The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-12
Arguments Made by Prosecutor Ruck-
eIshaus for the state and Mar
tin Hugg for the Defense.
CONCLUDING SPEECHES TODAY
HENRY y. SPAN AND WILLIAM T..
BROWN YET TO BE HEARD.
Great Crowd I'm the Courtroom tn
Hear the Arraignments-Cou
Attaches Worn Out.

Yesterday the jury trying DR.. Joseph G.
Alexander listened to the arguments OF
attorneys on both sides of the case. Dur
ing the day the jurors sat restlessly in the
seats allotted to them and during the en-
tire time of the two sessions listened TO
the imprisoned arguments made by Prose-
cutting Attorney John c. Ruckelshaus and
Martin Hugg, one of the attorneys for Alex
ander. The jury listened with attention to
the argument This indicated TO men IA
miliar with the trial of criminal causes
that the jury is undecided to the EVIL
dence and the prediction was made by
men who have had much experience that
the jury will either disagree or return
verdict acquitting DIR. Alexander. The
crowd was more interested in the argument
than either DR.. Alexander or his wife, who
still remains by his side in the courtroom
during the trial, but who bears up under
the strain without the least indication of
her mental anxiety in her face.
The crowd in the courtroom yesterday
was a large one. There was frequently
such commotion End disorder that it was
necessary for Judge Bailey to rap his gavel
in an attempt to secure order.
Back of the railing large crowd stood.
The inclosed space occupied by the jury,
attorneys, defendant, court reporters and
newspaper men was the only comfortable
place in the courtroom, as outside of this
a crowd of fully two hundred lawyers and
other court frequenters were standing close
together and uncomfortable, but still in
tensely interested In what was going on
before the jury. The gallery was also
crowded and in that portion of it reserved
for women seats were all taken.
JUDGE WORN OUT.
Judge Bailey has stood the ordeal wonder
fully well since the beginning of the trial.
but yesterday he appeared to be utterly
worn out by the constant grind of the pro-
ceedings. He said he felt well, but IL is
considered fortunate that the case will end
to-day, as the strain the nerves of the
court and jurors has been severe.
John c. Ruckelshaus opened the argu-
ment for the State at o'clock yesterday
morning and devoted little of his time to
commentaries on either the principal of
the case or the character OF the witnesses.
He plunged into the evidence produced by
the State and on this demanded that the
jury convict Alexander and provide for his
imprisonment for several years In the
penitentiary. Mr.. RuckelshauS reviewed
the testimony of the witnesses for the prose-
cution and defense. He carefully went over
each statement of a witness that had been
corroborated by another, or any statement
the truth of which was disputed by other
witnesses. Their contradictions of specific
testimony had been made. Mr.. Ruckelhaus
spoke of the motive OF the witnesses in con-
tradicting the testimony of the prosecution.
He said that the testimony of Rufus
Cantrell and other ghouls was emphatic
and clear and should be conclusive. He
said no regard need be given to the evil
dence Of the professional men experts
on the mental condition of the negro, Rufus
Cantrell He said that the medical men
had stood by Alexander the same as they
would stand by any other fellow practi-
toner when prosecution directly related
to the entire medical fraternity was In prog
| testimony in rebuttal of that evidence for
| obvious reasons. The State had made no
| effort to bring out points in the prosecution
which might have been made more clear by
| the swearing of physicians for the same
| reason. He told the jury OF the sentiment
| among the physicians of the city and how
| il had conspired to make the prosecution
| encounter difficulties in securing testi-
| mony.
| Regarding the character of Cantrell,
| Ruckleshaus said he agreed with the attor-
| ney for the defense who had said Cantrell
| was moral monster. He said he believed
| Cantrell to be everything that bad.
/ but still believed him to be truthful wit
/ ness. lit shows the character of the de-
| PENDANT in this case when he hired such a
| man Cantrell to do his nefarious work
4
| tried TO prove that the negro was insane
| What IL he is insane? 1t only goes to show
i the baseness of purpose of the defendant
when he will hire man OF unsound mind
/ Ruckelshaus spent much time in demon
| strating TO the jury that, although Alex
ander was man of good repute In the
| grave robbers, IL was possible for him to
have helped steal human bodies and still
be deserving of that reputation. Ruckels-
hauS said a mans reputation was based on
| that part of his nature that he permitted
| TO be known to the public. According to
| Ruckelshaus, Alexander was a sort of DR.
Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde and, although socially
professionally and commercially believed tC
be a good fellow, an excellent physician OF
standing In his profession, and a man OF
honesty and integrity In his business deal
ings, was still the accomplish of Rufus Can.
trell and other negroes in the Dissertation
of human graves in the cemeteries of Ma.
rion county. The prosecutor. in closing his
argument, appealed to the sentiment of the
jurors He asked them to picture the
graves of their loved ones despoied OF
their dead by the hands of moral monsters
such as Cantrell, inspired to their acts by
a smart man, who, although an alder OF
ghouls. held a chair of standing in an edu
cational institution of the reputation o.
the Central College OF Physicians and Sur
geons.
FOR THE DEFENSE.
Martin Hugg, for the defense, began hi:
argument to convince the jurors of tn,
innocence of Alexander at Ills O'Clock
Mr.. Hugg's argument was the effort of tn,
trial. He had with much care prepared
review of the testimony and a siftins
of IL to show the contradictory and veal
points OF the prosecution and of the evi
dence submitted In defense which he de
clared to be unbiased. straightforward ant
honest statements of honest men of char
acter and standing in the community
| Mr.. Hugg spoke until the noon recess
| and at O'Clock resumed his argument
which was not concluded until seven min
utes before 5 o'clock, the time for the ad
| journment of the court.
The attorney spent much time in goin.
| over the four counts OF the indictmen
| against Alexander. showing what he consid
| cred TO be their faults. He then took up al
the evidence tending to prove guilt oil
either OF the counts. and told the Juror
what testimony the State had neglected 4
secure TO substantiate the charges. III
said that the statements of some of tn
| witnesses of the State were improba bI
to say the least. and the testimony of tn
ghouls was lie from beginning TO end
Although the chief ghoul. Rufus Cantrell
had declared that he had used livery rig
| for his social pleasures Mr.. Hugx sal