Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-26
SEVERAL CALLED AND TESTIFY
AS TO GOVERNMENT OF OF.
TuMWA UNDER PRESENT AID.
MINisTRATIoN.
SPRINGS TRUMP
CARDS AT HEARING
lkTEREsT WAKES WARMER IN
THE CUSTER PROCEEDINGS As
THE CASE PROGRESSES; COURT
susTAINs OBJECTION.

THE CASE PROGRESSES; COUH
susTAINs OBJECTION.
The trump card of the defense in
the Phillips custer proceedings was
played this morning when the mayors
counsel called to the stand a number
Of business men Of the city, among
them, j. w. Garner, J. B. Sax. w. ].
Donelan, Frank Won Schrader, G. E.
Mcdaniel. J. A. Phillips and A. q.
Leighton, to testify to the mayors
good character. The men who worked
with the mayor during the flushing of
the streets late in the spring we're also
called. All stated that they had not
seen the mayor intoxicated and that
they had not seen him under the in
fiuence of liquor.
On the stand yesterday afternoon.
shortly before the close of the session,
City Engineer John Brady testified
that during all of the administrations
under which he has served as engineer
for the city, he has never seen mayor
so assiduous in his duties of Office. He
declared that Phillips took more active
part in the city affairs than any mayor
he had ever been associated with or
observed in office.
Charles Mather. member of the
Fifty-fourth Regimental band, declared
on the numerous trips made by the
band at which the mayor was present.
Including the trip to Los Angeles,
where the band played for the Elks at
the national convention held there, he
had never seen the mayor take drink
although the opportunity was ever
present.
Attorney L. l.. Duke, being called as
a witness for the defense and eques-
toned as to conversation with John
Gray quoted Gray as saying that it
was Jim Gray's request before he died
that he should get even with old Tom
Phillips" and, he said, John Gray
added that now he would get him"
In the testimony of the witnesses who
worked with the mayor flushing the
streets, it was brought out that the
mayor refused to take treat when
offered by saloon man at the corner
D request had been made that the side
walk be flushed.
The present administration was
given a good character by the business
men called to the stand, and it was
stated by Messrs Garner,Von Schrader
and Sax that the present administra.
ton was an Improvement over pre-
vious city governments. They also
stated that they had never seen Mr..
Phillips drunk or under the influence
Of liquor.
Garner TestifIes.
When called to the stand J. W.
Garner stated his residence In OF
tumWa as fifty years. and said that
during several years past he has
known the mayor. During the latter's
incumbency Of the mayors Office he
said he has seen MIN frequently
some days as often as three or four
times, and that they always spoke
and sometimes chatted. He had never
seen the mayor intoxicated, nor under
the influence of liquor. Asked about
the city government since the last
election he said it was an improve
ment, and that he never heard anyone
say otherwise. He said he thought OF
tumwa well governed city.
Upon cross examination by Senator
Cosson, Mr., Garner stated he knew OF
conditions at the time of the Roscn
murder, but did not remember any
agitation. He said some citizens re-
marked about there not being enough
police and that perhaps there had
been a night Waterman or more ap-
pointed at the time as the citizens
were stirred up. The witness stated
that he did not know there was
gambling going on, nor the condition
of Smoky Row. Asked about the con-
dition as to gambling and houses OF
prostitution in the Suits administra-
ton in 1867 he said he had no in
formation as to gambling or bawdy
houses. He did not know that the
open town was an issue in the cleo
ton of 1909, nor that there was much
talk Of it then, but that it might have
been the impression. He said it was
his impression that things would
tighten up" The year before he said
they might have been loose. He stated
that he did not know whether he had
seen the mayor on April 80. On re.
direct testimony he stated that Smoky
Row had a bad reputation for years
and he thought that many troubles
originated there. Because Of tue
Rosen murder, said he, the public
blamed Smoky Row, and the supposed
rape case on Court Hill he thought was
probably responsible for the special
police referred to by the prosecution
Court Sustains McNett.
Frank Won Schrader followed Mr..
Garner on the stand and testified to
much the same evidence as the pre-
ceding witness. He was asked by Sen
ator Cosscn after stating that ne
never saw the mayor intoxicated or
take any liquor. if he had heard any
one say tlsat th1 mayor had besn in