The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-20
THE JURY STILL IN DOUBT
Luetgerfs Life Vel Hanging in
the Balance.
MAJORITY FOR CONVICTION
Rumored Attempts 10 Tamper With the Jurors.
Offering Money for an AcquitaI
of the Defendant.
MAJORITY FOR CONVICTION

Chicago. Get. 19.-Another night of
suspense is ahead of ths defendant of
the Luetgert murder trial.
At o'clock tonight the jury had gone
to bed ON cots placed in the court room
and it was announced by Judge Tuthill
that even in one case out of a hundred
the jurors should wake up and agree
upon verdict there would be no an
nouncement and the court room would
under no circumstances be opened until
10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
A few minutes after o'clock Judge
Tuthill appeared at the door of the court
house and gave positive orders that no
one should be admitted under any cir
cumstances. Judge Tuthill went immed-
lately to the court room where he was
told by the bailiff In charge that several
of the jury were almost exhausted by
the severity of the ordeal to which they
had been subjected during the past
thirty hours and if they were not al
lowed some rest some of them would
surely become ill.
This jury also sent word that there
was no prospect off an agreement and
under the circumstances the judge gave
orders that the jury be permitted to
sleep. Cots were dragged into the court
room and within a. few minutes every
juror was stretched out at full length.
Judge Tuthill, after giving directions
that all things possible be done for the
comfort of the jury left the building
for his home.
.'They have not agreed as yet" he said
when he lift the court house, land when
/ became convinced that there was little
prospect of their doing so and saw how
weary some of them were l told them
ITO go to sleep and try to agree in the
morning. That was really the cause of
my visit to the building tonight. There
is, of course, no likelihood that they will
wake up tonight and reach an agree
ment and even If thy should 1 shall not
come down to hear it before 10 O'Clock
tomorrow morning. There is no chance
whatever of verdict being given by
the jury before that hour
States Attorney Deneen remained in
his Office until all hope of a verdict to-
night had been abandoned. He is still
hopeful of a verdict, but naturally looks
upon disagreement as the most like
1y outcome.
There were rumors of all kinds aaoat
during the evening, all of them being to
the effect that the friends of Luetgert
on the jury were weakening. 1t was
known during the day that the vote
stood eight to four and tonight the ru-
mors were that 1T was ten for the death
penalty and two for acquittal A later
story was that 1t stood eleven for hang
ing and ona for acquittal. Juror Harley
is admitted to be the stout friend of
Luetgert on the Jury and 1T is he who
DIS leading the fight for an acquittal.
Over in the Jail Luetgert was anx-
dously awaiting word from the jury
room. HE tried as usual to keep up an
appearance of indifference and as usual
made a failure of it.
IF they don't agree" he said, st get
bail and 1 will be out of this. can
give bail for million if they want that
much. My wife is living somewhere, but
I admit she is having a lot of fun with
me at present. There is one thing sure"
the prisoner said with great positive
ness, there will be no conviction"
Two letters. Offering brides to the fore
man of the jury in the Luetgert case,
have been received by Judge Tuthill and
are now in the possession of the states
attorney.
States Attorney Deneen Is not dis
posed to regard the attempted bribery
seriously, but Inspector Setback and
Assistant States Attorney McEwen hook
upon the matter suspiciously. The first
of the two was received Monday MORN
ing. 1T was dated October 16, the date