The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-14
fIRSTOF THE POSTAL TRIALS
CASES OF MILLER AND JOHNS
 OPEN IN CINCINNATI.
Both Accused of Conspiracy to Bribe John J. Ryan of Turf Investment Fame-AIiIIer Once Assistant Attorney
Ryan Testihes.

Cincinnati, October 1S-The first trial under about two dozen indictments against postoffice officials, secured in different parts of the country by the government recently, was begun here to-day. The defendants are Daniel Voorhees, Miller, of Terre Haute, Ind, formerly assistant attorney-general for the postoffice department at Washing ton. and Joseph M. Johns, an attorney at Rockville, Ind.
 The government charged a conspir- acy between these defendants for the purpose of obtaining money from John J Ryan, turf commissioner with of fees in Cincinnati and St. Louis, for protecting him from postoffice officials in the use of the mails for his scheme.
 Miller claims absolute ignorance of any transaction that may have occur red between Ryan and Johns.
 Johns claims that he made an ordi- nary contract with Ryan as attorney to assist in securing a decision from the postal department upon presentation of the case.
 Both defendants emphatically deny any understanding between themselves .or with Ryan, or any conspiracy.
 Miller and Johns are old friends hav- ing lived in adjoining counties in Indi- ana for years, where both have been prominent politically and profession ally. ,l
 The defendants have been indicted jointly on six counts of conspiring to bribe John J. Ryan & Co, of Cinein- nati and St. Louis.
 Among the witnesses to-day was John J. Ryan, who was on the stand when court adjourned. Ryan explain ed his cooperative investment compa ny, telling how he advertised in the papers and received answers with mon ey by mail. Last November he was called on by postoffice inspectors and soon afterwards received notice from D. V. Miller, as assistant attorneyge eral of the postoffice department, that his turf commission operations were fraudulent. Later he had hearing before Attorneys Christiancy and Mill Ter, on November ii in Washington, where the whole matter was finally re- ferred to Miller. At this meeting Ryan promised to reorganize his cooperative investment company so that his opera tions as turf commissioner would come within the requirements of the postal laws. He continued, however, to have trouble and soon after his return from Washington he received letter from Joseph M Johns in which the latter said he could be of service to him. Af- ter considerable correspondence bv mail and wire they met in Terre Haute, where Ryan stated he registered under the name of Rose. Ryan described in detail how they mingled about the ho- tel in Terre Haute and finally retired from others to his room, where Johns opened the conversation about his troubles with the postoffice department. Ryan was proceeding to repeat the conversation that took place when the two were alone in a room at Terre Haute, when he was interrupted by an objection from the opposing counsel to the witness testifying as to what Johns < recited about Miller Ryan was testi- tying that Johns claimed to be close to Miller and able to advise Ryan what Miller had said could or would be done in the pending case. Rulison objected to connecting Miller in a conspiracy before any conspiracy had been estab- lished
 After both sides argued the question of allowing Ryan to proceed with what N Johns had stated that Miller had said regarding the case the court took the objection under advisement until to-