court yesterday a dozen or more
women who had been in the habit Of
visiting HOgan's place testified regard
ing the character of the resort. Much
of the evidence was very damaging,
the4Witnesses testifying that they went
there for the purpose of drinking and
to meet men whom they would induce,
If possible, to accompany them to their
rooms. Hogan, it was said, also had
rooms to rent, which were located con-
Venient to his saloon.
The evidence in the Hogan case is
much the same as that adduced in
the preceding cases of a similar ma
ture. Two or three city. detectives were
called yesterday, all of them giving
the place bad name.
Hogan Displays a Bad Memory.
The state rested It's case yesterday
afternoon and the testimony for the
defense was commenced. Hogan being
placed on the stand to testify in his
own behalf. He made a very bad wit
ness, being unable to remember" some
of the most important episodes Of his
career. When asked by County Attor-
ney Kane if he had not been indicted
in 1895 for running disorderly house,
Hogan attempted to avoid the question,
but when pressed for an answer, said
he could not remember.
DO you mean to say you do not re-
member having been indicted and en-
tering plea of guilty to such a charge,
when it was but a few years ago? ?"
asked the county attorney at the same
time producing the Indictment return
ed against Hogan at that time.
With copy of the indictment to
freshen his memory, Hogan said he
did have slight recollection of some
thing of the kind, but he did not re-
member what disposition had been
made Of the case. He didn't remem-
Der being brought into court, and had
no recollection of having pleaded
guilty.
Hogan explained the presence of
men and women in his place at fire.
quent intervals by saying that he had
host of friends throughout the state,
and that when they came to st. Paul
with their wives or daughters they
always paid him a visit. There were
so many of these that he could not
keep track of them.
Hogan was still on the stand when
court adjourned. The trial will be re-
sumed Friday and viii doubtless go to
the jury the same afternoon.
In the event of a conviction, it Is
understood, the case will not be ap-
pealed to the supreme court, but that
writ of habeas corpus will be sued
out, the same as in the Grozovsky case,
and an attempt made to secure the
freedom of the defendant on bail pend
ing decision by the supreme court.
This same course, it is said, will be
followed in all Of the disorderIy house
| cases where convictions are secured.
The criminal court room during the
trial Of the case yesterday was crowd
ed to the doors, scores of the curious
ones being unable to secure seats.