Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-24
CONNELL, CANON AND COURT
Some Further Consideration of the
Wetmore Case Proceedings.
QUESTIONS ASKED OF REV. BELL
Transcript shows Line of Inquiry 10
which such strenuous Objections
Were aid by the Prosecut-
ing Attorney.

"efN bhlu ny Nhe FEostcuN-
ing Attorney.
OMAHA, Jan. 2s.-To the Editor Of The
Bee: A self-styled Citizen" ashamed Of
his name or afraid to come out in the
open takes a shot at me from ambush
in the columns of the World-Heraid for
my defense in the Wetmore case. Another
party by the name OF II. 2. Albert also
comes to the rescue OF Dean Beecher and
Canon Bell In the Daily News. II these
fool friends of the dean and canon would
remain silent they would be doing them n
greater service than by coming TO their
defense. Neither | or any other lawyer
can bother a witness or gain anything by
attacking him unless such witness is unfair
or untruthfui. So far as Dean Beecher Is
concerned. I never even c~ross-examined
him. Outside of his conclusions, his testi-
mony varied but little from Wetmore's.
With Canon Bell it was different. He
came Upon the witness stand with venom
oozing from every pore and not only evaded
and avoided questions, but made state
ments he knew were not true. For in
stance. he desired 1t to appear that he was
not . willing witness and did not volun-
tarily come to Omaha from Des Moines
W bANo Us NN9NiiiicAJs ~ AAoN hNNoNA
about a subpoena being served upon him
and then claimed he did not know exactly
what a subpoena was.
Canon Bells
A sample along this line, as shown by
the official record, is as follows:
From cross-exAmination of Canon Bell,
by Mr.. Connell;
Q.-When did you arrive in Omaha this
last time? A.-Tuesday night, | believe.
O.-Itd Won come with FafeFenCa to this
case? Al did.
Odd you have any subpoena? Al
had a Communication TO come.
Q.-Plesse answer my question: Al
don't think 20.
Odd you have any subpoena? A.
don't think so.
Q.-Why do you say you don't think so
Now, canon, you either know you had q
subpoena or you don't know? Al vii
tell you why; l do not know exactly wha.
a subpoena Is.
Q.-You say TO this jury that you dom
know that a subpoena Is q notice to come
to court as a witness? Al got a notice
/ dare say, from the prosecuting attorney
to come to Omaha.
Odd you get anything more than A:
letter or communication from him? A.
got a communication to come.
Q.-You know that IL not a subpoena
don't you. The / didn't receive a sub
poena.
mere letter or request from the county at
torney to come here, don't you?
Mr.. EnglishEI object to him taking TIL
attitude. He is trying to get the witnes
excited. 1t Is unoalled for.
The Court-Let's proceed.
Q.-You knew when you answered m,
question awhile ago that you didn't know
whether you were subpoenaed or not, 20
did know that all the notice you had 1
reference to coming here was a letter com
ing from the county attorneys office, re
questing you to be here? Ayes, sir.
knew it. / received a letter.
Q.-And you knew, Canon Bell, did 20
, not. that was not a subpoena? Al knee
t this
Q.-Answer that question. I don't car
what you knew outside OF 1t. You kne'
that that letter was not a subpoena, didn
: Mr.. Enslish-The state objects to tn
. question for the reason that 1t Is nc
proper cross-enamination and 1t Is I'm
1 The Court-The objection is sustained
e Pass to something else.
/ To which ruling of the court the defenc
ant then and there duly excepted.
e o.-Well. when you got that notice 20
Q.-And have been here ever since wal
E ing to give your testimony in this case
> Al have.
i Redirect examination by Mr.. English;
Q,-Mr. Cornell inquired of you whetht
o you were subpoenaed or not? Ayes 81
= Q.-And you answered hat you can
u here upon a communication from tf
y county attorneys officer A.-Yes' sir.
Q.-And were subpoenaed after you g.
here? Ayes, sir.
a Observed by the sheriff's office? A
" Yes, sir,
r Q.-Canon Bell, did you say you have r
ceived a subpoena since you arrived
i omaha1 Al have here, yes; sir.
e Q.-Have Il with you? A.-No.
Q.-You received it before you came {
. the stand. did you not? Ayes, sir.
Off that Is true, Canon Bell, will yC
now explain to the jury why 1t Is that W
k answered me that you did not know VIII,
a subpoena waS?
Mr.. English-The state objects to Il
question for the reason that II Is n
The Witness-I fail 10 see where / a
being tried. l am not or for trial, M
Connell, l want you to understand me-.
. Q.-That is a question. Al am not
O'-You are a witness, however. tryiI
Y to convict Mr.. Wetmore,, are you no
Mr.. English-I object to the question, al
/ object to any argument between the a
# torney and the witness
The Court-The objection Is sustained.
To which ruling OF the court the defen
ant then and there duly excepted.
Mr.. Connell-One more question and
g am through.
70 desire TO secure the conviction or Mr.. We
ID more Of the crime OF bribery or oheril
IL a bride -.
al question for the reason that 1t is unfa
IN improper and insulting.
The Court-I will sustain that objectic
= MI. 0OnnGllt MI a NAA NoAC NAAl
;, OF this examination.
In To which ruling of the court the defen
In ant excerpts,
~ Mr.. Connell-I am through, your hone
that is all ! have. got to ask. I said 'ju
'e this one question"
ID The Court-Very Well.
N Witness excused.
am willing to submit 10 any II
:, tribunal whether the foregoing questio
- by me were not proper and whether I
-, last question was either unfair or insu
III ing. The Interest OF a witness Is alwa
proper to be shown. Even Judge Sea
- held In his instructions, II was proper
{ be consid cred. notwithstanding his ruli
that It was improper TO be shown.
~ Criticism of Preachers.
l disavowed any intention or purpose
II raiding the ministry, religion or I
- churches. ! did, however. assert my rig
- in the defense of my client. TO ~eritlcise I
action Of Dean Beecher and Canon b
~ in revealing what was told them will
~ the sacred walls OF the Gardner Memoir
IL Parish House. / believe that what Is 81
to a doctor or a lawyer in his office oue
'e- forever to remain a buried secret, r.
10 ought to be doubly true Of a priest
or preacher. II appeared without displ
from the testimony, that Dean Beecher a
n Canon Bell had q conference with Jud
Ic- Sears for the purpose OF being absolN
from the obligation of secrecy. VIII
a would have been regarded by any law!