The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-03
.DUESTROW'S DAY.
Found Guilty of Murder in the
First Degree.
Shot His Wife and Baby. and
Will Hang.
ONE BALLOT TAKEN.
Is a st. Louis Millionaire, and
was Drunk.
His Wealth Spent Freely to Es-
cape Conviction.
ONE BALLOT TAKEN.

UNION, Mo-, Feb. 3.-The celebrated
case of Dr. Arthur Duestrow, the St.
/ Louis millionaire who has been on
trial during the past month for the
cold blooded murder of his wife and
baby boy two years ago, ended yester-
| day, the jury returning a verdict of
! guilty in the first degree.
After arguments that took up the
greater part of Saturday and lasted
until almost midnight, the case was
given to the jury, the members of
which went to rest without consider
| ing it. Yesterday morning the jury
! took up the case and on the first bal
| lot unanimously found the defendant
guilty of murder in the first degree.
The result was reached without much
! trout BILE, each member of the jury seem
ingIy having settled the case in his
own mind in the interval between
midnight and morning. This verdict
is received with almost universal sat
isfactiOn.
This is the second trial that DR..
Duestrow has had on the charge of
murder, the first one resulting in q
hung jury last year.
The terrible crime with which he
was charged was committed in Feb
ruary, 1884. One day that month his
his coming to take drive When he
came into the house, Duestrow, who
was drunk, began to abuse his wife,
and finally shot her down in@cold
blood. He then picked up his 3-year-
old boy, beautiful child, and, hold
ing it at arms length, killed 1t with
pistol shot through the head His
wife fingered for several days and
finally died
After his arrest. Duestrow, with the
help of his fortune, tried to evade the
consequences of his crime. Ex-GOv-
ernor johnson. who is credited with
being one of the finest criminal law
yers of this State, was entrusted with
the charge OF the case and was as
sisted by Colonel Nat Dryden, Charles
Noland and J. Wesley Booth. Pros
ecuting Attorney Zachritz of st. Louis
was assisted by Judge Bolte, prosecut-
ing attorney of Franklin county;
Judge Gallenkamp and Lee Merri-
weJher
Counsel for the defense endeavored
to establish a plea of insanity, but
after two inquiries held before juries,
in which much expert testimony was
| heard on both sides, it was given up
and the case came to trial in Union, a
change of venue having been taken
from ST. Louis The first trial ended
in a hung jury. Throughout the last
! trial before Judge Hirzel, Governor
Johnson and his assistants kept up the
insanity idea and We're ably
| seconded by the defendant, who
endeavored to create the impression
that he was crazy. AS during the
two inquests and the former trial, the
| defense put on tn stand a mum Der of
the most prominent physicians in the
State as experts to prove Duestrow's
insanity. Equally eminent experts
testified on 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 court
room. Those present were disappointed
that the eloquent Governor Johnson
did not speak, being confined to his
room with a sprained ankle.
When the result of the jury's de-
| alterations was made known Quest
rows counsel said an appeal to the
| supreme court would be made.
| DuestrOw received the verdict calm
". He sat smoking a cigarette as the
| judge read the paper handed in by the
| jury. AS far as external appearances
! go, he was the coolest man among the
! twenty-five lawyers, reporters and
| citizens assembled in the court room.