The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-20

to remove any doubt tn my mind aSs to
/ the guilt of my client-and until that
time | felt it my duty to defend him
1 have conferred with Mr. Hull and he
agrees with me that this trial has been
carried far enough. He now realizes
that he is wrong and I may add, that
what l did not realize before, / now
believe, that instead of the wife being
mentally unbalanced, 1T is the hus-
band. l believe, as he does, that his
course has been inspired by some evil
genius, and we both now feel the ne
cessity of acknowledging our mistake
before the court and before the world
1 want to say farther and here Mr.
Pierce displayed deep emotion, that
his wife, who is the chief sufferer,
wishes me to say that her purpose has
been accomplished; that she does not
wish to persecute her husband; she
feels that he has already been punished
and joins with me in asking for ciemen-
cy."
Mr.. Hull was then ordered to stand
before the bar. AS he did SO Mrs Hull
broke down and wept silently while the
indictment charging her husband with
attempting to take her life by poison,
and charging assault in the first de-
gree, was read.
Have you anything to say, Mr.
Hull?" asked Judge Egan. The pris-
oner turned and looked at his wife and
the court continued, do you plead
guilty?"
Hull spoke distinctly as he said: by
the advice of counsel / have so ex-
pressed myself; but I am not guilty Of
assault in the first degree"
The court read from the statutes the
definition of the crime charged as ZEN
dangering the life Of" and Mr.. Pierce
hastily interposed that the accused
would plead guilty.
DO you SO plead?" asked the court.
81 will plead guilty, your honor re-
piled the prisoner.
"Have you anything more to say?"
asked the court
NO. sir,'' answered Hull, and he
rested against the clerks desk and
looked fairly into Judge Egan'S eyes as
the latter said:
There seems to be a hiatus in your
mental balance which leads me to in
dulge you, and especially as counsel in
forms me that your wife joins in a plea
for clemency. 1 have watched this
case with interest and 1 join with them
In the belief that you are entitled to
some consideration. I now fix your
sentence at six years in the peniten-
tiary at Saltwater. That will be all.
You may now go on your way to
prison.
The prisoner turned from the court
and with steady step moved to the at
torneys' table AS he passed his wife
he whispered a word in her ear, but
she did not raise her eyes nor reply. A
moment later the condemned man was
out in the corridor on his way to the
jail where he will remain probably
until tomorrow, when he will be taken
to the state prison.
The crowd in the court room was
10th to depart '"The audience will dis
perse; go your ways" ordered the court
in a loud tone. The bailiff assisted in
clearing the room, and a few moments
later the court addressed the jury,
thanking them for their attention and
dismissed them from further duty.
Court was then declared adjourned and
| Judge Egan descended from the bench
not to return to it again during his
brief term remaining.
Leslie Parlin, one Of the jurors, said
| that not until the letter had been pro-
duced at the close Of the morning ses-
sion had he been convinced of the guilt
Of the accused. 1.-THE evidence up to
| that point had not been strong enough
to convict, in my judgment" said Mr..
Parlin.
The ending Of the trial was SO unex-
pected and so dramatic, that Prose
| cutting Attorney Butler was the re-
cipient of many congratulations from
members of the bar, who were present
| and heard his cross-examination. This
| is probably the last case Mr.. Butler
| will try, as he has much work in his
| office to be cared for before his retire
| ment on the first Of the year.