Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 303, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1915 — DAN CONNORS ON TRIAL AT HAMMOND [ARTICLE]

DAN CONNORS ON TRIAL AT HAMMOND

Ytaung Man Accused ctf Efltart to WreA Mtooji Trrita Said to Halve Made Threafts. Dan Conners, of Dyer, whose father, Tom Conners, formerly lived in this city, is now on trial at Hammond charged with attempting to Wreck a Monon passenger train at Dyer. Many witnesses are to testify in the case. The prosecuting attorney is being aided Jay Attorney Peter Crumpaeker. The first witness wais Sam Stokes, a Dyer blacksmith. Attorney CrumipaJcker said he expected to show that ConnertT had a jail record and was an ‘all-around bad man. Stokes said that Conners had told him that he liked Sheriff Whittaker as he had been treated right when in jail! and guessed ne would , have to do something to get back in jail. Lloyd Hoover, express messenger on the train that came near being wrecked, ,said that he was . slightly shocked as the train ran into the siding ans by the derailment. He saw Conners standing between two boxcars and Conners caone at once to the express car and climbed in and asked whose crew tit was and said he was a railroad man and had just come from Chicago Heights. Engineer Frank Miller testified that his train was running at about 50 miles an hour when it hit the open Switch. He said: “I can only say it was a miracle that the engine and train "were not wrecked. I aim shaking hands with myself now that I am not dead.” He testified t~at he saw Conners at the engine cab. Attorney Crumpacker said that he would introduce evidence .to show that Conners hid made threats against Ira King, a trainman on the train that came near being ’wrecked because King had put him off a train at Louisville.. , Only three of the original jury are retained to try Conners. Most of the jury is made up from citizens of Hammond. He is being defended by Attorney Meitz. Conners seems indifferent about the prosecution.