New-York tribune., 1880-02-14
MURDER IN TIE FIRST DEGREE.

KESULI OF 1ItE W Eol OhANbi> lhApi~D -
CONVICTION OF MRS. MEIERHOEFFER AND FRANZ
IAMMENs AT NEwARK-sCENEs IN THE COURT
ROOM.
In the Meicrhoeffer murder trial. at Newark, yes
terdav. Judge Depue delivered bis charge and the
case was given to the jury. The charge occupied
about an hour Both the counsel for the defence
took exceptions. The Judge submitted that the
circumstances surrounding the killing clearly in
dicated purpose to take life, and that the deed
was done by some of the inmates OF the house
hold. The object was not punder. The time Wheh
the deed was committed was shown 10 be about
half-past H. Upon one or both of the prisoners at
the bar the guilt Of the crime rested The jury
we're at liberty to convict or aoQuit one or both.
Certain portious of Mrs. Mcerhoeflers testimony,
continued the Judge, relating to the act of murder
the ury can accept without hesitation. IL Is dlii-
cult for witness invent a series OF circumstances
which never occurred and TO stand the test OF a
cross-examination. Such an experiment rarely sue
ceeds Bnt the endeavOr to give transaction a
false application by substituting one person for an
other or exchanging the time when the event!
bappened or the order in which they occurred much
more easily accomplished. The contradictions IN
Lammens's testimony relate principally to the time
when he went for the whiskcy, to his occupation
when ne saws he was rakine leaves, and to the
blood in the cellar. The murder committed in
omen daylight in q house close to the public high
way and with several houses in sight. According
To Mrs. Meierhoefirs own evidence she
saw the assassin preparing TO Kill her husband
and maze no effort to induce him 10 desist-
made no entTeatv that his life should be
shared She made no outcry when she saw Lainmcns
followed him to alarm hrm or the neghbolhood
single shout might have frightened the assassin. and
she spoke not word. When the deed was done
She furnished the assassin with money to buy liquor,
and while he was gone she looked INTO the ceiiar
and saw the dead body OF her husband ana returned
to the kitchen to await the return OF the assassin
Vixen Captain Clayton called, fifteen minutes after
the murder, be Mrs. MeicrhoeiTer and Lainmens
standing together IN front OF the mouse, ana Whfh
the pollcc He'd immediately afierward Girs. Meier
boetfer was peeng potatoes f'I dinner Nhfh tle
three hunters, each armed with gun, cam" 10
tine honSe she went and hid herself III an outdoiar
There were several persons III tie nou,o %'',1n ~
an hour after the homicide. and she mlde 40 choit
to put herself under Their protection or To denounce
the murderer Of her husband
The ury retired at ahOut II O'clock. Many
a the spectatois fingered about the CourtHOusc IN
the hopc of an early agreement but as hour alter
bour went by the crowd diminished ana at =
o'clock only dozen persons were observed aboGt
the bulldiug. At 6:45 the announcement was made
that the Jury was coming in and the Judge. prose
cutOr and counsel were summoned. Before tlle
Iury entered Ms. MeierhOcher and L1mi@ens were
taken in and we're given seats opposite the Judge
Mrs Meierhoeffer appeared TO be greatly overcome,
and leaned her head far back IN hgr chalf. Lam
I ~
was lighted by only three gas jets and the scene
become more solemn by it's lndistnclness.
When the prisoners had taken Their seats, the
iudpr ordered the jury 90 be brought IN. The
inrors entered $50 aud took their places. answer
ing to their names as called by the clerk. Inc
question was then asked by the CLERK
" Gentlemen Of the jury, are you agreed upon q
verdict DO you find the prisoners guilty or not
| guilty r -, I'll,
The foreman responded: yes both guilty of
| murder in the first degree"
When the question was put the prisoners who had
been ordered by the Judge TO stand NJ, steadily re
| cordeh the Jury. Mrs. Mcerhoefers face indicated
| the most intense interest Lammens turned leaned
easily upon the back of "A chair and seemed 10 have
| only an ordinary concern III the result.
| Judge Depue remarked upon the manner In which
| +he verdict had included both defendants. 1t was
cXDlained that the verdict was found III that form
| for greater convenience. The written verdict was
| then accepted by Judge Depue, and the jury was
discharged
| Joseph Meierhoefer son of the convicted
woman and her brother who were sitting near her.
both burst INTO tears upon the verdict being an
nounced The son walked to his mother and kissed
her She looked at him and kissed him, and said
| at is enough: Oh my darling. am not guilty"
| She was then seated, and Lammens stood behind
her with his hand on her chair. When her son left
| her two constableS led her and Lammens into an
| anreroOm. Mrs. MeierhOetier kept exclalmng,
| "Oh oh oh w with her eyes fixed upon tue cell
| ing. The courtroom then cleared, and the
| prisoners we're taken back TO Jail.
The exceptions taken by counsel will be heard by
| Judge pepue to-day at 10 a. NJ.