The Newtown bee., 1889-03-29


 murder, when, with fear-laden heart and trembling limbs, the guilty man took an unusual and short route to his home. Young oats, crushed by his nasty foot steps, were just beginning to rise up, when found, though Rudolph claims two days had elapsed since the tracks were made. Rudolph also claimed that he had no gun, save that at Tyler,s. until another was proved in his possession then he said it had been lost. Miles Strat- ton had positively stated that Rudolph had gun in the house. Miles Stratton was an old man and might be trifie misty as to dates, but Rudolph himself stated that Miles worked for him in the Fall of 1887, not many months before the murder. Rudolph denied being out of the house, Friday morning; yet James Tyler had seen him. Mrs Stoeffel told Mrs Frank that Rudolph went out with loaded gun, early Friday morning and she dared not stop him, lest she herself should be shot. 'sIf all this is true, there can be no doubt that Rudolph Stoeffel liuTueT6u AlluTeW J. IGck.
 GEORGE W. WHEELER
 Began his argument for the defense by saying, "You of the jury are the final judges in this case; with you rests the future of Rudolph Stoeffel." He argued that Rudolph and Peck were friendly and that the last quarrel, violent though it was, was brief and soon forgotten; it could not cause mnrder. Rudolph did not want to believe that Peck burned his coal. He claimed that man could not have stood or sat with his heel in that mark and shot Peck. 'sIt is painful to think that an attempt should be made, in a court of justice, to convict man on such flimsy evidence as that offered by the State." Sarcastic reference was made to the tobacco and powder and the evi- dence about the tracks in the oatfield and elsewhere was not conclusive. If Ru- dolph had killed Peck and hidden his gun so effectually, why did he not also hide the shot? Miles Stratton was called an "almost hopeless imbecile" and his tes- timony ridiculed. Rudolph could not have shot Peck; he was crazy drunk and it would have been impossible for him to | go to Peck's and back in the time given by the State.
 | D. B. LOCKWOOD
 Continued the arguments for the defense reviewing testimony, but spending much of his time reading law. If Peck was shot at , 15 and it was 45 when MT; Peck went to the house, what was done during that hour or more on which nc light was thrown? My impression is l that Peck dropped dead instantly anC that the blood drops on the door and tn, stone walk made by some one who hand led and robbed the body after death. He wondered why Jennie Lockwood should go first to the wife of the man witt whom she (Jennie) was living and wh! the women were so friendly. He declar ed that the circumstantial evidence nigh be true, yet Rudolph might be innocent "Gentlemen, unless you take the testi mony of jail birds, liars and thieves Cfo Mrs Frank proved herself liar and oth CTS proved her thief), you cannot con vict Rudolph Stoeffel.''
 STATE ATTORNEY FEssENDEN
 Made the closing argument and peopl crowded in, not only from the four town whose boundaries converge near tn scene of this murder, but many of Bridge ports lawyers and prominent men a we'll. Every seat within the bar was tai en and Judge Lockwood could hardl move about the room. Outside, not
 square foot was unoccupied. The fan ous lawyer and politician began by sa, ing that a case of such grave importans called for the most careful consideratio on the part of the jury. They could nt conscientiously comply with the opinion desires or requests of his learned frienG of the opposition, but were bound | their oaths to abide by the law and u evidence, both of which he fully elucida
 ed. Courts have again and again decide
 that circumstantial evidence is sometim,
 as cogent as direct evidence and justit
 is almost invariably done. Portions , tCSbithohN MClO oiSSCSlCu lo ploSS LII
 Rudolph hated Peck, had often quarre
 ed and threatened, with oaths, to ha-
 Peck's head. Mir Fessenden argued tn
 Rudolph would have had abundant tin
 hide the gun and return between u
 time when Joe heard his voice and wh,
 Tyler saw him. He went over the tes
 mony link by link to show it's conneeti'
 with the murder and with Rudolph.
 regard to Mrs Frank, he said that the o
 ly testimony against her was that of ssB
 najah Peet, who saw thousands at Peel
 house, then hundreds, then 100 and, fl
 ally, could name dozen or so whom ei saw-Benajah Peet and his lovely al T. virtuous daughter alone had witness ,e against her.- [Judge Lockwood bro le in with few nasty words, ,whereupon b. Fessenden turned quickly upon him. y sharp tilt ensued, but MT Fessenden a 10 peared to hold his own and made go y use of tha satirical language of which 10 is so accomplished a master.l He arg Id ed that there could be no doubt of E e. dolph's guilt. An opinion from Jud h Beardsley was quoted to explain t k meaning of Ga reasonable doubt. ] it. Fessenden scorned the suggestion of t t, defense that Jennie Lockwood, Mrs Pc u- or tramp might have done the shooti al and again pointed to Rudolph as { he guilty man.
 at JUDGE DAVID TORRANCE n Is enveloped by the dignity of the CO nl and his utterance is slow, distinct a Dt impressive, his language admirably oh ot en. His charge to the jury, occupy