New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-10
MESEROLE IS ACQUITTED.
THE JURY OUT NEARLY SIX HOURS.

and Terniner In Brooklyn at IL 15 a. IN. to-day, by
the jury Of which Alonzo Sanders was foreman,
after celebrating five hours and half. Despite
the lateness of the hour the courtroom was crowded
with Interested spectators. who broke out IN rrepres
sble cheers when the foreman in answer to the Ques
ton OF the court as TO their verdict responded Not
guilty"
The prisoner was ordered to stand to hear The YER
dict and as he listened TO the words which maze
him free he put his hand
TO lis forehead and reeled backward HIS
father caught him and helped BIN to his seat. With
some difficulty tho applause was Quieted and young
Meserole was discharged from custody The jury was
In the main for acquttal from the start
The principal witness in the trial Of Meserole
teriay was Mrs Dve Comstoek, and after she left
the stand having endured the strain of three hours
ON the rack Of questioning and questioning. she
tainted in the corridor and had to be attended bv
physician she went home in a coach and was I'M
able 10 return to the courtroom. She told on the
witnessstand all the details Of the shooting OF Theo-
dore W. Larbig in her rooms on June %. 1891 MIS-
Constock admitted upon the witness stand her conduct
rs an adventures She escorted to and from the
witness chair by her father ID. W. Forney. Of Washing
ton and she said she had attended the ocean Grove
camp meeting last summer, and had been converted
and was trying to lead good and pure life.
Every ear I'm the courtroom strained TO attention
as she detailed mnutey the story Of her acquaintance
with young Meseroe and the man he shot, aud the In
cdentS of the fatal In AT 90
ST. She was compelled TO review her career ohe
wore a plaid chevlot dress. on her head where the
blond hair OF last summer had grown black. she wore
a toQue, partly concealed by VEIL she spoke her-
vousy in reply 10 OF the queries put 10 her. ana
several times had to give way TO fts OF weeping
Once she smiled much that the Assistant District
Attorney, who erossexanining her. had to re-
quest her to stop smiling After giving her evidence
The witness left the courtroom on her fathers arm
She Is now living In NeviDs-st.
The prisoner sat with downcast eyes and ilcon-
ceaed emotion when the story OF the shooune was
told by the arrested accessory 10 H. Dut
whom the Grand Jury failed TO indict. lie was ac-
companied by his parents and brother, as well as
other relatives. The courtroom was crowded ana
many wel.known men were present. The first VIII
nesses were called TO give testimony as to the gooa
character of the accused young man. John Glbb te uy
goods importer: John G.. Hoagland AMI others spoh'
of him In the highest terms. In the absence Oh V''
physicians desired to give testimony In regard 10 INC
health Of young Meserole, Mrs. Comstock was put
upon the stand Evidence TO show the brut charac'eF
Of the murdered man had been ruled out,
Mrs Comstock testified that she had known 'he
defendant for two years. When ne retuiheu h0
Europe on June Is. he went TO see her ana eheise"
a room in her fat lie was sick ana needed 'he Faio
NJ q MUSICIAN and a nurse. She rented MN 'ne
room for go week, and she agfeeu ~
nurse him. He was attended by Dr. carter oh
lime o. the day Of the shooting, Theodore Laro!s.
whom she had known about five months caI'e" ''
the house in the morning. she rad made Ills az
uaintance on the street and he had visited her. 'e
had loaned him $50 and he had paid part OF 1t BACK
10 her. When he called that morning she toio nun
she had rented the front room to young ger'enNn
friend who was Sick She introduced the two men
to each other and they had a cordial conversation
Mr. Meserole said he going to the eeidi concert
at Coney Island and Mr.. Larbig said he was going 10
the race track. After she and the latter had gone
into the dining room he asked her II sDe WIS soiue
with Meserole and she said Yes
Larbig then gave her his pochetbook, containing
private papers which he did want TO carry to the
track. In the afternoon she and Meserole weht 10
Coney Island and listened to Seidl's music hter IL
was over they walked the sand and heseroie com
planned OF being weak and s1iering from terriDie
headache and they sat down. When they were ready
TO 20 TO dinner she saw rbig in the distance ana to
avoid him they went roundabout way to the dining
ROOM While Mcserole writing his dinner order
Larlig approached and beckoned to her.
lie then came near and said, want you to come
and she replied IL can't come
Meserole had not seen hin and he asked what the
matter was, and the witness replied: 4" Mr. Larbis Is
annoying me-
Meserole said " / afraid you won't be able to
cat any dinner but Larbg went away and they ate
some. After dinner they took train TO brooklyn
and stopped in Washing ton-ave, where she waited al
a confectioner's and ate ice cream, while MeSerole
fat and they approached it she saw Larbig watch
ing them on the street corner, but Neseroe did not see
him. They went in the house and she lit the lights
aud prepared Mr.. Meserole's bed
Meserole went to his ioom and she went to the
butchers and ordered steak. a few moments after
her return the bell She asked MeseToe TO come
out OF the bathroom, where he was and go in his own
room and close the door. She then let Larbig in>and
asked him what he meant by following her at Coney
Island lie said she had deceived him, and he proposed
10 sleep In the fiat that night. She It'd him he could
not as MeSerole did not know anything of theis rea-
tons. lie clutcbed her by the throat and she said,
Oh Mr. Larbig you wouldn't hurt me-" and ran Into
Mr.. Meserole's for protection. Larbig followed
her and tod MeserOle that she deceivng him.
Meserole replied: 1 know nothing about you and
Mrs. Comstock rent room Of her, and l am sick
man.
The witness went to say that Larbig then took of
his coat and said q" propose to sleep in that bed TO-
night" Mrs. Comstock said "Then l won't sleep in
the fat" Larbig then demanded his picture and she
rot 1t for him from her dressng-case. lie pulling
IL from the frame when the witness offered him another
picture lie be- anne terribly angry and seized the wit
by the throat and threw her the bed and began
jumping her with his knees. lie held her throat
with his left hand and backened her eyes and struck
her In the face and head with the other. She tried TO
scream, and Larbg said 10 her with OATH III kill
you.'
Meseroe told him to stop abusing her. and threatened
10 shoot, and Larbig let 30 Of her and turned 10
Meserole and sad I'll have arrested for threaten
ing my lfe" she rolled of the bed the other side,
and Larbig started toward Meseroe, who backed away
and struck at him. She ran into the next room and
heard two shots fired. The two several feet
apart. She rail- out into the hall and knocked at the
door Of the next fat and got reply, and Meseroe
called her back and said: My God! / have killed
him; but what could dol lie would have killed me
and you too' lie was terribly agltated and weeping.
In few moments he asked her TO accompany him to
the police station and after putting his shoes and
coat, they started. He had only his undershirt and
trousers on at the time OF the shooting.
on her cross examination Mrs COmstock admitted
that she was known as Mrs. COrwin, having taken
her mothers maiden name by advice OF her father.
hlrt1 old ANDY