The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-30
The Armstrong Case.

ne eVIuonCe III tue ATMStEouS- Liar
man case was all in yesterday at $50 pm.
and the court adjourned until 7 o'clock in
the evening. Promptly at the hour named
court was convened and States Attorney
Parmenter summed up the case for the
people. He confined himself strictly to the
evidence, charging defendant with direct
responsibility for the death of Hartman,
and urging conviction. He spoke for 80
minutes and was followed by j. I. Ken
worthy. Esq, for the defense. Mr.. Ken
worthy spoke for one hour and twenty
minutes, reviewing the evidence in detail,
offering points in extenuation OF the otfense
charged, and claiming that the evidence
proved that urine poison caused Hartman
death, and not the use of instruments. He
at one time attempted to go outside the
evidence, and was promptly checked by
Mr.. O'Mara, counsel for the people, and adj
monished by the court to keep strictly with
10 the evidence At the conclusion of his
speech the court adjourned until o'clock
this morning.
On assembling this morning Major
Beardsley commenced the closing argu-
ment for the defense. He spoke for over
two hours, taking up every part of the
evidence and dissecting it, exposing the
weak points Of the prosecution, etc. He was
very earnest and made fine speech.
He was followed by 2. O'Mara, Esq. who
closed the case for the people in a speech
of one hour. He confined himself strictly
to matters Of law and evidence, INDUCED
in no flowery rhetoric, but with clearness
and CONCESSION summed up the case in all
its bearings. He urged conviction earnest
ly, and claimed that the evidence proved
the prisoner guilty beyond doubt; that
| the defendant did not use due caution, was
an irregular physician, and knew himself
guilty when he fed from the coroner's
Jury. He closed by referring to the points
of law bearing on the case.
| Judge Smith then charged the jury that
it, from the evidence, it appeared that the
defendant had not used due caution, or
that the wounds produced by the use Of
an instrument 10 the hands Of defendant
| had been caused by negligence or lack of
knowledge of his art, or, if he, the defend
ant, was guilty Of not exercising proper
care, then the jury must fnd the prisoner
! guilty 10 the manner and form as shown in
the Indictment; but if the jury fnd that
f the defendant was not guilty Of negligence,
or that Hartman's death was not caused
by wounds inflicted by instruments in the
hands of defendant, or that defendant had
used due caution, then the jury must ac-
quit the defendant.
The instructions are too lengthy for pub.
LEGATION in full, but the above is the sub
stance of the charge The jury were then
placed in charge of two officers and retired,
, and the court adjourned until o'clock this
afternoon.
At 4:10 o'clock, this afternoon, no YER
, dict had been reached
This afternoon the case of Martin
e Nancy, charged with assault with Intent
, to commit murder, was called and the
= tri-I proceeded States Attorney Par
r msnter for the people, Russo! Il. Curtis
Esq for defendant. The case has beer
I given to the jury.
John Murray, alias 'Club-foot" Burg
Y larry. States Attorney Parmenter for tn,
e people, Edward Murphy, Esq. for de
T. fendaut On trial