The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-21
Their Numerous Hoosier Friends Held
a JoIIihcation Meeting i'm the
Federal Building.
MILLER AND JOHNS CRIED
AND SOME ADMIRERS YELLED
"WHERE Is JOHN j. RYANf"
Verdict a Surprise I'm View Of th
ciaIs Much Disappointed.

CINCINNATI. o.. Nov. ao-DanieI voor-
hees Miller. of Terre Haute. and Joseph
NJ. Johns. of Rockville. Ind. were tonight
acquitted Of the charge of conspiracy to ex-
tort bribe from John J. Ryan. made by
the Postoffice Department.
The verdict of mot guilty was received
by the crowd with demonstrations that
could not be suppressed by the court off,
GERS. AS soon as court was adjourned and
Judge Albert c. Thompson had retired pam
demonium broke loose among the jollify-
ing friends of the defendants from Indiana.
and others, and continued for some time.
Miller and Johns and Attorneys Hiram ID.
were overwhelmed with congratulations.
The defendants finally broke away from
the crowd of friends to shake hands with
the jurors and wept like children as they
did so.
Mrs. Miller and other women. who had
been in attendance at the trial. were not
present when the verdict was rendered,
shortly after 9 O'Clock. Mrs. Johns tae
only woman present and she was overcoms
with JOY. ..-- -.-.-.a. ........,
Chief Postofice Inspector Cochran Mr..
Robb. assistant attorney general for tho
Postoffice Department, and others from
Washington. who had assisted District At
torney Mcpherson and Assistants Moulinier
and Darby in the prosecution. left for the
East before the verdict was rendered as
did Attorney Spaan. of indianapolis. and
others from Indiana. but most of the con-
tingents from Terre Haute and Rockville
remained for the shouting that followed the
verdict
Among the cries of the iollifiers was that
Of Where is John J. Ryan," Ryan had
been the central figure during the two long
trials, but he was not present tonight.
JURY OUT SIX HOURS.
1t was Saturday midnight when the
former jury reported at the first trial last
month that it was unable to agree. The
present trial has continued since last Mon
day morning and a verdict was reached at
a much earlier hour In the evening. The
Jury retired shortly before 3 p. m. and rem
dered its verdict after celebrating six
hours II is understood that a majority
this time were for .acquittal from the start
and that il then took some time to go over
all the documents that had been submitted
in evidence before a unanimous verdict was
reached 1t is generally understood that
there was doubt as 70 Millers connection
with the transactions between Johns and
Ryan.
The charge of Judge Thompson during the
afternoon occupied an hour in its delivery
and was very strong. 1t was evident TO
all after The charge to the jury that the
verdict was a surprise. as the general pre-
diction was that the jury would again be
unable to agree on a verdict. The penalty
for the offense of such a conspiracy is two
years or a fine of 5000. both.
The federal officials acknowledge their dis
appointment in the final outcome, but ex-
press some satisfaction in definite result.
as it takes almost week to hea: the case
and many apprehended that another trial
might be necessary. The government ON
of the other postal cases that are pending.
as this case simply dealt with the action OF
Miller when he was an assistant attorney
in the Postoffice Department
THE DEFENDANTS
Prior to his appointment as assistant
attorney in the Postofice Department at
Washington Mr.. Miller was prominently
identified with politics and Official life In
~ -
State committee of his party in Indiana
Johns was deputy prosecutor I'm Parke
county, and also prominent in Indiana
politics The crowd awaiting the verdict
was largely composed OF the political
friends OF the defendants from Indiana
Those attending the Latonia races in the
afternoon contributed largely to the fore
noon attendance. Ryan is known to all of
them, being himself at the track daily.
Ryan testified to paying Johns $500. while
Miller was in the Postoffice Department.
so he could use the mails for placing bets
on races" Ryan claims that he turned
states evidence after repeated demands
were made on him and when his concern
was closed out he resumed operations st
the track.
In closing for the defense, Attorney
Spaan dwelt on the motive OF John j. Ry-
an, In turning states evidence TO save
himself. and in stultifying himself In order
TO make his own escape sure
United States District Attorney Sher.
man Mcpherson ciosei for the govern
ment in reviewing the close relations be-
tween Miller and Johns that led TO Johns
becoming the middieman between Miller
and Ryan. when the former was federal
official. and the latter wanted TO use tho
mails for questionable purposes. He
reviewed the evidence to show that there