The herald., 1896-02-03
The Verdict Is Murder in the
First Degree
THE PLEA OF INSANITY
Was Worked Diligently by Pris sonsr and
Attorneys
A st. Louis Millionaire Convicted of the Geld
Blooded Murder OF His Wiis
and Child.
Assoeisted Press snecial Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
UNION, Mo-, Feb. 2.-The celebrated
ease of DIR. Arthur Duestrow, the St. Louis
millionaire, who has been on trial during
the past month for murder of his wife and
baby boy two years ago. ended today, the
jury returning a verdict of guilty in the
first degree. After arguments that took
up the greater part of Saturday and lasted
until midnight, the case was given to the
Jury, the members of which went to rest
without considering. This morning the
jury took up the case, and on the first bal
lot found the defendant guilty of murder
in the first degree.
This is the second trial that DR.. Deus
trov has had on the charge of murder. the
frs, one resulting in hung jury last year.
The terrible crime with which he was
charged was committed in February, 1894.
One day that month his wife and child
were at home awaiting his coming to take
. drive. When he came into the house
Duestrow, who was drunk, began to abuse
his wife, and finally shot her in cold blood.
He then picked up his three-year-old boy
and holding it at arms length. killed it
with pistol shot through the head. His
wife fingered for several days.
After his arrest, Deustrow, with the
help of his fortune, tried to evade the con-
johnson. who is credited with being one Of
the finest criminal lawyers Of this state,
was Qiyon charge of { be case and was as
sisted by Colonel Dryden, Charles holland
and ]. W. Booth. Prosecuting-Attorney
kachritz of St. Lewis was assisted by Judge
bolte, prosecuting-attorney of Franklin
county; Judge Kaap and Lee Merriweather,
counsel for the defense, endeavored to es-
tablfsh plea of insanity, but after two in
qniries held before juries in which much
I expert testimony was heard on both sides,
1T was given up and the case came to trial
in Union, change of venue having been
! taken from St. Louis. The first trial ended
in hung jury.
Throughout. the last trial before Judge
Dirzel. Governor johnson and his assist
il. ants kept up the insanity idea and were
ably seconded by the defendant. who en-
deavored to create the impression that he
was crazy.
! As during the two inquests and the for
mer trial, the defense put on the stand a
number of the most prominent physicians
in the state as experts to prove Deustrow's
insanity.
Eminent experts testified in behalf of the
state, and throughout the trial there was
an almost constant warfare between the
opposing counsel. Arguments were finally
begun on Saturday morning in crowded
courtroom. Those present were disap-
pointed that the eloquent Governor John
6On Was not dDl0 10 bpedhs Deluk COuuueQ
to his room with a sprained ankle.
Judge Bolte, prosecuting attorney of
Franklin county. began the arguments.
He dwelt particularly upon the instruc-
tions of the court given the day previous,
explaining them in detail. Charles holland,
for the defense. spoke with eioquepce.
force and conviction. He directed his at
tacks against the states contention that
the crime was due to Drunkenness and
Deustrow's desire to consort with lewd
women. He was followed by Judge Gal
lenkamp, who roupdly denounced the at
tempts of the defense to besmirch tho
names of the prisoners father and mother
in order to prove hereditary insanity,
which attempt had been foiled. j. Wesley
Booth, for the defense, argued that the
worst that could be said of Deustrow was
that he drank hard and was millionaire.
Lee Merriweather's denunciation OF the
attack made by the defense and his coun-
sci upon the defendants mother was most
scathing. He also showed how criminal
attorneys resorted to every means to plead
for and acquit their clients.
Again Col. Dry den closed for the defense
and at some length resented Merriweath-
er's charges as unwarranted.
Prosecuting Attorney Zachritz, who was
the last to speak, brought into play all his
powers of ridicule. sarcasm and wit, and
delivered very effective address. The
suit of the jury's deliberations was made
known today Deustrow's counsel said an
appeal to the supreme court would be
made.
Deustrow received the verdict calmly.
He sat smoking as the Judge read the pa
per handed in by the jury. So far as exter-
nal appearances go, he was the coolest man
and citizens assembled in the court room.