National Republican., 1885-12-16
CONVICTED OF CAPITAL CRIME.


Probably the most expeditions trial for n
capital oflenso that has occurred In the crimi
nal court was thnt OF Louis Sommcrnjld, con.
cludcd yesterday, There were two indictments
found against him, ono for killing his wife,
Christina Sommcticld, aud the other his sou
in.law, GottlCih Elscnhaun, They were con.
solidolcd, and the two cases tried ns one. The
Securing OfG jury was entered upon us soon rs
The court convened yesterday, and In little
Vine that work was completed, and the follow.
ing panel accepted Lloyd MOXley, George 4.
Stewart, James H. Stevenson, Arthur l..
Thompson, Alexander Lewis, Thomas w.
Chase, Percy MeGgoT Nicholas, i. Anderson,
WALKER and Raymond w. BurCh.
Brief openings were made by District Attor-
ney Worthington and Mr.. Phelps, aud the oN-
animation OF witnesses then entered upon.
Edward Mccarthy was on the street whom
the shooting occurred, and went to the house.
He described the scene and cool manner In
which the prisoner behaved.
Mrs Bcrtha Elscnbraun, widow Of tho man
killed, stated that Sommericld came In about
o'clock aud asked, for a glass of bcnr. She
give IL TO him, and then wanted to see his wilc,
Tho witness knew that hor mother did not
want TO sec him, and she shut the door. Som
mcrfeld then started to force his way IN, when
the husband Of The, witness aud the deceased
came from the back room aud told Sonimer.
field that he did not want any trouble there;
that he must go out, and put his hand on Som
merileld's shoulder telling him that he must
so out. At that point Sommerilold pulled a
pistol nom his sleeve and fred, and her hus-
band fell She started to run, and as she
car. sho hurried out for help aud ho
went into the back room, when she again
heard the pistol fired. When sho
got back ngnin she found her mother and hus-
band, both dead, lying on the floor.
Maria T. Payne, Maggie Woodward, and Dr..
Joseph +. liartigan, John !. Coylc, Paul Dlnd.
ridge, James T. Childs, aud William Myers tos.
tilted TO the same facts as before the corouer's
inquest.
An uncommon occurrence here took place
the son appearing on the witness stand and
giving testimony ngninst his father. This
aided materially In establishing his guilt. Leo
sommeriield Is not yet is years Of ngc, but
heavy built, muscular looking brlghtaced boy.
lie testified that he was the son OF the prisoner,
and that witness and his mother had sup.
ported the family Tor The past six years, His
mother oncc By hitting her with an AK and
agnn by shooting. His father complained that
he did not get money enough with which to
buy whisky. He ran aiter his mother once
with an NIX, but lid not catch her When she
lcit the house she took nothing with her but
her own clothes, His father had not worked
for long g., tins n,S;,a and would not work There
and he always listened to what he had TO say
lie left his fathers house at the same time his
mother did, but was away at work when shc
Lieut.. ]. F. Kelly repeated the statement
made by Sommerlleld Mt the station house, that
he shot his wife because she took some 500 of
his money and gave II TO Eiscnbrann, and ho
shot the latter for keeping his wlle at his house.
Officer Slack also had an interview with the
prisoner, who made similar statements.
IL was o'clock when the prosecution an.
nounccd their testimony In chief as closed.
The defense stated that they had no testimony
to present, and with this concluded the cvl.
dcncc in the case.
District Attorney Worthugton waived his
opening and said he should require little or
any time for argum ent, as he thought 1t 50
plain that the jury could see their way clear
without assistance.
Mr.. Phelps addressed the jury on behalf of
| his client, speaking nearly an hour
District Attorney Worthington confined him
| self to the facts establishing the crime of mur-
| der, which he maintained had been clearly
| done. He spoke about five minutes HIS
| honor took fifteen more In delivering his
charge, aud at 3:i5 o'clock, four hours aud
| thrce.quarters ailer the trial virtually began,
| the jury retired with the case. Twenty-Five
| minutes later the jury returned with verdict
| Ofguilty of murder In both cases. At the ro-
| quest of the counsel for the defendant the Jury
were nollcd aud individually affirmed their
| verdict.
Notice was given of a motion for new trial.