The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-06
SPAAN ARRAIGNS NEWS
DECLARES PAPER DELIBERATELY
UNDERTOOK TO RUIN LOGSDON.
Its Only Motive Was to Break Down
Libel Suit. he Charges
SPANS Argument.

Louis man-hunter gripped by the law in
an attempt to bribe Edwin ID. Logsdon. OF
the Board of Public Works, must answer
for his acts to the Marion county grand
jury. The secret agent of Hilton II. Brown.
general manager of the News DIR. George
E. Hunt, secretary OF the Citizens League.
and James w. Noel. conducting the pend
ing investigation of Logsdon's specified Of
fetal acts, was bound over TO the grand
jury yesterday afternoon at 4:30 O'Clock.
two minutes after Henry n. Spaan had
finished his terrific arraignment of the de-
vious courses taken by the Indianapolis
News to discredit Logsdon before the pub
lie.
Judge Whallon turned a deaf ear TO the
plea OF John S. Duncan that the bond OF
the detective be reduced from 5000 to s.. 500.
His Honor refused the plea in the light OF
the evidence presented against Stahl, and
ruled that the bond must remain the same.
The new bond was arranged at once. IL Is
furnished as before by the United States
Fidelity and Guaranty Company. Ii is In
demnifed by Hilton u. Brown, of the News
DIR. George Z. Hunt, Augustus l. Mason,
T. E. Griffith. T. c. Day and others OF the
Citizens League. Mr.. Brown, as before,
bears half the burden-$2,500. The members
of the Citizens League divide the remain
ing surety, each standing good for s4l6
GUILT SHOWN BY EVIDENCE.
Although Judge whallons decision was
made at once, the court had thoroughly
reviewed the law and evidence. Authorities
submitted by Mr.. .Spaan for the prosecu-
ton and by Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Duncan for
the defense had been carefully gone into.
Judge Whallon's conclusion was that tho
evidence justified the presumption that De-
tective Stahl is guilty of the crime charged
under the statute defining bribery Of pub
lie official and prescribing it's punishment
Those who had carefully followed the trial
from day to day were not surprised that
Stahl was sent to the grand jury. II was
realized that his defense by two Of the
most skillful criminal lawyers in the pro-
fession was well-nigh perfect, but that the
evidence against him was too strong
When the decision OF the court was an
nounced the room was filled to the point OF
| discomfort. Business men. lawyers, min
listers of the gospel, gamblers, riff ran. filled
every chair and occupied every inch OF
| space in the aisles. The halls held the
| overflow of the crowd that hung breathless
! on the fiery eloquence of Spaan, who oc-
| cupied over two hours OF the final session
of the hearing la completing the argument
| of the prosecution.
Mr.. Spaan began to speak at 2 o'clock.
| At 4:30 he finished During that two hours
| and a half he covered the law and the
evidence with the utmost thoroughness.
| throwing the searchlight of his keen raind
on every point which had hitherto remained
in the shadow. Brilliant. polished i'm its
| bluntness. singing. witty, satirical. frank
to the point of bushes. Mr.. Spans effort.
measured from the standpoint of a criminal
| lawyer striving for the success OF his cause
was yet temperate. At only one time did
he become savage. Stung by the sneering
of the indianapolis News, Mr. Spaan dashed
out with all his strength at that newspa-
! per. His cat o. nine tails sang through the
air. and wherever a lash struck the blood
flowed fast. His arraignment of the motives
OF the News in seeking to accomplish the
ruin of Logsdon was merciless, terrible,
| never-to-be-forgotten.
MOTIVES OF THE NEWS.
Logically reducing the case TO it's ele-
ments. Mr.. Spaan declared that II simply
resolves itself into an exposition of the un-
| scrupulous methods taken by the Indian
apolis News TO bring about the ruin OF
Edwin d. Logsdon in order that Logsdon's
$4,000 libel suit against the paper might
be broken down. The most careful review
of the evidence, he thought. could convince
an honest man OF nothing else than that
| the News had deliberately. from purely
! base motives. entered a conspiracy to ruin
Logsdon.
Mr.. Spaan had nothing but good words
for the honorable motives OF the Citizens
League. The league, he declared. was
made up OF good men. citizens OF the best
character. individuals who would not per-
| nit themselves TO stoop to low and base
| devices TO accomplish an object. But, he de-
clared. the league has been used as a tool
| by Hilton u. Brown. OF the News. for pur-
| poses already mentioned: by DIR. George Z.
| Hunt. for reasons of personal aggrandize-
ment and by James w. Noel TO further an
| overweening ambition. He ruthlessly at
tackled Brown. Noel. Hunt and Stahl for
plotting against Logsdon with absolutely no
| evidence against him.
| wYNNE AND Expert.
| He defended Councilmen Wynne and Ep-
| pert. and maintained that their testimony
| as TO Noels admissions Is above suspicion.
1 Councilman Shea did not say that Noel did
not declare 10 the committee that there
| was no evidence against Logsdon and that
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