Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-03
HEMAY YET HANG.
Duestrow, the St. Louis Double
Murderer, Convicted.
JURY SAYS HE SHOULD BE HANGED

But He Is millionaire and the Case Will
He Approximations Of the First Stage of
. Trial for . Most Atrocious Crime
Womam's Decapitated Body Found Near
Covington. Ky, but no Clue to the
Butcher-Criminal Notes.
UNION, No., Feb. 3-The celebrated case
OF DR.. Arthur Duestrow, the st. Louis
millionaire, who has been on tria! during
the past month for tie cold-blooded mur-
der of his wife and baby two years ago,
has ended, the jury rendering a verdict of
guilty in the first degree. After argu-
ments that took up the greater part Of
Saturday, and lasted until almost mid
night, the case was given to the jury. the
members of which went to rest without
considering it. Yesterday morning the
jury took up tho case and on the first bal
lot unanimously found the defendant
guilty of murder in the first degree. The
result was reached without much trouble,
each member Of the jury seemingly hav-
ing settled the case in his own mind In
the interval between midnight and morn
ing. This verdict is received with almost
universal satisfaction.
Atrocious Crime Of tho Prisoner.
This is the second trial that DR.. Due.
strow has had on the charge of murder,
the first one resulting in a hung jury last
year. Tho tcrrible crime with which he
was charged was committed in February,
1894 One day that month his wife and
child We're at home awaiting his coming
20, t.r- Ir,,- I. ,,,t H.,
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, a beautiful child, and
holding it at arms length killed it with
pistol-shot through the head. His wife
fingered for several days and finally died.
Tried to Evade Its Consequences.
After his arrest Deustrow, with the help
Of his fortune, tried to evade the con.
sequences of his crime. Ex-Governor John.
son, who is credited with being one of the
finest criminal lawyers of this state, was
given charge Of the case and was assisted
by Colonel Nat Dryden, Charles holland
and j. Wesley Booth. Prosecuting At
torney Zachritz, of St. Louis, was assisted
by Judge Bolte, prosecuting attorney of
Franklin county; Judge Gallenkamp and
Lee Merriwcther. Counsel for the defense
endeavored to establish plea of insanity,
but after two inquiries held before juries,
in which much expert testimony was
4sssPl' on both -sitlss, s,Ys>slkzgfvt4fUl1o o. -.
tho case came to trial in Union, a change
of-venue having been taken from ST.
Louis. The first trial ended in hung
jury.
Throughout the last trial before Judge
Hirzel Governor Johnson and his assist
ants kept up the insanity idea and We're
ably seconded by the defendant, who en-.
deavored to create the impression that he
was crazy. When the result of the jury S
deliberation was made known Duestrow' S
counsel stated that an appeal to the su-
preme court would be made. Duestrow
received the verdict calmly. He sat smok-
| ing u cigarette as the judge read the pa
per handed in by the jury. As far as ex-
ternal appearances go he was the coolest
man among the twenty-five lawyers, re-
porters and citizens assembled in the
court room.