The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-05
StahI's Attorney Roasts Logsdon, and
Creates Sensation by Attacking
Wynne and Expert.
COMPLIMENTS Joss's sAGACITY
HE DECLARES CITY ATTORNEY
PLANNED "GRAND STAND" PLAY.
Defense Consumes Entire Afternoon
fn Completing It's sArgument-Spaan
VIII Close To-Day.

In asserting the innocence of Detective
Arthur Stahl and defending the motives of
those citizens who employed him to in
veigle Edwin d. Logsdon into the commits
sion of crime. Charles w. Smith and John
S. Duncan, counsel for the defense, used
up the entire afternoon yesterday in ar
guing their case. So much time was taken
by Stahl's attorneys that Henry N. Spaan
for the prosecution was afforded no oppor-
tunity to complete the argument of the
State.
At 2 this afternoon Mr.. Spaan will begin
standpoint of the prosecution. At the con-
clusi0n Of his argument Judge WhallOn
will take the case under advisement, and
it may be several days before his decision
will be rendered. The character of the evil
dence and the fine legal points involved
preclude the possibility of immediate de-
cision as to whether the detective shall be
bound over to the grand jury or set at lib
erty. Judge Whallon, realizing the i'm
portance of preliminary steps in the mat
ter, will take his time in considering the
law and the facts.
Probably the biggest crowd that has at
tended the trial was present yesterday aft
ernoon. The room was filled with men of
all degrees, keenly interested in the climax
of the hearing-the give-and-take intel
lectual combat between criminal lawyers
in the front rank Of their profession. The
character of the speeches made Wednesday
afternoon whetted the appetite of the pub
lie for more highlyseasoned viands. 1t
was expected the argument would have
been concluded by the end Of the session.
but the defense saw fit to expand and elab-
crate its statement. There was no lack
of red pepper, however, in the feast served
to the visitors.
DUNCAN SCORES LOGSDON
John 8. Duncan made the most of his
opportunity. In protesting Stahrs inno-
cence and praising the course taken by the
reformers he raked Logsdon fore and aft
skillfully utilizing every means at his dis
posal to convey the impression that the
protection of vice was notorious, that it
was protected by the city administration
and that Logsdon, in his character of
chairman of the Republican city commit
tee, was the go-between for the men that
taxed vice and those that paid the toll
With little-of his characteristic conserva-
tism. Mr.. Duncan charged that Thomas A.
Wynne, chairman or the Council commit
tee investigating the street sprinkling and
sweeping contracts. and Fred w. Expert,
member OF that committee, took the wit
ness stand TO rescue Logsdon; and that
their sworn statements that James W.
Noel told the committee after Stahrs ar
rest that Logsdon was an honest man,
were worthless when compared to opposite
statements by Michael Shea. Democratic
member OF the committee, and Noel him.
self.
| AS an grafton on the things that make
for civic purity Mr.. Duncan's argument
was notable. His philippe against gam
bling and it's attendant evils was as pure
in thought II was in diction; too exalt-
ed perhaps. for Police Court, but none the
less high-minded and beautiful His lament
on the spiritual darkness into which act
i've political life plunges men should rank,
no doubt. with modern classics dealing
with pitch and politics. The object Of
these sermons from the lips of layman
was to make clear to the court the hon.
orable motives that animated the alleged
conspirators in plotting the downfall of
Logsdon. Mr.. Duncan dealt with the law
ILONTINUED ON PAGE 2, COL s.