The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-08

Being Initiated Into the AerIe in That
 City-claiins He Was BrutaIIy Treat
 ed-Doctors Testify to His Injuries
 Accused Members Declare He Was
 Not Tattooed--Case Adjourned Until Next Thursday.
 ! Middletown, Dec. 7.--John Hunns, the complainant against ten members of the degree staff of the local aerie of Eagles, described his experience in the initiation ceremonies when the case came up for hearing to-day
 Hunns testified that when he was taken into the arie he was blindfolded and first of all laid out on table. By means of an electric battery the let ters IF. o. E. were tatooed upon his breast. Then he was given pair of boxing gloves and told to defend him l self. He did so, he said, as well as he was able, but nevertheless, he was soundly cuffed about the head So that his ears were black and blue from bruises afterwards. He said that his 2AASSo llCAl MCAG aItil0kGa dAlQ nc MdS given pair of clogs and made to run. In trying to get away he said that his arm was hurt badly. He also was placed in a rope harness. he said, and made to go through various stunts R.. W. Stebbins, brother-in-law of the complainant, said he went into the aerie at the same time and saw the performance as described by Hunns. Dr. Sage testified that Hunns came to him with an injured arm and he sent Hunns to Dr. Sweet for treatment. He thought it would be three weeks be fore the arm would be all right.
 After the physicians had given their testimony fifteen members of the aerie were put on as witnesses for the pros ecution. Their testimony in general way agreed in the statement that after Hunns came into the lodge room, he was put into harness and wore it the greater part of the time of his in- itiation. It also appeared that while blindfolded, he was made to box three rounds with q member named Dunn, the candidate for the initiatory degree being held meanwhile at the ends of ropes in the hands of degree team members. The witnesses corroborated each other iii saying that Dunn did not strike the candidate with his fists, but that several times he hit him about I the head with the open glove.
 ] From the description given by the witnesses of the alleged tatooing cere- mony, it developed that Hunns was laid on table while the letters IF O. E." enclosed in wreath were printed over his stomach with rubber stamp. The complainant during his examina- I tion testified that the mark thus inn printed did not disappear from his skin untl last Saturday, about week after his initiation.
 l Regarding the pins and needles" which Hunns testified he felt in his feet when he was compelled to walk about l ill special pair of shoes, F. J. Hughes, a prominent member of the aerie, said l that there was no electric battery in the lodge room at the present time, al l though there used to be one. MT. ! Hughes said he saw Hunns wearing I these special shoes and also saw him l in the boxing match with Dunn. Aft erwards he saw Hunns on the table and heard him yell when the rubber stamp was applied.
 At theconclusion of the testimony T for the state Attorney J J. Dempsey for the defense asked for a dismissal of the case, on the ground Of lack of evidence, but the court denied the re quest. Attorney Dempsey said the de- fense had no evidence to offer, and the court then announced an adjournment Iuntil Thursday morning at o'clock 4 when the arguments will be made. .l City Clerk Henry E. Norris of New Haven, one of the grand trustees of the order, was present during the trial, and a stenographer who accompanied him took notes of the proceedings. MT. Nor I ris will make a report of the matter to the supreme officers of the Order of iY14 4zgN 7H g