St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-06
A DRAMA IN COURT.
In the Fire Bug Case a GIRL
Admits Having Perjured
Herself.
The Prisoners Grief en-
Learning Of the Death Of
a Child.
Gov. MarShall'S Damage Suit
Over the New York
Deal.
Various Excuses Proffeped by
Unwilling Jury Vic
tins.

Melodramatic were the scenes in
Judge Kelly's court yesterday, where
Marx Michaels, the Hebrew, is on trial
on an indictment for arson. At times
the court, jury and spectators had their
feelings worked up to high state of
excitement through sympathy, which
would give way to laughter over one
or two incidents. One scene was
enough to draw tears of compassion.
Another led into the regions of drama
in real life that strung the nerves up to
high pitch; and still another provoked
uncomfortable laughter.
1t will be remembered that the case
was tried at the January term. and the
jury disagreed. The detectives on one
hand set trap to catch fire bugs who
were blamed with firing dwellings with
a view of securing insurance on house
hold goods. They testified that Michaels
had confessed to firing his dwelling for
this purpose, after taking part of his
goods from the house. On the other
hand. Michaels claimed he went to
Hebrew dance the nightof the fire and
passed the latter part of the night at
the home of his sister-in-law, and went
to his home in the morning to
find it had been on fire and
put out by tho fire department.
He denied that he ever confessed to fir
ing the house. Some of his relatives
were called to prove that he had not
been back to the house after early in the
evening, before the fire, until the next
morning. Among these witnesses is a
niece, fifteen years old, named Rachael
Mlchaels. She went on the stand yes
terday and admitted that she
Had Sworn Falsely
story that tailed with that of the de-
PENDANT, whereas the former story con-
tradiCted him in some particulars. Be-
fore she went on the stand. the state
ment was made by Mr.. Willis that he
was about to put witness on the stand
having low order of intelligence. The
glibneSs with which she testified,
however, seemed to impress the court
with the idea that she had more Shrewd-
ness than was supposed, and, after adj
hitting that she had willfully perjured
herself on the former trial, he ordered
her taken in charge by the sheriff for
the false swearing. This order threw
the girl into an hysterlcal excitement.
She began to exclaim aloud, "My God!
forgive my SINS" and to repeat it in
shouts while she walked eXcitedly
around the court room. Continuing
her lamentations and prayer, she said:
"Why did do this? My mother is a
widow with five children! What shall
l do?" When the bailiff attempted to
quiet her she became more excited, and,
evidently thinking he was about to carry
her off to Jail ran around the court room
in the greatest excitement and shrieked.
at the top of her voice. The court room
was crowded with people, who grew
White-faced at the scene. The girl was
finally quieted when she learned that
she would not be taken to Jail at once.
Judge Kelly then ordered the girl to be
released on her own recogniZance in the
sum of $500 until this morning. A Sis
ter of this witness also cOntradicted her
former testimony on the point Of the
goods taken from the house before the
fire. AT the former trial some of the
defendants witnesses testified that
feather bed and other goods had been
removed. This was contrary TO the
testimony of the defendant on both
trials.
Another incident of the afternoon &C.
Cured when the defendants wife was
on the stand. In answer to question
by counsel, she said that her babe had
died since the former trial. At the an
nouncement Of this fact the defendant
gave expression to wall of sorrow and
like Jacob. of old, refused to be COM
forted. Several of his relatives as well
as his wife also shed Tears of sympathy.
After quiet was somewhat restored the
wife replied, in answer to a question
from counsel, that up to that time she
had not told her husband of the death.
A Tilt in Court.
A further incident of the afternoon
occurred when the defense had Morris
MichaelS, who is jointly indicted with
Moritz. brought from the jail to testify
in defense OF his cousin. The county
attorney objected 10 his being put on
the stand without first notifying Erwin
and Wellington, his attorneys. A mes
sengef was accordingly sent to notify
his counsel. After due lapse of time
the stenographer for Erwin 81 yelling
ton appeared in court, and in the pc
culiar impetuOus manner for which he
wise: ''Your honor, Mr.. Wellington
prejudicial to his clients interests to
become a witness in this case" The
manner of the young man caused some
merriment, but this was not circum-
stance to the laughter which followed
as dialogue proceeded, in which Mr..
Willis took part. Mr.. Willis said:
Your honor, this young man is not
member of the bar, and what he says
has no right to consideration before this
court" The young man, whose. name
by the way is Schumacer, thought his
rights were being invaded, and became
somewhat excited. He wanted to know
if MIR. Willis doubted his statement, or
wanted to imply that he had not cor
rectly delivered the message of his
chief, and repeated its import in very
manner with dlsjointed ex-
carnations. The court as we'll as the
jury joined in the general laugh that
followed. When quiet was restored it
was agreed that the matter might go
20 over until this morning. when Mr.
Erwin will have an opportunity to APP
pear in person in behalf of his client.