Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-02

words the light of sudden joy flashed in
the sad, weeping eyes of Mrs. Sophia
Walther and Henry Schmidts nervous
frame heaved convulsively for moment.
But Caroline Schmidt, this woman of iron,
she half smiled for moment, looked at
her husband with an expression half
pitiful, half contemptuous and relapsed
into the steady demeanor that she main
tanned the day long except when Lawyer
Dickinson, i'll a pathetic Illusion to her
dead mother, brought the tears to her
eyes. Instead of being escorted by her
diminutive husband into the court room
yesterday morning, Mrs. Schmidt pre-
ferrcd the more stalwart support of Otto
Walther and with him walked firmly up
the steps into the court room, while Henry
entered with Mrs. Walthers.
In opening for the state, District Attor-
ney HannuIn said. fright here at the
outset of my argument j desire to relieve
you, gentlemen, as to any question about
the position the commonwealth will take
in this case. After haying heard the testi-
mony have made up my mind that from
the evidence, if You took the position of
the commonwealth in this case, do not
think that there is sufficient evidence to
convict this woman of murder in the first
degree.
''As | conceive it to be the duty of the
district-attorney to present the evidence, |
ton now do after full thought and re-
Election, conscious Of all the responsible
ties that the law casts ON me. The ques-
tions for you to decide will be whether OF
not this was a suicide, if not a suicide,
did not Caroline Schmidt kill her sister?
If She did either murder in the second de-
gree or manslaughter is the grade OF the
crime.
"The commonwealth does not seek for
victims. There has been no effort shown
on my part to unnecessarily press this de-
fendant. All my effort has been simply
to get at the truth. If after having heard
this evidence you make up your minds
that there is no proof against this woman,
in Gods name acquit her
After the surprise at the stand taken by
the prosecution had subsidized Garret Pen-
dleton began his address, which outlined
the history of the accused and ended in an
appeal, not for mercy but Justice.
0. B. Dickinson brought tears to many
eyes by his natural and homely portrayal
of the sorrow that has overtaken the be-
reaved family, and created an impression.
William L. Broomall argued in prosy fash
ion for three hours and ten minutes, during
which time Mr. Hannum was sharpening
his legal sword, and in the closing of the
case made the proudest effort of his career,
and at the close of the court congratula-
tions were heaped upon him.
VI lue lawyers SpeecDeS II is only neCeS-
sary to speak briefly. Mr.. Hannum opened
with clear and concise statement to the
jury and then rested his case.
The low buzz of expectancy filled the
courtroom as Garret Iendleton arose to
make the opening speech for the defence.
Mr.. PendletOn is a speaker who impresses
one by his logic rather than by the orator
ical power of mis- appeal. In point of fact
the speeches of the defence were not equal
to the realization Of the audience, who ex-
pected to hear some elaborate and dra-
matte speeches.
Lawyer Dickinson was the best speaker
for the defence, and his pathetic appeal to
the jury was very affecting.
Mr.. Broomall, the heavy gun for the de
fence, was, as speaker disappointing in
all departments and really reargued the
case from the standpoint of dry testimony
instead of speaking
District-attorney Hannum's closing was
the feature of the day, beginning inauspi-
ciously and ending in a forcible appeal to
the jury to do their duty. When his adj
dress was concluded at $40 p. m, after
being on the floor over two hours, the
judge asked the jury if they desired to
hear his charge the same night or wait
until tomorrow morning. They seemed
willing to have the ordeal gone through
with at once and one juror said as much,
but after retiring for a few moments they
concluded that tomorrow would be their
choice and so were taken to their quarters
in the Charter House.