River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-06-11
The Young Duluth nIurderes..
[Erom Nc Duluth Herald.l

gay evening, March 4tt, 1873, shot and
killed the late John Pugsley, whom she
alleged seduced her, was placed in the
criminal dock TO meet the charge brought,
the indictment on which she was to be
tried being that Of murder in the first
degree. She pleaded not guilty. A Jury
was obtained on Wednesday morning
after some delay, and the examination Of
witnesses began, the prosecution con.
Quoted by county attorney NJ. s. Stew
art, assisted by j. d. Ensign, ESQ.,, and
Judge Il. +. Parker. The shooting and
subsequent death Of Pugsley was circum.
stanuaily and substantially proved.
Messrs. II. N. Setter and d. g. Cash
acted as counsel for the defendant, Mr.. G.,
making quite an eloquent opening speech;
and, alter admitting the shooting, they
set up the plea Of emotional insanity,
superinduccd by a hereditary faint and
the fact of her ruin by the deceased, pro.
ducing witnesses to prove that one
OF the uncles Of the prisoner was
at present in a lunatic asylum in Ohio,
and that, some years ago, on the death of
an elder sister, the prisoner herself was in
crazed condition for several days. They
also adduced testimony TO show that Mr..
Pugs!ey had, on one occasion at least, adj.
mitted the seduction. On rebuttal, how.
ever, the prosecution brought witnesses
to testify that Mr.. Pugsley was not in
Moorhead at the time Of his alleged ad-
mission Of the offensc, and in fact that he
was never in that town at all. The other
testimony in the case was of little i'm.
portance.
The summing up began on Monday, by
). ID. Ensign, Esq, Who gave an elabor.
ate and clear review Of the case, severely
critlcising some Of the testimony ad-
duced by the defense, particularly that
portion relating to deeeased's confession,
and also commenting somewhat invective.
ly against the evident sympathy for the
prisoner, who, since the trial began, has
had the countenance of large number of
the most respectable ladies Of the city,
who were in daily attendance during the
entire proceedings. After Mr.. Els argu-
ment, the court adjourned, Mr.. Setter
making the closing speech on
Tuesday morning. Mr.. SIS re-
marks, which were delivered with
great conciseness and critical ability,
elicited the most profound attention from
the very large crowd in attendance. His
earnestness showed he felt the greatest
possible interest in the cause in which he
was engaged, and the cleverness with
which he illustrated the various points
on which he relied for an acquittal won
for him additional fame as an attorney.
At the conclusion Of his argument. Judge
Stearns, in feeling and candid manner,
charged thejury, in doing which he cal
led attention to the great importance Of
freeing their minds from all prejudice
and giving the subject their most
serious elaboration. Judge 5. defined
what was and What was not to be con-
sidered as emotional insanity, and gave
the law on that plea Of defence, remark
ing that if the jury believed the defend
ant had, through deliberate malice, slain
Mr.. Pugsley, then she was guilty Of
horrible murder, and deserved to be con.
victed and punished; but, he added that
if on the contrary, they believed the
dreadful deed was committed by the prs
oner, when her mind was disordered, and
wrought up to wildness by her alleged
ruin by the deceased, or even under the
deusion that he had ruined her, then
she was not guilty under the law. The
charge was lengthy, and called forth an
amount Of quiet comment, pro and con,
but, taken as a whole, we think il gave
full satisfaction to large majority Of
those present, who considered it not only
learned but just. The jury retired at
about quarter to 10, and returned their
verdict Of Not Guilty" at about four
o'clock, as follows:
We, the Jury in said case do find the a
iendani, Hattie Russell, not guilty OF
otiense charged in .ho indictment, on the
ground Of Insanity. ANSELL SMITH,
Foreman.
The extreme youth Of the young
mother, who is hut Is years of age, and
quite pretty. called forth the largest pos.
sihle amount Of sympathy, a sympathy
quite natural and not at all engendered
by any i'll feeling or disrespect for the
memory Of the unfortunate victim Of her
terrible aim, for he was person of ex.
ccllent heart, much liked, full of genuine
charity, business probity and good.
heartedness.
Hattie was not in court at the time the
verdict was announced, having been taken
10 the Jail by Deputy Sheriff Meining
shortly after the jury retired. On being
informed Of their decision by Mr.. NJ. she
is reported as having tainted in the arms
of his wife, who has treated her most
humanely and kindly since her imprison.
ment. Mr.. Setter, who worked so earn.
estly and charitably TO save her, went up
to the prisoner as soon as the verdict was
known, and found his client in an almost
insenslble condition, in The arms Of Mrs.
Melning. the news Of her acquittal hav.
ing reached her through Mr.. NJ. few
moments previous TO Mr.. Setzer's call.
AZ the opening Of the court on Wed.
nesday morning, the prisoner was brought
into court and discharged.
Judge r +, Parker tenderly admon.
ished her rs 70 her future conduct in life.
Judge StearnS likewise made few touch.
ing remarks, after which she was taken
away by her father and friends. The
scene was an affecting one, never 70 be
forgotten by those who witnessed IL. Many
an eve was moist.
The feeling as to the verdict Is some.
what divided, some contending that nj