The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-05
In the Trial of DIR. Joseph c. Alexan.
der He Describes the Robbing
of Many Graves.
QUESTION OF HIS SANITY
REASON WHY CANTRELL HAD TO
LEAVE THE ARMY.
VOluminOus Testimony Marks Trial Of
the Most Important Grave-RObbing
Case-The Developments.

The taking of testimony in the Alexander
grave-robbing trial began yesterday morn
ing In the Criminal Court with Special
Judge John M. Bailey presiding, jury Of
twelve men of difficult selection as his
judges, and the defendant, DR.. Joseph c.
Alexander. his wife and attorneys, anxious
followers of the testimony of each witness
with a crowded courtroom of curious spec
tators. 1t was several minutes after 8
o'clock, the hour set for the court to con-
vene. before the attorneys and principal
in the case were ready for the beginning of
the trial, the result of which will establish
In measure a precedent for future prose-
cutions and in the event OF conviction
will insure for Alexander a minimum pun
ishment of two years Imprisonment at hard
labor In the Indiana penitentiary.
During the day. the third of the trial, but
two witnesses were examined, Manson
Neidlinger, husband of the woman whose
body was. stolen, and the ghoul, Rufus Cam
trell. Startling evidence tending to show
that Cantrell has been considered insane.
was introduced by the defense. This evil
dence was introduced when CantrelI was
turned ever to the defense for cross-exami-
nation at 3:15 o'clock. The cross-examina-
ton developed several heretofore unknown
episodes in Cantrells history. His discharge
from the army for epilepsy and insanity
was testified to in a certificate from the
War Department introduced by the defense
as impeaching the credibility of the wit
ness.
This fact was startling to the lawyers in
the case and astounding to many persons
WI IN hav he
began with questions as to Cantrelrs pre-
vious reputation for sanity, which led UP to
the direct question:
"Cantrell, were you ever discharged from
the army for insanity or other cause similar
to insanity?''
''No, sir" replied the witness.
Were you discharged for epilepsy?
mo, sir. 1 don't know what epilepsy is
l am not very we'll educated and If you
explain what it means 1 may be able to
do you know what insanity is? Don't
you know whether you were discharged
for insanity not?"
mo, sir.
OFFERED TO READ PAPER
Attorney Spaan then produced a paper
which he offered to read to the court, but
after some argument was prevented from
doing so until after the jury had been with
drawn. He then read a certificate from
Maj. Gen. Corbin, adjutant general of the
United States army, attested by William
Carey Sanger, assistant secretary of war.
showing that Private Rufus Cantrell. who
had enlisted in Indianapolis on Nov. II.
1897, to serve three years. had been dis
charged from Company A. Twenty fourth
United States Infantry, at Fort Douglass.
Utah. on March 13 1898, on a surgeon s
certificate of disability The cause of the
by confessional and suicidal insanity"
After a long argument as TO the rele-
vancy of the certificate the attorneys for
the defense demonstrated to the court that
any evidence in Impeachment of the cred
ibility of the witness was competent and
Judge Bailey ruled that Ii was admissible.
The jury was recalled and the certificate
vas read to it. After the reading the cross
examination continued and the explanation
of the previous answers of the witness as to
their truthfulneSS was made by him when
he said that although he was discharged
he had not known the reason, but had un-
derstood that he was accused OF being In
sane.
Another point raised by the defense DUR
ing the afternoon was that Cantrelrs MEM
ory was bad. He admitted il on several
occasions. and although able to remem-
Der in minute detail his depredations as a
grave robber, he was perfectly unacQuaint-
ed with happinings within the last four
months OF which he knew everything at the
tirne of their occurrence.
Dr. Alexander. accompanied by his wife,
a comely woman of pleasing presence and
appearance, dressed in black and neatly en-
yeloped In cloak OF fashionable cut en-
tered the courtroom and seated themselves
at the right hand side OF the jury Alex
a,.ser and his wife were unostentatiously
interested i'm the proceeding OF the trial.
and from time to time the former leaned
toward his attorneys-Martin Hugg. John
o. Spahr and Henry Spaan-with whispered