The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-06
der what kind OF a Iavless population this


ST. WHO NEaLt5 10 tic
/ az follows:
To the Editor: A. your solicitation
make a brief statement concerning my Re-
| latiou 20 the case Of Henry CraerneT, con
vfcted % the murder OF Mrs Mueller
never knew Crsemer until he requested
me 70 defend him. after which made
thorough investigation OF the charges
against him and Of the evidence that
would be produced in his case at the pre-
Hfnfnary hearing. and advised him TO wave
q formal examination ! am fully SATISFIED
that he lost no advantage in waving A
hearing before the justice. was fire.
quentiy IN consultation with him. as in
tended 70 defend him. but after careful
investigation, and being convinced that
could be- OF no material benefit 10 him. pre-
ferred 20 withdraw from the case, unless
required b. the court 10 undertake his de-
Tense. Another attorney was anxious 70
perform these services. and / was per-
fectiy willing he should.
Il spent several days in looking after
evidence which Craemer claimed would
be important. receiving. however. no COM
pensation, and am unable to see what
more any one could have done for him
have since given careful attention 10 the
case. having heard d large portion Of the
testimony al the trial. and am satisfied
that he had fair trial. and that his sub
stantial rights we're protected according
10 law. ! do not care to disclose my rea-
SOILS lot WftnlEAH4uE from ittE f6ets bGI
whatever they may have been they were
sufficient TO me.
FRED H. PETERSON"
October ,, 1895"
What Is the sssweat Box"
fair specimen OF the recklessness with
which Mr. Wegener allows his magma
ton TO serve his prejudices, is his lurid
description of the 'sweat-box." Any per
son familiar with the methods OF the po-
l.
city OF the country, knows that IL is the
practice for the chief to take an import
ant prisoner Immediately upon his arrest
into his private office There, and not in
dark and noisome dungeon. as Mr.. Veg
ener represents. the chief begins by in
forming the prisoner that IL he does not
care 10 answer any of his questions he is
perfectly free 10 remain silent; and then
questions him with a view TO obtaining
any information from him which he may
be willing to give. This is called putting
prisoner "in the sweat-box." a mere figure
OF speech. and upon this perfectly legiti-
mate practice Mr.. Wegener has based a
word picture OF a verltable chamber OF
horrors.
To go through Mr.. wegener's communi-
cation In detail and point out every one OF
his ulisstatements would be wearisome
and an Improbable use OF space. Suffice
IL TO say that his whole communication is
a tissue Of falsehoods. and that hardly d
single statement in IL is unmixed truth.
Another OF wegeuer's screeds.
Seattle. Wash. July Bon the 18th OF
August. 1894. a German woman named
Philippine Mueller, widow, and her baby
were found murdered. AS hasty inquiry
showed. robbery was the motive of the
horrible deed. The unfortunate woman
had evidently defended herself with the
courage OF despair. but was at last rem
dered defenseless by fearful blows dealt
with an ak. and slain. and the ruthless
murderer did not even spare the life of
her child The gruesome deed aroused
deep excitement on the whole Pacific coast,
for the circumstances of the crime were
particularly sensational. All trace Of the
murderer was lacking. Finally hitherto
unsupported German. Henry Craemer,
father OF three children, poor workman.
was arrested. strongly suspected OF the
crime. and the state supreme court has
Just confirmed the death sentnce which
had been pronounced on craemer by the
superior court, and according TO all appear
ances judicial murder must follow upon
this horrible crime. an innocent man must
perish on the gallows as a sacrifice 10
legal learning and native American preju-
dice.
mir. o. F. wegener and a number Of
other reputable Germans of Seattle have
taken up the poor mans cause. when they
saw what a mockery was being made OF
justice, and they VIII now appeal to the
United States supreme court. since the
state supreme court has referred the case
10 the superior court TO have the date Of
execution set. For a long time the author
tiles were I'm the dark in regard to the bru-
tai murderer. Then they found in the yard
A piece Of the handle OF the hammer with
which the murder had been committed
Craemer was torn from the happy circle
or his family and accused OF the murder.
soon afterwards a small sum OF money
was found hidden in the woodshed Then
II was proclaimed that they had the muir
derer. Judge Humes entrusted Lawyer
SOdcrberg with the defense OF the accused
and the first thing this noble legal prac-
titioner did was 10 make the unhappy
wife Of the accused give him his watch
and gun. \ few dollars which the woman
possessed had been taken from her by the
chief OF police. by what right is a mystery.
The unhappy family IS now thrown entire
~ on the mercy OF its fellow men The
Judge gave the lawyer FOR the defense
about twelve davs for the preparation OF
The trial. and the latter appears entirely
20 have lost his head. Several witnesses
for the defense. with whose help evidence
Of an alibi might have been given, had
zone away and their addresses We're not
IN 30 obtained promptly. and ono witness
who could have sworn that in the first
search Of tho woodsbed no money was
found. IN thc place where several DAYS lat
er the detectives had found H. came into
court "a quarter Of an hour after tho close
~ tho testimony. and the Judge then re-
fused - hear this mantle one import
ant witness offered f0r the defense Sey-
erai other persons who knew likewise ~
che removal of the money 70 tho woodshed
were not called a. all
With hasfv indifference the accused
vas found guilty and sentenced. OF what
RNaH Wa BIS former good name 70 ~,
bis Industry and upriEhtnessP With tf,
help ~ p lawyer. ~ whom. AS Mr. Veg
oncr saws no ono would eufrust his de-
fenee. tracmer was delivered 20 the sal.
lows and tho state supreme ,v,tlrt som
orme1 Tho sentence. hv rejecting So9sr-
herEs petition f1r q respite because ,,e
latter had made technical mistakes IN hts
brief And Tor this reason alone A new,
fris} was refused 20 fhe applicant This
has called forth general comment ga So
attle. Tor the conviction fs corsta--l,-
gaining ground that In this case With the
most revolving cold hloo5edness a judicial
u1rter 81 e De committed. merely because
TIE H~e-im VAS too poor ami HELPLESS 20
~nsace eoc3 lawyers. auf 20 procure " re-
resses for rs 3rlUltaI And the most 70
spectacle German citizens have combine.
- ohts3u new trail
What r1r he expected from a state s,t-
s rTe-oN coi-t which a week before conerr,a4
ire death sentence hanging over a r,err,
named II limos although the Judges az the
same tire admitted ths' enc man had .-.t
deserved the te8tr penalty. Holmes has
meanwhile nr~7 hArEe8. nut the negro
vote wou'3 80 "a eUatt3 from tne ~ a =
& - &c 'purchma0' should not now ais,