The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-10-15
FIRST one OF
CONSPIRATORS
TO BE TRIED
Beginning of Cases Against
SEx-pOstaI Department Off
Gals at Cincinnati
DANIEL v. MILLER ON STAND
Charged With Taking Money in
Return for Protection to
Swindlins Outfit

CINCINNATI, Oct. 1.-THE first
ments against postoffice officials was
begun here yesterday The defend
ants are Daniel Voorhies Miller of
Terre Haute, Ind, formerly assist
ant attorney-general for he postoff1ce
department in Washington, and lis
friend, Joseph M. Johns, an attorney
az Rockville, Ind. The government
alleges conspiracy between these de-
PENDANTS for the purpose of obtain
ing money from John j. Ryan, turf
commissioner, with offices in Cincin-
natti and St. Louis. for protecting
him in the use of the mails to further
his schemes.
Miller claims absolute ignorance of
any transaction that may have occur
red between Ryan and Johns. Johns
claims that he made an ordinary con-
tract with Ryan, as attorney, to as
sist in securing a decision from Ine
postal department after presentation
Of the case. Both defendants emphat-
ically deny any understanding be-
tween themselves or with Ryan, or any
conspiracy. .
Eminent counsel are engaged on
beth sides. Miller and Johns are old
friends, having lived in adjoining
counties in Indiana for years, where
beth have been prominent politically
professionally and otherwise. While
District Attorney Sherman McPher-
son and his assistants, Mouliner and
Darby, have been working on the case
foc some time they were assisted today
by Charles H. Rcbb, assistant attor-
ney-generl for the postoffice depart
ment in Washington, d. G. Cochran.
chief of inspectors, Inspectors Vickery
and Fulton, who arrested Miller and
Johns and others.
The defendants have been indicted
jointly on six counts. The govern
ment has called dozen witnesses
and the defense three times that many,
SO that it is expected that the argu-
ments will not be reached until the
latter part of the week.
The witnesses today were Richard
II. Webster, a clek in the legal de-
partment of the postoffice department
u Washington, j. N. Morrow, a tele-
graph operator at Rockville, Ind, and
John j. Ryan, the latter being on
the stand when court adjourned. AS
Ryan's direct examination has not been
completed it is believed that most of
the time will be taken up with his
testimony regarding his transactions
with postal officials in Washington
and later with Johns as the alleged
middleman at meetings in Terre
Haute, Cincinnati and St, Louis.
Ryan was on the stand from 8
o'clock until court adjourned. He gave
a history and an explanation of his
cooperative investment company, tell
ing how he advertised in the papers
and received answers with money by
mail. Last November he was called
upon by postoffice inspectors and soon
afterward received notice from d. "
Miller. as assistant attorney for the
postoffice department, that his turf
operations were fraudulent. Later he
ha6 a hearing before Attorneys Chris
tinacy and Miller on November II, in
Washington, where the whole question
was finally referred to Miller.
At this meeting Ryan promised to
reorganize his cooperative investment
company so that his operations as turf
commissioner would come within the
requirements Of the postal laws. IL
continued, however, TO have trolble
and soon after his return from Wash
irgton he received letter FROM JOS
eph M. Johns, in which the latter said
he could be of service to him.
After considerable correspondence
by mail and wire they met in Tevre
Haute, where, Ryan said he registered
under the name of Rose. RYAN de-
about the hotel in Terre Haute end
finally retired to his room, where
Johns opened the conversation about
his troubles with the postoffice depart
ment Ryan was proceeding to repeal
tine conversation that took place when
the two were alone in room n Terre
IIaute, when he was interrupted by
an objection from Rulison to tho wit
ness testifying as to what Johns had
said concerning Miller's statements.
Ryan was testifying that Johns claimed
to be close to Miller and able 70 ad-
wise Ryan as to what Miller had said
could or would be done in "a pend
ing case. Rulison objected II cen
Meeting Miller in conspiracy before
any conspiracy had been established.
After both sides had arguei the
question the court took objection un-
der advisement until tomorrow.