Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-22

newspaper annals. The affidavit wa.
put in writing in due legal form and il
certified to by a notary public.
Ex-Judge VIM. A. Vincent, the lead
ing counsel for the defendant in thi.
celebrated case, the man to whose
brains and skill and energy Luetger1
beyond a doubt owes his great lega
victory. gave consent to the affidavit,
being made. The scene in the jai
when Luetgert took the oath was as
dramatic as the circumstances Were
unique. In the dimly lighted jail cor.
| ridor, Luetgert standing erect and
grasping the iron bars that still kept
him from liberty, lifted his right hand
and solemnly assented as the notary ad-
ministered the binding form.
Luetgert. the notary, and a represen-
tative of The Associated Press confer
red together for few moments and
then Luetgert. without hesitation.
made affidavit and signed it in ink with
the hand that is alleged to have COM.
mitted one of the most fiendish crimes
on record. The affidavit explicitly de-
clares Luetgert's innocence. The doc
ument in full is as follows:
To the public: The result of my trial
ending. today. is victory for me be-
cause of the disagreement of the jury.
But l am very much displeased and
very much surprised that the jury did
not bring in verdict of not guilty
1 did not kill my wife. and do not
know where she is, but am sure that
it is only a question of time until she
comes home.
l did not go upon the witness stand
because my lawyer, Judge Vincent,
was bitterly opposed to my doing so,
and because he advised me it was not
necessary.
l am grateful for the tremendous
change in public sentiment in my
favor, and time will demonstrate that
I am not only an innocent man, but a
very grievously wronged man.
(signed) Adolph L. Luetgert.
Subscribed and sworn to before me.
this 21st day of October, A. D. 1897
(signed) NJ. F. Sullivan, Notary Pubic
The gray light of cold autumn
morning struggled through the win
dows of Judge Tuthill's court today,
as Adolph L. Luetgert heard from
the foreman of the II men
who have been considering his case for
the past 66 hours. the words: I'VE are
unable to agree upon a verdict"
Imperturbable as ever, evincing no
joy at the words, the wonderful nerve
of the northsider was with him to the
end. He stood up and with only a
good-natured smile, shook hands with
his son, Arnold, his counsel and bust
ness partner, VIM. Charles and in less
than five minutes was led back to the
Jail. the jury dismissed and the great
trial was over.
The IL men were divided as follows:
For conviction and the death penalty
Hieckhold. Boyd. Bibby, Mahoney, Beh-
miller, Hosmer, Shaw. Franzen and
Fowler. For acquittal-Harley, Hoi-
bird and Barber.
Immediately after they were dis
charged, the jurymen requested to be
allowed to return to the room which
has been the scene of their discussion
for so long. This was granted, and
without permitting any one to get near
them, the judge sent them to their
room.
AS the jurors filed into court about
40 o'clock. they were haggard-look-
ing set of men. Several Of them were
collarless, and the eyes of all Of them
were swollen and red. The Jurors took
the seats they had occupied daily for
over two months, and waited for the
appearances of the prisoner and his law
Continued on page ~