The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-06
Sensational Attempt to Connect Col
ored Grave Robbers with the MUIR
der Of Doc Lung.
CHIEF GHoUL CONSTRAINED
HE DUPLICATES DIR. ALEXANDER IN
SEVERAL CASES.
Two Other Colored GhouIs Placed on
the stand In the Afternoon
Days Developments.


began yesterday morning with an increase
rather than an abatement I'm the public in
terest and curiosity manifested. The court
room was crowded. both the main floor
and the gallery, with the more favored of
the spectators. Attorneys. physicians and
court officials were wedged into the space
separated by a railing from the general
public when court was convened at
O'Clock by BaIiff Mendenhall. Special Judge
John NJ. Bailey cautioned the spectators at
the beginning of the session to keep or
der and enjoined them to absolute silence,
even at the expense of thir ideas OF anus
ing situations. The accused physician,
Alexander, looked better than on the prev
ious days, and seated himself with his at
torneys when court was opened and ar
ranged a chair for Mrs. Alexander. who
came into court with him.
The developments of the morning session
were bordering on the sensational when
cross-examination along the line started by
the defense was stopped by objections from
the prosecution. An alleged connection be-
tween the ghouls and Rufus Cantrell and
the murder of Doc Lung, the Chinese laun-
dryman, murdered in his place OF bust
ness on Indiana avenue some months ago.
was suggested in a line OF questioning
started by the defense.
Although Cantrell was led up to the an
swers expected. he disappointed his ques-
TONERS by maintaining that he knew moth
ing of the murder of the Chinaman and
had spoken of it to his fellow-ghouls only
when 1t had been suggested to him as in
eliminating some of them. He said that
one of the ghouls, had told him at the
county Jail that If he gave them the worst
of it" in the investigation by the grand
jury on the grave robbing charges he
would tell all about the murder of Doc
Lung" Cantrell denied that he knew any
thing personally about the killing Of the
Chinaman, but admitted that he had adj
vised Donnell and the others to make pub
lie what they knew, IL they had any knowl-
edge Of who killed the Chinaman.
INCREASED INTEREST.
The introduction of the questions relative
to the now nearly forgotten murder of Doc
Lung awakened an increased interest in the
proceedings, and 1t was with disappoint-
ment that the auditors were compelled to
listen to other testimony without learning
anything about the murder. Cantrell him.
self seemed satisfied when the questions
ceased and evidently was glad that they
were not continued. His attorney. Cass
Connaway, who was in the courtroom. was
heard to say that he expected the episode
and believed there was nothing In it. Can't
rell, ii is thought by men who have fol-
lowed his career since his arrest, has talked
of many things of interest TO the general
public only to draw the limelight of public
observation upon himself.
~ ta1
70 the cross-examination of Cantrell. The
examination was rigid and at times anus
ing to the auditors, who laughed at the dis
comfiture of the attorneys caused by the
sharp retorts of the witness and at the
chagrin of the witness when cOrnered by
the lawyers The session was not without
its unpleasant episodes and frequently the
LAWYERS became involved III disputes over
objections and methods OF addressing ques-
tions that were trying to Judge Bailey. The
witness came in for his share of discipline
insolent manner Of evading questions and
volunteering unsought information was
criticised sharply by Judge Bailey.
The presence of attorneys other than
| those directly interested in the Alexander
| trial is to watch the possibilities of the de-
| Tense of the other persons when their cases
| are called. John 8. Duncan. of Duncan,
| Smith & Hornbrook, is in the courtroom
| daily taking frequent notes on table pro-
vided with carbon paper Duncan is the ie-
| gal adviser of DR.. William S. Mott, who
bodies Charles wiltse. of Harding. Hovey
| & Wiltsie, who represents several defend
| ants, is another lawyer who watches the
case. Henry seyfried and Cass ConnaWay
| John o. Spahr. who will defend DR.. Wright
! and other persons indicted, is aiding in the
! defense of Alexander.
BEER ON ONE OCCASION.
The opening of Cantrelrs cross-examina-
ton was over the subject of his having
been treated with beer while he was going
to the German Catholic Cemetery to open
the grave of Catherine Doehring to show
the detectives that 1t was empty and had
been desecrated, as he had told them. He
admitted that he had secured beer on that
occasion He denied that he had brought
a civil suit against an Indiana-avenue sa-
| loon keeper because liquor had been re-
fused him by the proprietor.
Cantrell enumerated the members of his
| gang of ghouls as Isom Donnell, Burforc
Cooley, Henry Martin, Leroy Williams
! William Jones and Walter Williams. He
/ said he could not recall the names of Other
men that had helped him on grave-robbins
expeditions. To show that the rigs hired
| by DR.. Alexander might not have been fol
grave-robbing purposes questions were ad
| dressed TO Cantrell which ELECTED answers
| that the rigs were hired for many pur
poses. He said he had secured them Il
| drive his women friends around the city
| but denied that he had practiced visiting
| road houses in rigs in company witt
| women.
| Cant-en was asked IL he had supplied
dissection material for any medical col
leges other than the Central College while
he was under contract with DIR: Alexander
! At first he denied that he had, but insin
uated that his fellow-ghouls might hav,
done So Persistent interrogation got hin
to admit finally that he had sold one or TIVE
bodies TO other colleges, but he did not re
member dates, names of the dead persons
or the colleges with which he had dealings
The questioning OF Santrell on this poin
was so aggravating 10 the witness tina
he finally protested to Spaan and suggeste,
that he could answer all the questions pu
to him If they were ineligible.
81 will ask you more questions than yo'
can answer" said MIR. Span.
81 don't know" replied Cantrell. AZ an
not worried"
| Cross-examination relative to the secon
conversation with Alexander brought on
additional details OF the purchase of tools
such brace and bit. bags, shovels. re
volvcrs and other equipment with whic
Cantrell was TO go 10 work TO secure bodie
| Immediately. in pursuance OF the contrac
with Alexander. He replied to questionin
that Alexander had bought the shovels
while he had got the revolvers from Charlie
Medals, a pawnbroker at $40 Indiana ave
nue.. After buying the tools and gettin
them together. he left them at DR.. Wright
office, he said
LIST OF DEAD PEOPLE.
He related the circumstances OF the thir
conversation with Alexander. He said Dl
Alexander had list OF dead people. whic
he said he had secured at the office of tn
Board OF Health. "One grave was locate
In Longwood. cemetery five or ten mile