The herald., 1897-10-21
On q Verdict in Luetgert's
Case
JUROR HARLEY is STUBBORN
AND DEFIES BOTH ARGUMENT
AND THREAT
Judge Tuthill's Courtroom Looted by
Morbid Vandals Seeking Souve-
Mrs Of the Event
Associated Press Special Wire.

CHICAGO, OcL. ZU.-At l0 this morn
ing, in accordance with instructions of
the court, the bailiffs cleared the court
room, even newspaper men being eject
ed. The jury was called into court, and
ten minutes later the prisoner was sent
for, but after declining to instruct Juror
Harley upon questions OF fact, Judge
Tuthill sent the jury back to it's room
and Luetgert to his cell. When Luet-
gert reached the court room he believed
that he had been acquitted, and was
evidently disappointed when he found
that no agreement had yet been reached.
At $3.50 tonight 1t was announced from
the office Of States Attorney Deneen
that there would be no announcement of
verdict in the Luetgert case before the
opening Of court tomorrow morning.
Judge Tuthlll went home early in the
evening, leaving matters with Mr.
Deneen, who was to send him word in
case a verdict should be reached during
the early part Of the evening. The at
torneys for the defense also left matters
with Mr.. Deneen and went home to
await any word that might come from
the jury room. Attorney Phalen, the
Junior counsel for the defense, was
around the state attorneys office for a
short time and then took his departure.
States Attorney Deneen, pale-faced
and red-eyed from lack of sleep, sat in
his office until $3.50 and then he an
nounced that he would wait no longer,
and gave orders that the Office be
closed.
"There is absolutely no chance now Of
anything being heard from the twelve
men before tomorrow morning at the
earliest" said the states attorney, as
he left his office.
Reports as to how the jury stands vary
from nine for the death penalty to three
for acquittal, to eleven for death and. one
for acquittal. The one juror holding out
for Luetgert is Harley, and 1t is thought
that if he would change front there
would be little time lost. Juror Hola-
bird is also credited with favorlng ac-
ouittal, but it is thought he would come
around quickly II Harley could be in
duced to vote for conviction.
The feeling among the jurors who are
in favor of the death penalty is high
against Harley, and they have done
some very plain talking to him. At one
time this morning they even sent for
Judge Tuthill to know, among other
things, If eleven men could compel one
man to vote with them, or if verdict
would be valid if but eleven men signed.
This incid ent gave rise to the idea that
there was but one man standing between
Luetgert and death sentence.
MORBID vANDALS
CHICAGO, Oct. 20.-The court room
OF Judge Tuthill, before whom the Luet-
CERT case was tried, Is the scene OF van
dalism that has no parallel in the annals
of sensational trials.
Certain of the spectators took advan-
tage Of the absence of the bailiffs and
seized on every portable article of sta
tionery. Sections Of the improvised
desks used by the newspaper reporters
during the tedious ordeal were even car
ried off by the morbid crowd. Fearing
the relic hunters would grow desperate
and demolish the fixtures policeman
was detailed inside the bar. A few Or
naments which remained after the
chamber had been abandoned were has
tily removed across the hallway.
The gavel which Judge Tuthill has
welded to keep the feminine section of
the attendance seated has disappeared.
So bare was Judge Tuthilrs desk Of
court materials that had the jury re-
turned and he been summoned to re-
ceive their finding he would have had to
send to a neighboring store for paper
and writing material.
During the temporary absence of the
Judge and clerks the bailiffs at the door
relaxed their vigilance. While they
were gone the sections of the long
wooden writing benches were removed.
These were cut in squares of a foot so
that they might be hidden under an
overcoat without exciting suspicion
should any of the wardens be encount-
cred.