New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-17
POSTAL TRIAL CLOSING.
Miller and Johns Testify an Their
O1cR Defence.

Cincinnati. Oct 1s-The evidence was concluded
and arguments were begun to-day in the triai OF
Miller and Johns for alleged conspiracy to extort
bride from John j. Ryan As six hours were al
lowed Tor arguments. and only half hour was
consumed before court adjourned tonight II Is
evident that the will not go to the jury until
tomorrow evening The feature OF the procedures
to-day was the testimony OF the defendants
After being on the witness stand three hours yes
terday, Johns was crosS-examined for over an noun
to-day. lie denied that he had told inspectors
Nickery and Fulton. when they were investigating
him at Rockville. that he would talk if he thousi'
nothing would come OF it except the dismissal OF Il
clerk in Washington. Most of his evidence to-day
consisted i'm such denials
Miller on the witness stand nearly five hours
and was generally conceded to be a strong WITNESS
FOR himself lie was cool and deliberate, ana tho
court frequently stopped him from arguing ms own
case while answering questions. He was suOJe''eu
to a severe cross-eNamination without being dis
turbed even in trying to explain contradictions III
his own statements.
Miller told about the hearing Of the Ryan case
November II. when ChrstianCy sat as Judge
Miller appearing for the government. Judge out
calf. of Cincinnati also present as counsel 1or
Ryan. Miller then suggested that fraud order be
issued against Ryan, but the representations OF
Judge Outcalt that Ryan & Co. would eliminate an
Objectionable features Of the turf commission DUST
ness and guarantee enough deposits to pay All Ger
uhcates. Christiancy allowed the concern 10 coii-
tuue on. observing certain sipulations. On NoVem-
Der - ChTistiancy's attention called 10 what
the witness had done. Miller testified that the sup
Elemental report Of the inspectors the R an case
delivered to him on December 9. when Chris
uancy was with him, and that the latter READ IT,
said there nothing new in it and directed Miller
To write letter on the Ryan case similar To tIle
ruling in the Arnold case. to to write IL with "
string to it," The witness read the letter, ana eA-
planned that the first part was the ruling and the
last part the string" Miller said the string
was intended to prevent Ryan from using the letter
FOR promoting or advertising his betting schemes.
About that time all in the office were exercised
over articles on Barrett appearing in cases under
Iyner; Miller said Christiancy expected 10 go
Ly{ners ONE and had promised 10 advance the
Miller testified to ordering Ryan's mail held up
al ST Louis Tor violations of the postal laws dLttt
and produced copies Of these orders He said he
mad mailed the ruling to Johns because the latter
IL the same as sending those documents to Ryan,
Johns that would i3nTe8ce his oficiai action RE
also denied any understanding with Ryan, johns OF
any one else as TO his official action. -.,...,
Assistant District Attorney Darby questioned
Miller about previous interviews with BristoW'
TODD; Cochrah ana others IN washington uu.
ing the Investigations. lie said that when ne sent
20 JOINS ne aduresseI me ehNslopt7 "
ser Inns was the case with the decision IN tIe
Ryan affair. although it not customary for the
by Watson when concealed in BriStow's office dur
were produced. and the witness closely Ques-
toned about his statements that he had sent the
statements differing from later replies Miller said
the notes OF Watson were not complete. and dld
not give his responses To RObb and Cochran IN
full. When Miller confronted with the steno-
graphic reports Of the interviews in the offices OF
Bristow and Robb ne said ne did not know that
Watson concealed In the corner at the first
Interview. He said ne would have been more
guarded I'm his statements if he had known every
thing being taken down by stenographer,
but he undertook explain all his replies at both
conferences He never mentioned the Ryan matter
or any other special case to Johns. He said he
never asked learned how Johns got Into the
Ryan case, and he never received anything from
Johns directly indirectly.
Assistant District Attorney Darby addressed the
jury insisting that conspiracy implied an under
standing between Miller and Johns. This was not IA
matter be judged by the previous good reputa-
tons of Miller and Johns or the bad reputation OF
Ryan. He asserted that, whatever may have Deen
the record OF Ryan. he told the truth about the
meetings with Johns at Terre Haute and Cincin-
natl. that Johns secured from Ryan $500 for Il
matter which had already been settled, that Johns
would never have solicited postoftce cases or met
Ryan but for his understanding with Miller. and
that such understanding constituted conspiracy
to commit offence against the United States