The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-04-01
quEr DECIDED IT MANs1AUeHrnn.

1HE DECIDED 1T MANSL4UGHTER.
The Finding of the Jury In the Celebrated
Lamer Murder Case-Searchin0 Testimony
and Aoss Yteas-A Great Cro,cd attends a
Trial in Which Is Conferred Absorbing In
terest.
One OF the most remarkable criminal
trials ever occurring in Nebraska, If not
in the entire west, was that which ended in
Omaha last week and which resulted in
finding John w. Lauer guilty OF man
slaughter for having killed his wife on the
morning OF November 81, 1885. An ac-
count of the murder was widely published
at the time, hence it is not necessary to
enter into extended details now. 1t may,
however, be recounted in brief that Mr.. and
Mrs. Lauer resided at 2619 Douglas street,
Omaha. At the time OF the killing of Mrs.
Lauer they were the only occupants OF
their bed chamber. All the evidence goes
to show that they had retired about 8
O'Clock the previous night. Lauer slept
with a 32-calibre Smith & Wesson revolver
under his pillow. In the northeast corncr
of the room was the bed in which Mr.. and
Mrs. Lauer slept. He lay on the outside
and she on the inside, or to the left of her
husband. Directly in a line with the bed,
and opposite to the foot of it was n folding
door opening to another room, while i'm
mediately in line with the folding
door was a window opening on the street
from the next room. Tie folding-door was
open. Whether the blinds OF the window
opposite were up and the shutters open is
q question. Mrs. Lauer stood in her night
dress Immediately in front of the open
folding-door and the window and between
them and the bed occupied by her and her
husband. Her husband, who is the only
living witness to the killing OF Mrs. Lauer,
swore before the coroner's jury that on
the morning of his wife's death, about 3
o'clock, he was awakened by hearing a
noise and heard somebody speaking in the
next room. He saw IL figure approach
him and, turning over on his right side
seized his revolver and fired. The advanc-
ing figure was that OF his wife. She dropped
to the floor, her brain pierced by a bullet
from her husbands pistol. Lauer reached
over to the left side OF the bed and found
his wife missing. He made an cutlery, and
the only other occupant OF the house-his
sister, Mirialn-appeared on the scene.
Mr.. Lauer declared that he thought he was
firing at a burglar. He said he and his wife
were in fear OF burglars, and that he had
ciO az OlS LII LILO AOuoS % NS@A I'm a. 1Ii
before.
On Monday, November Sd, Lauer was
held for trial in the district court, and bail
being refused was sent to Jail, where he re-
manned until brought into court to answer
to the crime imputed to him. A large
number of witnesses were Xamine on
both sides and many days consumed in
taking testimony, hearing arguments OF
counsel and listening to the judges charge.
Thejury deliberated for thirty hours before
making up a verdict, and when it was
finally rendered there was much disa-
pointment on both sides, the prisoner and
his defenders expecting acquittal, while the
prosecution and the dead woman's friends
looked for, if not murder in the first de-
gree. at least that Of the second. 1t is
likely the case will be appealed and a new
trial granted, in which event the prisoner
may receive a more damaging verdict, but
he claims entire innocence in the shooting
and proposes to be set right if such a thing
be possible or endure more severe punish
ment.
In the progress OF this important trial
great public interest was manifested. the
court room being crowded from day to day,
the gentler sex, who were deeply absorbed
in the case, occupying nearly every availa-
BILE seat. Hundreds sought admission for
neither seating or standing accom-
mediation could be provided. A large and
attentive crowd listened throughout to the
testimony, but it was not until counsel
were ready to proceed with argument that
the crush to see and hear began. Associated
in the case with the prosecuting attorney
was Gen. J c. Gown, a gentleman known
as the greatest criminal lawyer in the state,
and it was to heal him hat the largest
crowd during the entire trial packed every
OF space in the great court room. We
present herewith a likeness OF thise eminent