The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-10-28

In response 10 command from Judge Tut
hill, Foreman Heichhold arose in his place
and announced as his positive belief that
no verdict could be reached. The Judge
interrogated the jurymen individually and
each positively declared that no influence
or argument could change his opinion.
The attorneys for both sides agreed that
the jury be discharged, and it was done.
Thus ended the first trial Of what must
be regarded as one Of the most remarka-
bic criminal cases Of the century. The
trial was in progress nearly nine weeks
and cost the State of Illinois over $15,-
600. OF the disagreement it can frankly
be said that the division in the jury fair
ly represents the division Of opinion in the
great world outside the jury box, where
every fact and incident Of the trial has
been followed with engrossing scrutiny.
1t is probable that poll of all those who
have given intelligent consideration to
the testimony and the law as laid down
by the court would present a division of
three to one in favor of a conviction. The
proportion Of those who believe in the
prisoners guilt Is probably much greater.
But belief In guilt and convicting a pris-
oner on circumstantial evidence such as
that produced for the State in this case
are two very different things.
Ready for a New Trial.
States Attorney Deneen said he would
press for another trial, but when he did
not know. He said it would be on the
same theory as the one finished was pros-
ecuted. The vat theory, the boiling of the
body of his wife in crude potash, and
again the convincing part of the evidence
of the heinous murder would be the rings.
It was the rings that fortified the ma
jority in the jury in Its demand for the
conviction of Luetgert. Attorneys Vim
cent and Phalen said they were ready for
the new trial whenever 1t might be held.
They said they would present far strong
er defense than before. Luetgert said
he was anxious for another trial and con-
fident 1t would be ended in his acouittaI.
He charged the failure Of securing a YER
dict that would exOnerate him from the
fearful charge to the fact that Juror
Shaw was accepted. The next time. he
asserts, he Will take the stand in his own
defense, with or without the consent of
his counsel. Judge Tuthill said that he
believed it would be impossible to select |
a competent jury In Cook County on ac-
count Of the publicity given to the pro-
of the trial just ended. It is |
therefore possible that Luetgert may ney-
er be tried again.
Luetgert said he was not surprised that |
The Jury disagreed and that he was conf
lent no verdict would be made twenty
,our hours before. He was not taken by |
,urpriee when he heard Foreman Heich-
lold announce that no verdict had been
made and none was likely to follow.
Neither was 1t a surprise to him when
very man in the jury box said the same
hing in response to the questions of
Judge Tuthill as he polled the jury. No
objection was made to the discharge of
he jury. Judge Tuthill asked Attorneys
Vincent and Phalen what they were dis
,osed to do and they said 1t seemed as IL
he discharge Of the jury was the only
hing justified by the situation. Luetgert
vas then asked the same question by
Judge Tuthill and he agreed with his at
orneys. States Attorney Deneen said
le thought 1t was apparent that the jury
ould not agree. Not once, however. did
he jurors ask to be discharged. They
we're determined set Of fighters and
hey looked for no interference on the
art of the judge, in whose discretion they
night have been released at any time.
In the interviews given by members of
he jury they said they paid little atten-
ion to the bones. Although the battle
f the PSYCHOLOGISTS was the great feature
( the trial, the sesamoid, femur and
ther bones which were introduced in evil
ence as portions OF Mrs. Luetgert, and
yer which the battle was fought, were
ot considered by the jurors. They were
ast aside as having no weight in prov
ng guilt. To the way of thinking EN-
loyed by several Of the jurors, the work
impeaching the Schimpke girls and
lick Faber was fruitless. There were
hose in the jury who gave credence to
heir testimony that they saw Mrs. Luet-
ert sith her husband going toward the
ngins room of the factory that night.
Greater, however, than all of the evi-
ance was that Of the rings. The alb
ance from the smaller ring of any mill
X was the point that did most to keep
ne three jurors strong In their assertion
,at Luetgert was innocent. Nearly all
the witnesses said the small ring had
milled edge when they saw it with Mrs.
uetgert, while the one in evidence had |
smooth outer surface. And when it was {
j ended an encomium of Inspector !
chaack's methods issued from the jury ,