The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-03-20
FINAL ARGUMENTS
Messrs. Wesoott and Jenkins Try
to Convince the Jury.
PRISONERS COUNSEL OUTS HIMSELF


But Asserts That It Was an Acct
dent Rather Than Design, aud
Congratulates Himself That He
Is Not Charged with Murder-Jen-
kins Ridicuies InsinaationsAg Against
Mr. Miller.
CAMDEN, N. j., March 20. - Judge
Weston continued his argument in Lin
go's behalf yesterday. In the course Of
his speech he handled the razor with
which the crime is alleged to have been
committed with such recklessness as to
call forth warning from Judge Garri-
son. After declaring that if the wounds
had been made with the razor it would
have been dulled, he thereupon, to prove
that it was sharp, drew it across the
back of his own hand, making deep
cut. After cutting himself he asked
Lingo to bind the wound. Chalkley
Leconey was again an interested listener.
Resuming the thread of argument
where he left off at the adjournment Of
court Wednesday, Mr.. Wescott again
referred to the points he had outlined
that 1t was necessary for the state to
prove 10 establish its case. These were:
The time Mrs. Miller was murdered,
the place where the crime was COM
mitted, and that Frank Lingo was
there at that time and committed the
crime.
The Blood Stained Garments.
Holding up Mrs. Miller's undergar-
ments before the jury, and pointing to
the blood stains on certain portions of
them, Mr.. Wescott argued that they
dispruved the theory of her throat hav-
ing been cut in the woods. Pointing to
blood stains toward the bottom Of the
dress he said, 'Does that not look as
though it might have soaked into that
dress from the bottom of a wagon?"
Mr.. Wescott then paid his compl-
menUs to the county detectives, scoring
them numerically for their attempts
to fasten the crime upon Lingo. when
their common sense should have made
them look in a different direction for
the criminal.
The Plot Against Lingo.
He argued that there was deep de-
sign to fasten this crime upon Lingo.
He said: The man who put Frank
Lingo's sleeve in that open spot put it
there for a purpose. And where was
that spot? In John Miller's field. When
the blood got on those undergarments
and not on the overgarments of Mrs.
Miller, it was because her overgarments
were not on when she was killed. And
then hasty design was constructed to
cover up the damning facts in connec-
tion with this crime"
Mr.. Wescott turned towards his pro-
position that Frank Lingo was not at
the scene of the murder at the time
liked by the state, and that he did not
kill Mrs. Miller. He claimed that the
testimony of the school childred showed
beyond doubt that Lingo cut his hand
that morning while at work in the corn
field, and this would easily account for
the few drops of blood DR.. Formal
found on Lingo's clothes.
He Cuts His Hand.
Referring to the razor with which
the state claims the crime was commit
ted, Mr.. Wescott said it was very
strange If, as the state claims, Lingo
spent hours in cleaning with ashes the
blood off the blade of the razor he did
not remove the clots of blood from the
handle. II Lingo used that razor on
that poor woman's throat he would
have hidden it. Now, il Lingo had
that razor, dripping with gore, what
did he do with it when he came back
through those woods and met Wilder
and three other parties? He certainly
did not carry it in his hand Then
what did he do with it? Why. the state
will say that he stuck it in his pocket
Gentlemen, there are no bloodetains on
the inside of the pockets of Frank Lin
go's clothes"
While fourishing the razor the blade
accidentally swung against ex-Judge
Wescotts left hand, making a slight
cash. Gentlemen, didn't mean to do
that" said the lawyer, land it's good
thing am not charged with murder. "
There was little ripple of amusement
in the audience, which Judge Garrison
quickly suppressed.
The counsel then went into an ex-
haustive review of the evidence, and at
PAS o'clock concluded his able and ex-
haustive argument. which had occupied
six hours in the delivery.
The Prosecutors Argument. HE
Ex-Prosecutor Jenkins followed Mr..
Weston. Speaking of the victim, he
said:
"a woman whose character was I'M
sullied; wife whose marital relations
were alfectionate and exemplary. and
who had given her husband "A token of
conjugal love!
"rhere remains only for me to pick
up the threads which the prosecutor
may have dropped and to run over the
threads which the defense's counsel
have apparently severed. And in the
performance of this duty l will discuss
this case in two propositions. First,
whether Annie Miller was murdered at
the spot where she was found The
second, was the prisoner at the bar the
murderer! Now as to the first PROPOSE
ton. You have clear and direct proof
MS to where, when and how the body of
Annie Miller was found II Annie
Miller wasn't killed at the place where
her body was found. where was she
killed.? The evidence proves that she
hadn't an enemy in the world. What
an abominable supposition, without one
sc.ntilla of evidence that John Miller
or Mary Collins murdered the poor wo-
man. Was the husbands grief indica-
tive of that? Were the husbands ac-
tions on the day of the murder indica-
tive of that? On his return his first So
licitude was for Annie. For an hour or
two his anxiety was stayed. But after
simmer bA becomes more anxious He