New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-17
THE CASE or MEYER.

Jurjes are instructed on the application or
counsel in criminal cases that no Inference Is
10 be drawn against the prisoner from the fact
that he does not take the stand in his own de-
fence. This results from the old-time relation
of nm accused man to n judicial inquiry into
his conduct. 1t was formerly the case that he
was not permitted 10 testify and when that
rule was relaxed and he was allowed in his
own interest to tell his story. the principle was
laid down that he was not to be prejudiced by
decision not to avail himself of the privilege.
There can be nc doubt, however. that the lay
mind finds it difficult to appreciate the reason
of this rule, and whatever juries are required
under their oath TO do. the ordinary man VIII
say that the failure of an accused person 10
stand UP and say what he can say for him.
self must be accepted as evidence that he has
nothing to say. The case Of the man Meyer,
now on trial before Mr. Justice Barrett,
charged with having poisoned another man III
order to collect policies Of life insurance as
signed to Meyers wife, furnishes an illustration
of the reason why public sentiment Is ana
should be intolcrant Of this rule. Meyer has
bad record He has been tried once for forgery
and twice for murder, and subsequently to the
death of the man for whose killing he Is now
awaiting q jury's verdict it Is known that he
lived under the assumed name of Hugo Mayler
in Ohio. and that woman whom he had
brought into his family in relation partly or
friendship and partly Of service died under pre-
cisely the same circumstances as those when
surrounded the death Of the man Brandt In
the Brandt case Mrs. Meyer was the Dene-
ficiary, Incorporating rs Mrs. Baum. Brandts
assumed name. In the latter case Meyer was
the beneficiary, $500 OF insurance having
been secured Oh the life Of the woman on the
pretence that she was Mrs. Mayler.
These facts are notorious and easily proved,
and whatever the law says about the impro-
prety Of attempting TO prove one crime by EVIL
dence of another, commons sense people VIII say
that the facts in the Ohio case throw lgnt on
the facts in the NewYork case, and that
Meyers omission to go on the stand Is due 10
his fear Of the crosscXamlnation to whlcn ne
would be subjected. Common-sense people VIII
infer. and be justified in inferrng. that he Is
guilty man.
Few criminal careers have been more remark
able than Meyers. 1t is said that he has been
engaged in operations similar to those Tor which
he is now on trial for period Of ten years, and
that the number Of his victims is at least eight.
His scheme was elaborate and well thought out.
There was nothing unnatural or highly sus-
picious about it. 1t required for its execution
GOODNESS. firmncSs and audacity. and without
the aid Of an informer it is almost impossible
that It should have been discovered In this
case more than a year passed between the
| death Of Brandt and Meyers arrest, and but
| for his reckless quarrel with his accompce he
might still be a, work mixing deadly poisons
| with the food of people on whom he had got
his clutches and policy Of life insurance.
| In the light of the story told in court last
| week it seems as II his We're case Of an utter
absence of conscience and soul To 90 about
| the commission of murder so deliberately, so
| stealthily, with such elaborate attention to de-
| tails and such systematic method. suggests
degree Of inhumanity truly appalling. More
| dreadful still Is the relation Of his wife 10 his
| crime The thought of her posing as the wife
| Of n man whom she and her husband We're
| slowly destroying Of her staying day and night
| around his bedside, administering something
| like comfort with one hand while with the
| other she gave him the drugs that were caus-
ing his agOnies, supplies about as hidcous
conception Of woman as perverted human
| nature has ever presented. But OF the guilt OF
| these people there seems to be room for
doubt whatever. The proof against them Is
monumental, and in reply they have nothing
| to say.