The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-14

FOUR WITNESSES EXAMINED
TELEGRAMs PRODUCED BY 4 ROCK
VILE, ND, OPERATOR.
Statement Made by j. j. Ryan ON
Which Indictments Were Based,
Reiterated Yesterday.

CINCINNATI. Oct. 13--The first trial un-
der about two dozen indictments against
postal 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 in
the office OF the attorney general for the
PostofIlce Department at Washington. and
his friend. Joseph NJ. Johns. attorney
at Rockville. Ind. The government charged
a conspiracy between these defendants for
the purpose OF obtaining money from John
j. Ryan. turf commissioner, with offices
in Cincinnati and ST. Louis. for protecting
him from postofIice officials in the use Of
the mails for his schemes.
Miller claims absolute ignorance of any
Transaction that may have occurred be-
tween Ryan and Johns. Johns claims that
he made an ordinary contract with Ryan
es attorney to assist In securing a decision
from the postal department after presenta-
ton. Of the case. Both defendants emphat-
icslly deny any understanding between
themselves or with Ryan or any conspir-
acy. The most eminent counsel are en-
gagged on both sides. Miller and Johns are
old friends. having lived in adjoining coun-
ties in Indiana for years, where both have
been prominent politically. professionally
and otherwise. While District Attorney
Sherman Mcpherson and his assistants.
Moaliener and Darby. have been working
on the case for some time. they were as
sisted to-day by Charles Ii. Robb. assist
psrtment at Washington, ID. C. Cochran,
chief OF postofice inspectors. Inspectors
Vfckery. and Fulton. who arrested Miller
and Johns and others.
YESTERDAYS WITNESSES.
The defsndants have been indicted Jointly
on SIX counts Of conspiracy TO obtain q bribs
from John J. Ryan q Co, of Cincinnati and
ST. Louis. The government has called dog
EN- witnesses and the defense three times
that many. SO that it is not expected that the
srgurnents viii be reached until the latter
part os The week. The witnesses to-day
were Richard NJ. webster. a clerk in the
legal department Of the Postmaster General
st Washington, j.. II. Morrow, telegraph
operator at Rockville. Ind. and John j.
Ryan. the latter being on the stand when
court adjourned. As Ryan's direct exami-
nation has not been completed. 1t is
thought that most of the time Tomorrow
win be taken rp with his testimony regard
Ing HIS ransactions with postal officials in
Washington and later with Johns as the
alleged pliddleman at meetings in Terre
Haute Cincinnati and St. Louis
j j. Ryan testified in the preliminary
hearings that he met Johns by appointment
at the Gibson House. in this city and paid
HIM nm the money tS :, and a the IL issrics M attorney
~. from Ryan indorsed by Johns. Ryan
claims that afterwards the defendants i'm
sisted on continuous payments for ''protec-
ton." when he laid the whole matter before
postoffice inspectors.
Mr.. Robb. assistant attorney general for
the Postoffice Department and several i'm
re- here
after the case, but the prosecution is in the
hands of District Attorney Mcpherson and
Assistants Mouliner and Darby. while Nil
lsr Is represented by RuiiSon x Heintz OF
cincinnati and Hintz q Cavens. of Terre
Iiaute Johns Is represented by G. w.
Baker anu r. u. Ballard. of Cincinnati,
Pruett & McFadden and Howard Maxwell.
OF Rockville.
The forenoon was spent in qualifying
for the government by MouIiner for Miller
BY Ruiiscn and for Johns by Baker. The
friends from Indiana were present in court.
The statements OF attorneys for the defend
ants were severe on Ryan. Rulison claimed
that his client Miller knew nothing about
the transactions. Baker said that on Ryan's
own confession the $500 WAS paid by him
for q decision from the judge VINO decided
what was 10 be placed on the fraud list"
WEBSTER 5 TESTIMONY.
The first witness was George Webster.
clerk in the legal department under the
produced the books in which were recorded
the decisions and all other actions taken in
the case OF j. j. Ryan:s concern. and stated
that the Ryan concern had been put on
what was officially termed the fraud list -
Webster identified many papers that postal
inspectors had secured and that were adj
mitted as evidence.
When court reconvened in the afternoon
Webster was sharply crosse examined In
reply 10 question by Rulison he stated
that he was In charge OF what were known
of fraud cases. Since then he had been
engaged also on the latter. He testified
that when IL had been decided that cases
we're not put on the fraud list, such
decision by the assistant attorney general
for the rostofhce had heretofore been final
only such cases were passed upon for
the fraud list were carried up 10 the post
master general heretofore but now the
rule in the department. was for favorable
decisions as well as unfavorable decisions
10 he submitted to the postmaster general
n was Understood that this change took
place after the retirement of General Ty-
ner. RuliSon questioned Webster at length
as TO the records brought from Washington
indicating that Miller had heard the Ryan
case on Oct. II OF last year and that il
was dismissed on the same dav. holding
that there could not have been a bribe
therefore at Washington.
TELEGRAMS PRODUCED.
j. NJ Morrow. telegraph operator at
Rockville Ind. testified at length regard
ing the work OF the inspectors at Rock
vile and produced about two dozen copies
OF kilograms that passed between Johns
and Ryan and one that passed between
Johns and Miller. These kilograms were
admitted as evidence.
John j. Ryan, the star witness Of the
government was on the witness stand from
o'clock until court adjourned lie gave
a history and an explanation OF his CO.
operative Investment company. telling how