The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-23
COUSE'S ALTERED DOCKET
 FIGURES IN TESTIMONY
Two Of Three Witnesses of Day Testify aStO Changed DOcket-Attorney Riddle Gives Evidence.
 CouSe Not Justice of Peace.

D. H. Riddle. associate counsel for the defendant in the peonage cases against Robert N. Franklin of Goodwater, now on trial in the United States Court, was put on the stand yesterday to testify in regard to the change of the dockets of w. H. Couse, a notary public in regard to the cases.
 Riddle on the stand admitted that he . legal representative of Franklin. had on one occasion advised Couse profes- sionally in regard to the keeping of the docket. but denied that he dictated the entries or had anything to do with the insertion of alleged spurious cost ac- counts. Repeated efforts were made by the District Attorney to bring out the fact that the witness knew that Couse was not an ex-officio justice of the peace but a simple notary public, and that the witness had informed him professionally that he could act as a magistrate To all of these questions Riddle had a de- nial. He insisted that he thought Couse a regularly commissioned notary public ex- officio justice of the peace and believed until the present time, that he was.
 The government yesterday rested in the advance of the prosecution and two wit nesses of the defence were heard. The morning session of the court was full of interest. but on account of some press 1nB -lNUTLHcTH UIStTlCt matters, JuQE6 Jones was unable to re-enter the Frank lin case until after o'clock yesterday af- ternoon. One witness for the defence was examined during that time. F. M. Pruet, who Is under six indictments in the United States Court for peonage in ref erence to the same negroes, the causing to be held in involuntary servitude of whom, Franklin is now being tried.
 Docket is Introduced.
 Court met yesterday morning at 10 o'clock w. H. Couse, the notary pub lie was recalled. The old docket, which contained the true entry in the Pat Hill case and for which Couse swore he was urged to substitute a new one by Frank lin and Riddle. was introduced in evil dence. Couse then swore that he waited for the District Attorney Tuesday morn- ing to tell him in regard to the substi- tuition of the new docket. the correctness of which he had been urged to swear to by Riddle. w. H. Lackey counsel for the defence, then took the witness. The witness swore that he did not remember who first approached him in reference to the change of dockets, Riddle or the de- fendant. Riddle went to Rollins only once to see him in reference to the docket.
 Judge Jones, then enquired. Who start ed that docket ideal? Couse swore that Riddle and Franklin were the origina- tors of the idea. Franklin wrote the wit ness letter saying that Riddle would be up to Rollins to see him in reference to fixing the docket. Franklin had pre- viously told the witness that unless the dockets were changed all of them would have to go to the penitentiary The wit ness suggested that Riddle help them out.
 The government rested. The defence called first witness D. H. Riddle, asso- ciate counsel for the defense. Riddle on ascending the stand stated that on ac- count of professional reasons he would not like to testify in regard to certain unmentioned matters, but was promptly informed by the court that everything any one else would be compelled to swear to, he would have to swear to.
 Riddle testified that he had several con- versatfons in regard to the case with Couse. On one occasion the witness was asked by the notary how the Pat Hill and other negro cases should have been entered on the docket. He told him