Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-08
a sCATHING ARRANGEMENT.
District Attorney Coles Argument In the
Schneider Murder Case.

Schneider Murder Case.
HE Analysis THE TESTIMONY AND DECLARES
THAT THE PROSECUTION HAS FULFILLED EVERY
PROMISE MADE IN ITS OPENING ADDRESS AND
THAT TEE PRISONER Is GUILTY OF MURDER.
In the Schneider trial yesterday after TIE
Stars report closed Judge Wilson again took
up the prayers Of the defense granted by the
court and explained them at great length to
the jury He claimed that they instructed the
jury that unless they could find beyond reason
able doubt that the defendant went across the
street to provoke a quarrel with Frank Ham
link for the purpose Of getting a pretext to
kill him or his sister the defendant could not
be convicted of murder. The term reasonable
doubt was also explained at length by Judge
Wilson, as was the difference between the law
full and unlawful killing of a human being. He
then. at 3:15. closed his argument as follows:
MY task is done. II / have aided you in
reaching conclusion in the case it is well.
no doubt have wearied you, but I trust that
you will attribute it alone to my anxiety to do
all possibly could for my client. The district
attorney will follow me. When he has done,
and after his honor has laid down the law in
the case, the question to be then answered will
be this: Can you say from the evidence in the
defendant intended to take the life Of his wife
with malice aforethought? Can you say, gem
temen OF the jury, that he fired the shot
which killed his wife? Can you say that his
killing OF her, grating that he did kill her was
not accidental. Your daty gentlemen, is a
solemn one, and / appeal to each and every
one of you to carefully and deliberately weigh
all the evidence in the case, and am sure that
when you have done you will not find the
defendant guilty Of any crime. Thanking you
most heartily for so patiently listening TO
what have had to say pray that our Heavenly
Father will guide and help you
District Attorney Cole Begins.
District Attorney Cole at once began the clos
ing argument for the government. He was in
excellens voice, and from the moment that he
began until the court adjourned he held the
closest attention of all who heard him. He
began his address by assuring the Jury that no
one more regretted the dreadful tragedy than
did the prosecuting officers, but the deed had
been committed. and his honor, the defendants
counsel, the prosecuting officers and the jury
were all charged with a solemn duty-a duty to
the government, to the defendant and to them
selves. The importance Of that duty could not
be estimated. either to the government or to
the defendant. The defendant was charged
with but one murder, yet two lives
had been taken in this great capi-
tai on that calm Sunday evening
have turned to the Good Father of us ALL The
bodies had long since been consigned to the
grave and the two young souls to their Maker
Yet, when the defendant is arraigned at the
bar 1t is attempted to be claimed that the taking
of the life of the young wife and daughter was
an accident. III 1t was an accident it was the
most wonderful in the annals of criminal juris-
prudence. Never since the world began had any
man or set of men even alleged or attempted
to show that the taking of life under such
circumstances was a mere accident. If it was
not an accident then il was the foulest murder
which had stained the earth.
SUGGESTION AS To PERJURED TESTIMONY.
1t was almost impossible, said the district at
torney, to infer from the argument of Judge
Wilson what he wants the jury to believe as to
Frank Hamlink's connection with the shooting
OF his sister; but it within the range of pos
sibility Of probability that man with his
sister or wife by his side, with an intention to
assault another man. and within easy range of
the man. instead Of harming him. should pour
three bullets into the body of his sister wife?
The mere statement of such a pretension was
enough to shock the judgment and conscience
Of any man. and it was not to be wondered at
that a gentleman Of Judge Wilson's abilities
and learning should. he did at the begin
ming of his address. apologize for bis connec-
ton with this case. Judge Wilson had seen fit
to crluclse the prosecution because 1t would
not let in all the evidence, or rather things
which the defense had produced. and because
II dIo allow it to bring all his perjured wit
nesses here. He blamed the prosecution be-
cause it had not put Mr.. Manning on the stand.
but the district attorney knew his duty better
than to put on the stand and insult the court
by doing a witness who tried to create an
impression not borne out by the evidence. Be-
fore he closed he would have more to saw of
Manning and the other witnesses for the de-
Tense.
THE OPINIONS OF THE JURY.
Judge Wilson had thought it his duty to give
the jury a lesson. He had told some of them
that they had gone into the jury box with an
opinion. None of the jury had intimated what
those opinions were. and what right had Judge
Wilson to say that those opinions were not
favorable to his client? 81" said the district
attorney, did not know what those opinions
were. did not care to know. 1t was enough
for me to know that you declared you would
disregard those opinions and render a verdict
alone on the testimony given on the stand.
took it for granted. indeed knew. that Won
told the truth. That is all which concerns me.
and II IS al which should concern the defend
ant. fair and impartial trial is all the gov
eminent wants. 1t is all the defendant can
want Neither the defendant nor the govern
ment is entitled to anything more"
The trial. continued the district attorney, was
matter OF great moment one of great impor-
lance to the defendant but it was also one of
great moment and importance to the govern
ment- 1t was true that the defendants life and
liberty were at stake, but with that the iury
had nothing to do. They did not make the
law; they did not provide the penalty. What
ever the consequences were to the defendant
did not concern them. II it could be supposed
thar they would be false to their duty and bring
in verdict against the defendant NOT
justified by the evidence. they would be false
to their God. to the government and 10
themselves And if they should fail to
render verdict justified by the evidence
III this case they would be equally false, and
would tuin loose on society q red handed muir.
derer to repeat again his hellish work. There
was no need for Judge Wilson to tell the Jury
time and time again that the defendant should
be presumed to be innocent until proven
guilty, for every citizen is so presumed until
the presumption Is removed by evidence. If
therefore. the defendant was innocent he should
! not be found guilty, and il he were innocent
he was not.
But HE Is GUILTY.
But he 10 guilty, and 1t would be false for the
prosecuting officers to do otherwise than to de-
mand his conviction 1t was true that thu
prosecution had exerted itself to win success in
| the Case. but what compensation would the
little professional success be 10 the prosecution
| If theN carried in their hearts the knowledge
that they had convicted an innocent man? The
prosecution had no professional pride, no per
! sonal qualification in the conviction Of the de
fcndant- They had but one interest but one
| duty. that Of duty to the government and Il