The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-10
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY
THEY REACH a CONCLUSION ON
TIE FIRST BALLOT
PRISONER LAUGHED IN JURY'S FACE
His Face Showed Not Tremor of Any Sort Of
Emotion--his Counsel and He Seem
Co@fdent of Getting 4
New Trial.

Chicago, H., Feb. 9.-Adolph L. Luet-
CERT was tonight convicted of the mur-
der of his wife and sentenced to imprls-
onmcnt in the penitcntiary for the term
of his natural life Luetgert received
the verdict with laugh. 1t was 1850
when word WIS sent to the court room
by the jury that they had agreed upon
Il verdict and were waiting 10 bring It
into court
The jury reached verdict on the first
ballot. They retired at 4:50 and took
their first ballot at $40. II was unani-
nous for conviction. Some little time
was consumed in arriving at the punish
mcnt 10 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 a verdict had spread like
lightning to the street and in o few
minutes the court room was jammed
nesSes, who had given evidence in the
trial. and curious spectators. At 11:1a
Judge Gary entered the room and al
the same instant Inetgert and his guards
came in through the door leading from
fhe jail in the rear of the court house.
The prisoner was calm to all appear
ances and did not seem nervous In any
-degree Not one OF the Jurors glanced
fnV pI tbn ln tvrsn iYalr ~
catch an eye of some of the men who
had determined his fate.
Judge Gary wheeled sharply in his
cLalr as the jury entered and watched
them silently as they filed into their
seals. Then he spoke in his usual calm
even tone:
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon d
verdict"
We have" was The reply.
Mr.. Clerk, read the verdict" said
Judge Gary in the same tone.
Clerk KnOpf stepped forward, tooh
the verdict and then read with tremoI
of excitement in his voice:
we, the jury, find the defendant
guilty as charged in the Indictment and
fix his punishment at Imprisonment fol
life"
There was a hush and all eyes turned
on Luetgert. He laughed, and laughed
in a manner that showed plainly that he
did not think the verdict Il serious mat.
ter comparatively speaking.
The sound of Clerk Knopf's voice had
not died away when Attorney Harmon
was on his feet with request that the
jury he polled. This was done, each
juror affirming the verdict. Then Mr.
Harmon entered motion for "a new
trial, which was entered and will be
argued within Il few days.
Luetgert was led back to jail in ap
parcntly good spirits glad for one thing
That his long suspense was ended at last
and c0mforted by the assurances of his
lawyers that he will get 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 imme.
diatcly surrounded by crowd of re,
p0rters and friends eager TO hear his
first words. At first he refused to say
anything. Al length he yielded enough
to say that the verdict was surprise tt
| him.
Il don't see how the evidence ilsti
fics such a verdict" he continued. ''Bnt
one thing is sure; the Supreme court
will give me a new trial and | shall hG
acquitted"
From the time when the prisoner was
led i'll to receive the verdict till the
| bailiffs conducted him back to his cell
his face showed not one tremor of any
sort of emotion. He smiled repcatedly
even when the verdict was read by the
clerk, and shook hands with his attor
neys and others who gathered around
him. After arriving at the Jail he retir.
ed as usual, apparently undisturbed by
the adverse verdict.