The San Francisco call., 1897-02-17
FROM RICHES TO THE GALLONS.
Dissipation That Led to the Killtn0 of
UiIc AID ChiId.


Dissipation That Led to the KiIltn0 of
UfIe AID ChiId.
Arthur Duestrow was about thirty years
old and belonged to one of the oldest and
best-known families in Missouri. His
father MADE his money in mining stocks
and when he died left fortune of more
than two million dollars to his widow and
two children. The widow did not long
survive her husband, and then Arthur
Duestrow be came millionaire in his own
right. His sister, Miss Huldah Duestrow,
inherited the other half of the estate.
Few young men began life under such
brilliant prospects as did Arthur Dues
trow. He had passed through college
before attaining his majority and coming
into his fortune. Soon after his fathers
death he married Miss Albertina Leisse,
and about that time entered the st. Louis
Medical College, from which he was
graduated with honors.
For a short time Duestrow abandoned
the bibuIous habits he had formed and
his friends believed that be had sowed
his wild oats and had settled down to
respectable life. A baby boy came to the
Duestrow home and the young husband
and wife were proud and happy. But
when the baby was about year old Due
strow tell from grace. He became infatu-
ated with the keeper Of an improper house
in ST. Louis. So public was his intimacy
with this woman that friends of his wife
wondered at her continued life with her
husband. Perhaps the baby boy ind duced
her to condone her husbands faults, or
perhaps her loving eyes saw nothing
wrong. At any rate the Duestrow family
continued 10 reside in the handsome house
at 1724 South Compton avenue.
On the evening of February 13, 1894, he
shot and instantly killed his son and
fatally wounded his wife at their home
Mrs Duestrow died three days later, on
February Is, having been unconscious
during the whole time after she received
the fatal bullets in her head. Duestrow
was crazy drunk when he committed the
m urder.
For some time he had lapsed from his
duty TO his young wife and was spending
much time and money upon an inmat of
a bawdy-house. On the day Of the tragedy
he spent several hours at the House of his
mistress in drinking, and from there went
direct to his home, 1724 South Compton
avenue. He intended taking his wife and
child out sleigh-riding in the evening
Arriving at the house Deustrow got out of
the sleigh, leaving it in charge of the
driver, and entered the house. Mrs.
Deustrow was sitting upstairs in her room
sewing, and the little boy Louis was play
ing on the floor beside her. Katie Hahn,
a domestic, was also in the room. The
girl met him on the stairway, and in
reply 10 simple question he began curs-
ing and abusing her, driving her back up
stairs into his wife's room. Arriving
there he turned upon his wife, cursing
her. He then Slapped her and attempted
to strike Miss Hahn. Mrs. Duestrow in
terfered, saying, III you want to strike
some one. Arthur. don't strike stranger;
strike me-"
''Ah right, WILL" he said, and struck
her blow that felled her. He then took
his boy, aged Is months, and went down.
stairs and returned very soon with pistol
in his hand.
Don't shoot, Arthur, you're drunk"
said his wife.
CPL show you who is drunk" he said,
and he fired two shots into her body. For
a moment he seemed to realize the enor-
nifty of his crime. He knelt beside the
dying woman, and in maudlin tones said,
Tina, Tina; are you dead ?"
Receiving no reply, his drunken frenzy
returned. He grasped his child, who had
been spectator to the murder. He first
started to go downstairs with the boy,
but returned to the hall, held the shrek
ing babe by one arm 10 the wall and fired
shot into his brain.
Deustrow rushed through the falling
snow to the police station and told his
story, claiming at the same time that he
had attempted to shoot himself All the
influences that his wealth could buy were
brought into play to save the murderer.
Soon after incarceration he began the in
sanity dodge and has kept it up steadily
ever since. The records of the trials show
how rich mans trial can be DELAYED
compared with the rapidity with which a
poor man Is "railroaded" 10 the gaIlows.
On January 19, 1885, two years after the
crime was committed, the Supreme Court
of Missouri decided that he should be
hanged February 16
The servant girl, who had fed to the top
OF the house, was a witness 10 the scene.
and it was her testimony that convicted
Deustrow.
Duestrow's case has become historical.
His great wealth, inherited from his
father, has enabled him to smrloy able
counsel who have made legal fight that
will go down in the annals of iurispru-
dence. Learned medical experts were
paid enormous fees to ascribe 10 the muir
derer a new mental disease. They were
opposed, on the other hand, by medical
experts of equal eminence hired by the
State. The medical world became inter-
ested in the case. and the various trials
threatened TO become little else than a
neurological debate. Beginning at time
shortly subsequent to his crime, Dues
trow's manner was adapted to support the
insanity theory. Agents were sent to
Europe TO collect evidence of hereditary
mental weakness. Nothing that could be
done was left undone.
-Four trials, not counting numerous hear
ings, lasting in the aggregate for months
ana costing the State an enormous sum,
have been had. Two were inquiries into
the mental condition of the defendant,
ana TWO were for the crime. There was
mlstrial in each instance, which necessl-
tated The recovering of the whole ground.
FIRST jury decided that Duestrow was
responsible for his actions. and then an
other !nry found him guilty of murder in
the first degree.
Srom this verdict an appeal was taken