Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-24

New York, May 1S.-The jury in the
case Of Dr.. Henry C.. f Meyer, who
poisoned Ludwig Brandt, has returned
a verdict of murder in the second de
gree. The penalty s Imprisonment fol.
life.
When DR.. Meyer was brought into
court just before the hour of opening
his face had the same yellow, Sickly
hue as it has always shown, and there
was a look Of SleeplessnesS in his eyes.
To questions of reporter, however,
he spoke up quite cheerfully, saying
Good morning in the most matter
of-fact voice.
Did you sleep we'll last night?''
was asked.
mo, [ did not have much time to
Sleep was the reply. But 1 slept
right" He had seen his wife, he said.
she is in another department of the
prison, you know" he added in ex-
PLANTATION.
Shortly afterwards DR.. O'Sullivan
and Mr.. Brooke, counsel for DR.. Meyer,
arrived. Then the jury filed into court
and took their seats in the jury box.
Recorder Smyth entered almost at the
same moment and Clerk Penny called
out the names of the iurymeD
While this was going on, Meyer
walked leisurely UP to the center of
the courtroom and took his usual
seat in the midst of his counsel. He
h ,io, Of
heard that the jury had agreed on a
verdict
'Gentlemen, have you agreed on a
verdict?' asked Clerk Penny.
! Yes, we have" replied Foreman
John Wersebe.
How say you. Is the prisoner,
Henry G. f. Meyer, guilty or not
guilty?"
! Meyer, who, in accordance with the
rules of the court was standing fac
ing the jurymen, furtively scanned
, their faces, as if anxious to read their
thoughts and his fate almost before
the OminOuS words could fall from the
foreman's lips. Foreman Wersebe hes
itated moment and looked toward the
recorder, evidently not wishing to look
at the unfortunate prisoner. Then he
said: ''We find him guilty of murder
in the second degree"
The moment these words were ut
tered confused murmur was heard
throughout the room, and Meyer sat
down on his chair absolutely crest
fallen. His hands twitched nervously,
and his whole appearance showed
plainly that he was disappointed at
the verdict. Mr.. Brooke made a mo-
ton for new trial, and the recorder
gave him two weeks to file his
reasons.
This will act as stay of sentence
and Meyer will probably receive his
punishment for life the beginning of
June He was taken back to the
tombs prison.
The immediate crime of which Meyer
has been convicted is the murder of
Ludwig Brandt, alias Baum, in New
York last year. Meyer is a native of
Minden, and about 80 years Of age. He
graduated at the Chicago Homeopathic
Medical college in 1873.
While in Jail, held for forgery, a few
years later, Meyer met Ludwig Brandt,
the son of a general in the Norwegian
army, who was also in prison for fOrg-
cry. When both had got out of prison
Meyer resumed practice and Brandt
acted as his collector. Several life in
surance policies were taken out by
Brandt under the name of Baum, be-
ing, it is supposed, part of a scheme
to have him disappear and have a
lect the insurance.
Meyer and his present wife went to
Europe soon after, returning in De-
cember, 1891. In February, 1892, Mrs.
Meyer was married to Baum, assum-
ing to be niece of Dr. Meyer from
ed to him as part Of scheme to make
money. He assented to it and they
went to New York as Mr.. and Mrs.
Baum, Meyer being a boarder with
them.
In short time Baum was taken sick.
collected the insurance from two COM
panies, but the Mutual Life, suspect |
ing that something was wrong, re- /
fused to pay. This alarmed the Meyers |
and they fled, leaving the body unbu-
ired, and 81 900 check from one com |
pany uncollected.
There are indications that Meyer poi
soned at least five people: His first !
wife; his own child; Henry Gildeman,
Of Chicago; Ludwig Brandt, in New
York; an alleged wife, in Toledo.
It is believed that he had begun to
poison with the view of killing:
His second wife, Gildeman's widow,
n Chicago.
Mary Neiss, a servant at South
Bend, Ind.
An old man in Chicago.
THE HOME OF THE EASTER LILY.