Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-27
ATTORNEY FORESTS STATEMENT
he Pleads for Mercy, hut the Judge Is Mol
Moved Thereby.

he Pleads for Mercy, hut the Judge Is Not
Moved Thereby.
w. S. Forrest had been employed to help
prosecute the two thugs and he spoke in
behalf of mercy. He recounted the diff
culties Of the prosecution in making out a
case, owing to the fact that Mannow might
be able to prove that Alvina Schmidtdke
was his wife, in which event her testimony
would not be admissible. Under these
conditions he had proposed to separate
Mannow from the case by u plea of guilty.
Alvina Schnidtke's testimony could then
be given against Windrath. If her testi.
mOny were to be taken against Mannow
and the defense then took the case to the
supreme court on u writ Of error, it would
be eighteen months before the case could
be retired. During that time it would be
impossible, Notwithstanding the praise
worthy vigilance which Inspector Setback
and Captain Larsen had displayed through
out the case. to hold the witnesses together
For these reasons Attorney Forrest had
promised to ask the court to save Man
nows life, because by his plea he had done
SO much in the interests of justice. State
Prosecutor Todd demanded the death
sentence and sprung u decided surprise ON
his colleague by showing that the state
had n far stronger case against both Man
now and Windrath than any one had evel
supposed. We had positive proof that
| Alvina was not the wife of Julius Man.
now, for he himself admitted it in the
| presence of witnesses, in addition to heI
| own admission that she was not bis wife
Mannow's plea Of guilty was of no assist
ance to the state and was not made until
| the halter was around his neck"
When Judge Horton began speaking
| Attorney knight asked for q word and
said: Il apprehend from your remark.
that you are about to impose the death
penalty. l wish to recall some remark.
your honor made to me in chambers
| You said: 1t looks improbable that thu
| jury will convict these men. See YOU
| people and see If they will plead guilty.
And you said further you did not under
stand how Judge Baker could enforce ths
death penalty on Fields ON a plea o.
| guilty. told Mannow what you had said
and for the first time he said: L will
plead guilty., 1t may have been done un
Willingly, but your honor encouraged
the idea that there would be no death
| penalty"
| Judge Horizons reply was that he callet
Attorney knight into his chambers tn,
next morning and directed him to retrac1
any offers Of immunity he might hav,
made on the strength of his remarks
| Judge Horton then proceeded to sun
up the CASE commencing the railruai
company for employing counsel to assis
the prosecution, and Inspector Setback
and Captain Larsen for their ''wonderfu
diligence and great sagacity." He wa,
again interrupted by Attorney Knight
who made a last appeal to the judge {,
make mistake on the side of mere,
rather than Of severity. He listened Will
patience, but would not be swerved from
his purpose.
'The crime" said he, was deliberate
cold-blooded, long-planned scheme, will
murder in the foreground Revolver.
were collected and masks were made II
Mannow's house. IL was headquarters
Where mercy to the guilty u cruelty .,
the innocent the court must not stray
from the path Of strict duty Mannow'l
plea was not practically . plea Of guilty
but IL was the sentence of the jury, pro
nounced BY himself" He then sentenced
Mannow as stated.
ulinois Flag Law Cncoastitutioaal. .
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