The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-15
Mr.. Bristov's Stenographer Hidden in
Room when the Indianian Was
Being Questioned.
TESTIMONY OF J. J. RYAN
WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE CONTRACTS
WITH j. VI. JOHNS.
Agreements Were Written ON the Let
ter Heads of the FiIbeck Hotel
at Terre Haute.

CINCINNATI. Oct. 14-Standing room
was in demand in the United States Dis
trict Court room on the second day of the
trial OF Daniel Voorhees, Miller and Joseph
NJ. Johns for conspiracy to extort bribe i'm
connection with the recently exposed postal
frauds. Nine witnesses were examined to-
day and the government has four more to
call, so that the defeEse will not begin un-
I'll the afternoon OF the third day and the
case may not get to the jury until the last
day OF the week. Much interest is being
taken in the anticipated appearance of the
defendants on the witness stand.
Court was in session to-day from a. m
until after s p. m. The principal witnesses
were Ryan and the officials from Washing
ton. The defense was not taken by sur
prise until In the afternoon, when the
stenographic reports of the private secre-
taries OF Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow and OF Mr.. Robb of inter-
views with Miller were introduced as evil
dence.
Joseph 7. Watson. secretary and stenog-
rapher to the fourth assistant postmaster
general, testified to being concealed in the
Office of his chief while Mr. Robb and
Chief Inspector Cochran had their first in
terview with Miller about the reports of
the postoffice inspectors regarding the de-
clslons IN the Ryan case and the discovery
or MS relations with Johns. He then read
from his original sternographic notes all
tnat was said during the two hours and a
half that these officials were thus question
ing Miller regarding the case. 1t required
one hour and a half for him 10 read the
notes. which he went over much more
quickly than the interview was carried on.
The difference or an hour In time was ac-
counted for by the witness because of the
hesitation of Miller at times during the
RoBB ON THE STAND.
The sensational appearance of Watson on
the stand was followed soon afterward by
Charles III. Robb. assistant attorney gem
eral for the Postoffice Department, being
called. and he produced a copy of the
Transcribed stenographic notes of his secre-
tary. Mr.. Tullis. of another long interview
with Miller when the same persons were
present At the first meeting of Miller with
Robb and Cochran. the defendant did not
know that a stenographer was concealed
I'm the room, as he did In the last case
when he made an equally lengthy state
ment and signed the report made by Mr.
Tullls. The extent of the detective work
that has been done in these cases by the
government was never disclosed until DUR
Ing the afternoon session. when verba tim
reports OF these interviews of Miller We're
submitted in evidence, Notwithstanding the
objection and exception of counsel for the
defense Ii Is now known that more of the
detective work OF the government will be
disclosed tomorrow. when postofice inspec-
tors are TO take the stand.
When John ]. Ryan was recalled to-day
Judge thompson ruled so that further ref
erences TO Miller were admitted. Ryan
testified that Johns told how favorably
Miller had been impressed with the witness
I'm Washington; that Miller's salary of only
5000 was small there. and that both needed
money. Ryan claimed to have made two
contracts Johns Jofa
iE Terre Haute. one for 800 for a favor
able decision, and the other for 5000 for
IL would pass through the mails RYAN
testified that Johns insisted that ssthe
amounts would be small when divided
RYAN UNDER FIRE.
The cross-examination of Ryan by Charles
W. Baker was terrific, the most prominent
question being: "of how many murders are
you guilty?'
When Ryan replied that he had been ac-
quilted OF the only murder for which he
was tried thsss followed questions as to
shooting scrapes and arrests, mostly con-
nected with saloon formerly conducted by
Ryan in st. Louis He was examined at
length about his trial for alleged passing of
bad checks. Then he was questioned about
different arrests. one for securing the corpse
of Chinaman Baker had RYAN admit he
gave Johns. in his own handwriting, a
the latter. as his attorney. could present the
case To- the Postoffice Department. This
document was on the letterheads of the
Filbeck Hotel, at Terre Haute. and was SUBJ
mitted In evidence. as were also the con-
tracts for ESQ and s2,0o0 on the same let
terheads and in the same handwriting of
Ryan. IL was brought out that there was
to be no division of the s2,000 for the revi-
zion OF Ryan's advertising literature. Ryan
admitted that he took in over million dol
lars through the mails, and had two hum
rod Thousand hp ffiee
inspectors took charge of his concern.
Hiram Ruison closely cross-exa mined
Ryan as TO why he had not been indicted
as well as Miller and Johns The witness
denied that any bargain had been made on
immunity promised him. On redirect exam
ipation Ryan testified that Johns dictated
the statements and contracts that were in
his handwriting on the Filbeck Hotel letter
heads.
RYAN'S TALK WITH JOHNS.
While Ryan proceeded 20 repeat in detail
the conversation between Johns and him.
self in the room at the Terre Haute hotel
during which the witness claimed to have
made a contract with Johns for $500 for
favorable ruling from Miller as assistant
attorney i'm the Office OF the assistant at.
torney general for the Postoff1ce Depart
ment. counsel for the defendants interposed
frequent oDiectlohs "hlch We're overrulec
by Judge Thompson Ryan proceeded &c
testify TO all his future transactions with
Johns as the middle man up TO the time
last December when Johns came to Cincin-
natl and they met alone In a room az the
Gibson House, where Ryan gave Johns
SLIGO in cash and 81. 900 in two checks. Ryan
continued his story about subsequent trans
actions in which he said Johns wanted
more funds right along until the witness
finally made a statement OF the whole mat.
ter 10 the postoffice inspectors and mad,
no further efforts to get bets on the races
through the mails.
When Ryans examination was completed
James ~. Bresnahan. assistant manager oi
>soSTiSCED On PAGE 10, COL. A.