Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-12-29
The CASE OF DIR. MEYER.

THE CASE OF DR.. MEYER.
An odd state Of affairs exists in the
trial OF DR.. Meyer of New York, for
murder. just when the case had been
completed, the testimony in, and the at
sorneys were addressing the jury, n of
the jurymen fell from his chair, sick and
%;usensible. He was carried from the
room, and an examination made of him
by physicians. 1t developed that the
mans mind vas once unbalanced several
years ago. The excitement of the trial
was too much for him,and he succumbed
again to mental uneveness, and it is now
feared he is hopelessly insane.
Should this prove the fact there will, of
course, have to be a new trial declared
and in this event, District Attorney Nee
all says it will be next to impossible to
secure a jury in this country, so much
publicity has been given the trial.
The case of Meyer is agood one, where
by to illustrate the ~]imit!essness of the
cruelty, heartlessness and depravity
which is occasionally discovered in the
human being. \: physician by profess
sion. Meyer has converted his knowledge
Of po,sons into a channel of crimes,
which are so repulsive and hideous in
their enormlty as to be.almost incredible.
In the balance of his opinions. a paltry
thousand dollars outweighed in worth
a human life, ard the number of murders
which he has connived at and committed
cody. calmly and deliberately is esti-
mated at from six to eight.
The crime for which Meyer is on trial
is the murder of n Ludwig Brant, and
the details Of the affair are thoroughly,
%sickening- Meyer, Braut and another
crook, Muller by name. were confined in
the Cook county Jail at the same time.
Meyer unfolded to the others his plan.
1t was a simple one, and Brant and Null.
Ter fell in with it. After they should be
liberated from Jail, it should be entered
upon. Physician Meyer was to treat
Brant and produce illness by the use of
some of the medicines of whose proper
ties he was 30 well aware. Prior to en-
tered upon his period of illness, Brant
was to be united in marriage to Mrs
Meyer, the doctors estimable wife, and
take out life insurance policies to the
amount of several thousand dollars in
her favor. Brant was to continue ill fol
some time, and q physician should be
called in to treat him. He should grow
worse, and fnnlly appear to die. A corpse
would be procured by the genial DR.
Meyer, and substituted. A certificate OF
death would be secured from the physi.
clan, and the real Brant should recover
when the pseudo Brant should be buried
Then the insurance money was to be col.
!ected, and divided. 1t was a pretty
scheme. DR.. Meyer rubbed his hands
and chuckled. Muller was enthusiastic
Brant was eager in anticipation.
That which Brant looked upon as a
profitable little drama, but which
proved the ghastliest kind of a tragedy
began. Brant took the medicines pre-.
pared by DR.. Meyer. He became ill
and a physician was called. The physi
clan, unaware of any plot, prescribed
medicines. DR.. Meyer would call after
his departure and toss the medicines
into the spittoon. Then he would ad,
minister more of bis own drugs. HI
would reassure Brant, and cheer him
with the prospect of the wealth in store
for HIM. And the play went on.
At length Brant objected: He wa.
willing to do his share, but he was be
coming wearied of being the sole marty
in the caste of players. He wanted tht
dying part of the program carried out
that he be relieved of his duties. Aut
so Meyer started out to procure ;
corpse, and prepare for the last act il
the drama.
But Meyers efforts to secure a suit
able stiff were fruitless. He confidec
his failure to Muller, and the two agreed
to make a stiff of Brant himself. H,
would have to die. 1t was a develop
ment they had not looked for, but i
could not he helped. They could no
forego the results of their scheme for 81
slight a cause as the lack of a corpse
They must have a corpse, and the,
would supply it. 1t should be Brant
himself, the man who expected to grow
we'll and receive a share of the fruits o
the fraud.
The drama closed and the tragedy be
gan. Brant was given anthony ant
arsenic by the suave Meyer, who assured