The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-02-15
FOR LUETGERT
But Must Spend it in the
Penitentiary.
THE VERDICT OF The JURY
THEY REACH 4 CONCLUSION nN
THE FIRST BALLOT.
PRISONER LAUGHED IN IURf'S FACE
His face Showed Not Tremor Ct ANY Sort Of
rmotion--His Counsel and He Seem
Co fdent Of Getting a
THE VERDICT OF The JURY
PRISONER LAUGHED IN IuRI'S FACE
New Trial.

Chlc1go. H.. Feb. 9-Alnlph l.. I4ac.
CERT was tonight convicted of til, muir
der Of his wife and sentenced to imprl,-
onmcnt in the pcnitentiary FOR the term
ii his natural life. Luetgert received
the verdict with a laugh. 1t WAS 1850
when word WIS sent to til" court room
hy the jury that they had agreed upal
4 verdict and were waiting to bring st
into court.
The jury reached a verdict on the first
ballot. They retired at loo and took
their first ballot at 80. 1t was unan.-
was consumed in arriving Mt the punish
ment to be inflicted but this was settled
by $50 and then the jurors sat around
in Their room until 10 o'clock when they
announced their verdict.
Quickly as possible after the jury had
sent word Of an agreement Judge Gary
FASTENED to the court room.
The news of Il verdict had spread like
lightning to the street and IN a few
minutes the court room was jamm.d
with newspaper men, policemen. VII
nesses, who had given evidence in the
II I'll. lIlu II ItuS SB''NilpIN. Y il-i'
Judge Gary entered the room and at
the same instant Luetgert and his guards
came in through the door leading from
the jail in the rear of the court house.
The prisoner was calm to all appear
ancoS and did not seem nervous in any
degree. Not one of tie jurors glanced
toward the prisoner who tried yainly to
catch an eye Of some Of the men who
had determined his fate.
Judge Gary wheeled sharply in his
ctnlr rs the jury entered and watched
them silently Is they filed into their
seals. Then he spoke in his usual calm.
even tone:
"Gentlemen, have You agreed upon Il
vcrdict:"
We have" was the reply.
MIR. Clerk, read the verdict" said
Judge Gary in the same tone.
Clerk Knopf stepped forward, took
the verdict and taen read with Il trrmOr
Of excitement III his voice:
"We the jury. find the defendant
guilty as charged III the Indictment and
fix his punishment at imprisonment fol
life"
There WAS a hush and all eyes turned
on Luetgert. He laughed. and l|augIc,
III Il manner that showed plainly thar he
did not think the verdict i serious mat
Ter comparatively speaking.
The sound Of Clerk knopf's voice had
not died away when Attorney Harmon
was on his feet with i request that til,
jury be pollcd. This was done. each
juror affirming the verdict. Then Mr.
Harmon entered Il motion for Il new
trial, which was entered and will be
argued within Il few days.
Luetgert was led back to jail in ap-
%pareutly good spirits. glad for one thing.
that his long suspense W;ls ended at last
and comtortcd by the assurances Of his
lawyers that he viii get 4 new trial. and
that the State will not be able to con
Wet him Il second time. After the an
nouncemcnt Of the verdict. and the poll
ing of the jury Luetgert WAS immc-
diately surrounded by i crowd Of re
porters ana friends eager 10 hear hi-
first words. At first he refused To say
anything. At length he yielded enough
10 say that the verdict was 4 surprise Il
him.
Il don't see how the evidence JUST
fies such 4 verdict" he continued. But
one thing is sure; the Supreme court
Will give me a new trial and | shall l.
acquitted.'
From the time when the prisoner wa,
led III to receive the verdict till tht
hailiffs conducted him back to his cell
his face shove not one tremor of any
sort Of emotion. He smiled repeatedly
even when the verdict was read by tht
clerk. and shook hands with his attor
ncyS and others who gathered around
him. After arriving ut the Jail he retir
ed as usual. apparently undiSturhed hy
the adverse verdict.