The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-03
QUESTION: IS GUILTY
st. Louis Millionaire Who Slew
His Wife and Child.
The INSANITY PLEA A FAILURE.
His Crime Committed While Drunk
He smokes . Cigarette While
Listening to the Verdict.

Union. No. Feb 2-The celebrated case
or Dr. Arthur Duestrow, the St. Louis mil
Lonaire, who has been on trial during the
past month for the coii-blooded murder
OF MS Wife and baby boy two years ago.
ehled To-Day, the jury returning verdict
or guilty IN the first degree. After argu-
ments that took up the greater part OF Sat
uraay and lasted until most midnight, the
case was given TO the jury, the members
OF which went TO considering IL When
the jury took UP the case the first ballot
unanimously found the defendant guilty
OF murder in the first degree. The result
was reached without much trouble. each
member or the jury seemingly having set
tied the case IN his own mind IN the inter-
val between midnight and this morning.
The verdict IS received with almost uni
yersal satisfaction.
This IS the second trial that DR.. Dues
troW has had on the charge OF murder,
the first one resulting in a hung jury last
year. The terrible crime with which he
was charged was committed in February,
1854 One day that month, his wife and
child were at home awaiting his coming
10 take drive. When he came into the
house Duestrow, who was drunk, began
to abuse his wife ard finally shot her down
in cold blood. He then picked up his s.
ysar-oid boy, pretty child. and, hold
ing 1t at arms length, killed il with pistol
shot through the head. His wife fingered
for several days, and finally died. After
MS arrest, Duesfrow, with the help OF his
fortune, tried TO evade the consequences
OF his crime Ex-Gov. Johnson, who is
credited with being one of the finest GRIM
inal lawyers in this state, was given charge
of the case, and was assisted by Col. Nat
Dryden. Charles holland and j. Wesley
Booth Prosecuting Attorney Zachritz, Of
st. Louis, was assisted by Judge
Bottle prosecuting attorney of Franklin
- Judo all = md
Merriwether. Counsel for the defense en-
deavored to establish 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
Dirzel. Gov. Johnson and his assistants
kept up the insanity plea, and were ably
seconded by the defendant, who endeavor-
ed TO create the impression that he was
crazy. As during the two inquests and
the former trial, the defense put on the
stand a number OF the most prominent
physicians in the state as experts to prove
Duestrow's insanity. Eminent experts tes-
tilted on behalf of the state, and through
cut the trial there was an almost constant
warfare between the opposing counsel.
Arguments were finally begun on Satur-
d
Those present were disappointed that the
eloquent Gov Johnson was not able TO
sneak. being confined TO his room with
sprained ankle. Judge Bolte, prosecuting
attorney of Franklin county, began the ar
guments He dwelt particularly upon the
instructions of the court given the day pre-
vious. explaining them in detail. Charles
holland. for the defense. spoke with elo-
uuence, force and conviction He directed
mis- attacks against the states contention
that the crime was due to drunkenness ana
Duestrow's desire to consort with iewd
women. He was followed by George Bal
lingcamp, who denounced the attempt or
the defense to besmirch the names or the
prisoners father and mother, in order to
prove hereditary insanity, which attempt
had been foiled. ]. Wesley Booth, for the
defense. argued that the worst that could
be said of Duestrow was that ne drank
hard and was a millionaire. Lee Merri-
wether's denunciation of the attack made
by the defense and his counsel upon the &C.
fendant's mother was most scatning. he
also showed how criminal attorneys re
sorted to every means to plead for and
acquit their clients. Again Col. Nat Dry
den closed for the defense, and at some
length resented Merriwethers charges as
unwarranted. Prosecuting Attorney Zach
ritz. who was the last 10 speak, brought
into play all his powers OF riuicuie' sar-
casm and wit. delivering a very ef-
fecttve address. The case then went to the
Jury. When the result OF the jury's deiib-
erations was made known TO-DAY Dues
trowss counsel said an appeal 10 the SUI
prene court would be made
Duestrow received the verdict calmly.
Tie sat smoking 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 law
yers, reporters and citizens assembled IN
cnu~f rp0rn