Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-18

debate as they sat around the room, chat
ting pleasantly. and now and again they
could be heard laughing. which seemed to
task Of considering whether they would give
liberty or death to the accused doctor.
When the latter entered the court room
he Coolly sat down on chair within the
wired inclosure Of the prisoners pen. He
did not show any signs Of nervousness, and
after exchanging a few words OF greeting
with the court officers he began to read the
account of yesterdays proceedings. pub
lished In the morning papers.
Meyer Downhearted.
On his way to the court house from
the Tombs Dr. Meyer usually has been very
talkative to the deputses VINO afgd chssge Of
him. but this morning he veas reticent and
seemed to be dowGhearted., as n he had q.
premonition that the worst Was In store for
him. ....-,..-,... ~. ysf,
shortly before IL o'clock DR.. w. J. OSul-
livan and Charles w. Brooke, who defended
Meyer. came into the court room. Lawyer
Brooke took his seat at the counsel table,
while DR.. O'Sullivan held a long converse
ton with the accused doctor The corridors
or the court house were thronged with a
crowd OF curious people. but the court OFF,
GERS admitted no one to the court room who
could not show that he or she had a right
to be there.
Recorder Smyth arrived at the court
n.
fed by Capt. Oakford. who had charge of
the jury, that an agreement had been ar
rived at and that the jurymen were ready
to come into court; The jury. Clerk Penny
said could not be brought In until the arri-
val of Charles w. Brooke the senior coun-
sci for the defendant
Lawyer Louis 8. Chandler, who was as
sociated with the lawyers for the defense,
came into court a few minutes after IL
o'clock, and message was dispatched i'm
mediately for the senior counsel Among
those who anxiously awaited the verdict
of the jury were a. number Of prominent
criminal lawyers, and as soon as the rumor
became general that the jury had agreed
on a verdict, the lawyers discussed whether
1t would be for murder in the first degree
or second.
Exactly at 11:3O o'clock Charles w.
Brooke, senior counsel for the defense, ar
rived and Clerk Penny Informed him that
the jury had agreed on a verdict at 0
o'clock this morning. The jury then filed
IN the jury box. Recorder Smyth entered
almost at the same moment. and Clerk
Penny polled the jury and asked for their
verdict 80
Foreman Wersebe hesitated a moment,
and looked toward the recorder, evidently
not wishing to look at the unfortunate
prisoner. He then said; We find him
guilty Of murder in the second degree"
The moment these words were uttered
confused murmur was heard through the
court room, and Meyer sat down on his
chair absolutely crestfalen. His hands
twitched nervously and his whole appear
ance showed plainly that he was disap-
pointed. He had hoped for a disagreement.
Mr.. Brooke made q motion 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 banishment for life in the beginning of
June.
He was led back to the tombs prison,
where his wife is waiting trial an ac-
complice.
District Attorney Fellows was not in
court when the verdict was rendered. AS
sistant District Attorneys Mcintyre, Well
man. Weeks and Lindsay were seated with
In the inclosed space set apart for the
prosecution. Mr.. NJ cIntyre received the
verdict quietly. II am disappointed" said
ne later, in the jury's returning verdict
of murder In the second degree. Murder by
poison Is surely prem edita ted, and therefore
must be murder in the first degree"
The other lawyers, who were discussing
the outcome OF the case. said that 1t was a
verdict for both sides, but Dr. O'Sullivan
did not agree with them.-, .s.,,s-..
DO you accept this verdict in the light
Of victory for the defense. doctor?'
mo, do not" he replied. How can q
verdict of murder in the second degree be
looked upon as a victory, when the con-
victed man has not killed anyone? 1 am
not satisfied with this verdict, and our firm
will insist on new trial. the reasons for
which will be made known in due time"
DIR. Meyer and his wife were arrested on
July II last at Detroit, Mich, where they
were living quietly and poorly under the
names of DIR. and Mrs Carl Schaffer. They
were taken at the instance OF a New York
insurance man named Julian for poisoning
one Brandt. or Baum. in that city in 1892,
to procure the Insurance on his life. Meyer
was taken to New York for trial and de-
velopments made 1t probable that he had
similarly dealt with a number of other VIC
Tins before he met Brandt. On his first
trial one of the jurors became insane and
the trial had to be abandoned. Meyer was
convicted largely on the evidence of one
Mueller, an accomplice.
Secretary Herberfs Movements.