The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-20
END WAS DRAMATIC.
The Prisoner Was Neatly Trapped
by Pierce Butler

ing his wife began with accused wit
ness on the stand and with an attempt
on the part of the defense to show tb:.l
MRS. Hull was Of unsound mind and
that the charges against her husband
were partly the alterations of
dlsordered brain and partly the result
OF deliberate attempt on the part of
Mrs. Hull to ruin her husband. Hull
answered all questions glibIy enough
He had told his wife what questions
sne would have to answer when she ap-
plIed Tor the insurance policy on her
life. One of the questions was: ssJs
there any insanity in your family %
Witness had said, in referring to her
mothers condition, that it was a "pe-
cul1ar form of insanity" This was
brought out in questions between the
objections offered by the state and as
for the purpose Of showing that not
only was Mrs. Hull's mother unsound
mentally, but, also, that If there was
any attempt at deceit in securing the
policy, that Mrs. Hull was equally to
blame with her husband. Such an ad
mission would have weakened the cause
Of the state, which sought to show
that HulFs. motive in poisoning his
Wife was to secure this insurance
money.
Then the witness was asked If his
Wlfe's statement concerning his reIa
tlcns with her neice was correct Hull
ing his eyes, said in low tone: "Ap-
prox1mately correct" Bertha Mat
theWs, the neice referred to. was IT.
the court room. She is a bright-faced
young woman, and the resemblance be
tween her and Mrs. Hull is so strong
that they might be taken for sisters
She listened attentively to the testi
mony Of the witness, but her face did
not betray her personal interest in
what the witness said. She gazed
frankly, and yet without boldness. on
Hull as he was forced to dwell upon
TINS painful portion of his evidence
IN answers to questions, he said his.
downfall had occurred in the summer
OF 1894, that he had confessed to his
wife and that she had forgiven him
AT least, she said she had He had
promised to have nothing more to do.
with the girl. The confession, he said
NAG been made with the understand
ing that it would be kept a secret be
tween himself and his wife. He de-
MED ever having told his wife he had
lapsed from grace for the purpose of
Furnishing her.
Then the ss-examinatfon by Mr.
Butler began. The prosecuting attor-.
| ney reused from the attitude of mat
tentlon into which he had apparently
fallen What. is your age?" What Is.
your profesSion?" when were Won or
dained?" and other questions were put.
briskly leading up to the more leading
query: Were you not suspended and
tried for immoral conduct to which.
Mr.. Pierce very promptly objected.
Mr.. Butler addressed tine court, saying
that he sought to show that the wit
ness had, by his own actions in ST
Paul, been discredited and exposed as.
hypocrite. The court would not ALLOW
the question.
"Since you left pastoral work, what
have you been doing?" asked Mr.. But
Ter.
Il have been the travelling CORE
spondent for publishing house." was.
the reply.
Where were you last January?''
From January to March i was on
the Pacific coast, probably at Seattle
or Tacoma"
when did you last call on Mr.. Pee.
in reference to this policy on the life
of your Wife?''
II think it was about the 18th or 18th
of July"
For the purpose of paying the lapsed
premiums 2"
Yes, sir"
when you applied for this policy
Gid you tell the insurance agent of the
surg1cal operation that your wife was
about to undergo?"
Mr.. Pierce objected as not relative
to the evidence already given.
1T is important that the witness.
should answer this question:" said Mr.
Butler, ''as it will lead up to an ex-
posure of a motive" said Mr.. Butler.
The court finally allowed the witness.
to answer, and Mr.. Hull said in a firn.
and distinct voice: II did not"
You wanted this policy on YOU,
W!fe's life because she was about to.
undergo dangerous surgical opera
tion?" asked Mr.. Butler
Hull hesitated and then Mr. Butle.
u
and prudent to have her life insured for
your benefit before she submitted to.
this dangerous operation, did you?o
Mr.. Pierce objected That's argu-
ment, not cross-examination," he said
and the court ruled the question out
We'll, let's try another way" said
Mr.. Butler. Did you believe thai
your wife was suffering from cancer
that threatened her Efe?"
HULL WAS SCARED.
II was afraid of it," hesitated the
witness
How long did you continue in that
belief?''
Until was told to the contrary b,
the physician"
"That was in January, 1852"
'It was"
a brief recess was taken and the
prisoner came down to the attorneys
table and began writing. The jury lef
the room and when court was calico
to order again some Of the fury men
could not be found. After some delay
the missing men came in and took
their places and Judge Egan remarked
in his pleaSanteSt manner, ''The mem
bers Of the jury are custodians of each
ether. They will please not leave the
house, especially in such cold weather.
Nobody knew where the humor came
IL but the occupants of the galleries
made such guffaw that the baiIif
found it necessary to use his gavel
Vigorously.
c. H. Book, of Minneapolis, was
called to the stand for the defense
In relation to the second insurance
policy taken out by Hull. Nothing was
said to Mr.. Book concerning the SIT
health of Mrs. Hull, but she was ex-
amined by the physician and the ap-
plication for the policy was made to
the company.
MIR. Hull then resumed the witness
stand. Mr.. Butler began to question.
the ~witness, saying: "Your wife sub
mitted to surgical operation to re-
pair some injury caused by child birth.
did she not ?"
She did" was the reply
''The doctor then told you that She.
was not suffering from cancer. did he,
not?''
Eyes, sir"
THAT was in December, 1887"
'Yes, sir"
Witness then told where he was dur
ing the earlier months OF the year and
said tllat Feb. l, 1895, he was at Port