The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-11
Criminal Court Room Crowded with
Interested Spectators Through
out the Entire Day.
ATTORNEYS WILL ARGUE TO-DAY
1T WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE THE
RESULT Is KNOWN.
Many Necks Grained When Mrs. Alex
ander Testified i'm Her Hus-
bands Behalf-Dny's Doings.

The jury trying DR.. Alexander on the
charges of aiding in the robbery Of graves
has been furnished all the evidence in sup
port of the indictments under which he is
being prosecuted and has listened to all
the defense of the charges that the accused
physician can make. The taking of testi-
mony was concluded yesterday afternoon,
and the argument of the attorneys for the
State and those for the defense will be
heard to-day and tomorrow. it is more
than likely that Judge Bailey's instructions
to the jury will have been read to the
jurors by tomorrow
John c. Ruckelshaus, prosecutor of Ma
rion county, will open the case for the
State this morning His argument will be
a history of the crimes alleged to have been
committed by Alexander and a review of
the testimony introduced to the jury to
substantiate them. Mr. Ruckelshaus will
make an argument of great force, it is un-
derstood, as ne has devoted much time to
the preparation of the appeal to the jury
to convict Alexander. He has incorporated
in it many points of law which the jury
will be called on to decide, and will devote
much of his time to an Interpretation of
the reasonable doubt for the benefit of the
jury.
Following Mr.. Ruckelshaus Martin Hugg
will make the first statement for the de-
Tense. He will analyze the evidence for the
Jurors and point out to them what the de-
Tense thinks are weak points in the testi-
mony. 1t is understood that Mr.. Hugg will
show to the jury from his viewpoint where
the State has failed in it's case. He will
probably assert that the prosecution has
signally failed to adduce enough evidence
against his client to even suggest the pos
sbility of difference of opinion among the
jurors.
Henry Span will close the argument for
Alexander and will appeal to the jury to
acquit his client. Mr.. Spans argument it
is thought, will be the most spectacular
effort of the three attorneys. His argument
will probably occupy the entire afternoon,
and the argument of William L. Brown, in
closing the case for the State, will not be
heard by the jury until tomorrow MORN
ing. -
SPECTATORS INTERESTED.
Yesterday was by far the most interest
ing of the days of the trial to the great
crowd of curious persons who secured
places in the courtroom during the day.
DR.. Alexander, the defendant, who has said
nothing of his case since his arrest in Sep
TENDER, was the drawing card, and the in
by the number of people in the courtroom
when he was called to testify. Physicians
and lawyers joined with persons of other
pursuits i'm the crowd. and the galleries and
other reserved places were filled with
women, many of them well dressed and all
intensely interested.
The interest of the women was increased
when Mrs. Alexander, dressed in neat
fitting tailor-made gown of black, walked
to the witness chair and was sworn to testi-
fly in her husbands behalf. Although Mrs.
Alexander's testimony was commonplace.
every ear was strained to hear it. The
testimony was given in low but distinct
voice. Mrs. Alexander Swore to the fact
that her husband always wore neglgee
shirts in the summer time, and also gave
an account of how many times he dressed
up last summer. The evidence was i'm
portant to the defense in that 1t corrobo-
rated DR.. Alexander's statement that he
had not gone to the gun store of Gus Ha-
bich while attired in evening clothes in
denial of the testimony of the ghouls and
the clerk of the gun store.
Another medical expert, DIR. Lash, teSti-
fed to Rufus Cantrell's insanity and sew
eral reputable citizens as to the previous
good reputation of DR.. Alexander. Jacob
Kurtz, city detective, also testified to the
fact made known by DR.. Anderson on Mon
day that Cantrell had called him by tele-
phone to tell him TO inform Dr. Alexander
mot to worry, as he tCantrelD would clear
him. when he appeared before the grand
jury.
After the State had introduced some
testimony in rebuttal, evidence to the
| impressions of men who associated with
| him as to the sanity of Rufus Cantrell, the
| case was closed and the jury sent from the
| room while the attorneys prepared for argu-
ment on a motion offered by Henry Spaan
| on the part of Alexander. Span moved
| that all the evidence be withdrawn from
| the jury which tended to show that the
| bodies of Mrs. Stilz. Estelle Middleton
| Glendora Gates. Mrs. Doehring. Catherine
| Green Meredith McMullen and three bodies
| from the graveyard at the Insane Hospital
| were taken from their graves without the
| consent of the husband, wife or nearest OF
| kin and for purposes other than renter
| ment.
Spaan argued for many minutes in sup
port of his motion, as did also his ascot
ate counsel. Martin Hugg. William T
| Brown for the State answered the argu
ment by saying that the evidence which
was desired withdrawn was introduced Il
prove knowledge OF guilt on the part o.
! Alexander and had been ruled on once be
fore by Judge Bailey. He said that TO with
| draw it would remove partially from th'
| himself to accept the custody of stolel
| bodies. The argument was continued b,
the attorneys without much regard to cour
| tesy and several cautions from Judge Bal
ley prevented the wordy encounters iron
| becoming personal attacks. When it hat
| ceased Judge Bailey ruled that the evidence
unnamed bodies from the Insane Hospita
should be withdrawn and when the jur,
| was brought into the courtroom again b.
instructed the jurors on his ruling.
DR. ALEXANDER TESTIFIES
| DR.. Alexander when called to the witnes
stand. seated himself in the chair and face,
the jury with perfectly composed and con
fident air. There was no indication on hi
face, no action of his hands or movement
| other than a nervous twitching of his lip
and rapid change of direction of his eyes (
| betray the emotion of the man who wa
TO try by his own testimony to clear him
| self of a heinous crime.
MY name is DR.. Joseph c. Alexander,
| said the witness in a low tone. 81 am tn
| defendant in this case. l was arrested i
| November, last year. / was born in Ham
| ilton county, this State. and lived there u
until eleven years ago. / was raised on
| farm, worked on the farm and went
| school there while a boy, and at the ag
| of eighteen went to teaching school. Dun
ing vacation times l worked in blacksmit
shop and also for a short time in dru
| store. / also worked at the carpenter
trade in the summer time and taught schol
in the winter
II came 10 indianapolis and studied med
icine in college and took the full term c
three years and graduated" Attorne
Spaan asked questions as to how Alexande
had secured his education, but when h
through school Mr.. Brown objected for IN
State, and the objection was sustained
After the first term OF schooling here
went home, but after the second term
moved to Indianapolis. continued the wit
ness.
81 worked for E. II. Wilson in his dru
store as a clerk. waited table In the Mai
| lpWe cafe on Indiana avenue for my bOart