Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-10
LuErGERr FOUND GUILTY.
His imprisonment Fixed mt Life Inn
prisonmept-Hc Laughs.

CHICAGO. February 9.--Adolph L.
Luetgert was tonight convicted of the
murder OF his WIFE and sentenced TO i'm
term of his natural life. Luetgert re-
ceived the verdict with laugh.
| 1t was 1880 O'clock when word was
sent to the courtroom by the jury that
| they had agreed upon a verdict and were
waiting TO bring II into court. As quickly
as possible after the jury had sent word
Of an agreement Judge Gary FASTENED
to the courtroom.
The news that a verdict had been
reached spread like lightning to the
street. and in q few minutes the court
room was damned with newspaper-men,
policemen. witnesses who had given evil
dence in the trial. and curious spectators.
At lbs o'clock 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 appearances, and did not seem ner-
vous in any degree. Not one OF the
jurors glanced toward the prisoner. who
tried vainly to catch the eye Of some one
of the men who had determined his fate
Judge Gary wheeled sharply in his
chair as the jury entered, and watched
them silently as they filed into their
seats. Then he spoke in his usual calm,
even tone, Gentlemen, have you agreed
upon a verdict "
1--WE have" was the reply.
"Mr Clerk, read the verdict" said
Judge Gary, in the same tone.
Clerk Knopf stepped forward, took the
verdict, and then read with tremor OF
excitement in his voice:
1--WE, the jury. find the defendant guilty
as charged in the Indictment, and fix his
punishment at imprisonment for 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 serious mat
ter, comparatively speaking.
The sound OF Clerk Knopfs voice had |
not died away when Attorney Harmon
was on his feet with a request that the
jury be polled. This was done, each juror
the verdict.
Then Mr.. Harmon entered a motion for
a new trial, which was entered, and will
be argued within a few days.
LUETGERT IN GOOD SPIRITS.
Luetgert was taken back to jail in APP
oarently good spirits, glad, for one thing,
hat his long suspense was ended at last
md comforted by the assurances Of his
awyers that he will get a new trial, and
hat the State will not be able to con-
,ict him a second time.
After the announcement of the verdict
md the polling of the jury Luetgert was
Immediately surrounded by crowd OF
eporters and friends, eager to hear his
rst words. At first he refused to say
nything. At length he inclined enough
O say that the verdict was a surprise to
i'm.
81 don't see how the evidence justifies
UGH a verdict" he continued; but one
hing is sure-the Supreme Court will give
lie a new trial. and 1 shall be acquitted"
From the time when the prisoner was {
ID in to receive the verdict till the bal 1
ifs conducted him back to his cell his
ace showed not one tremor of any sort {
( emotion. He smiled repeatedly, even a
hen the verdict was read by the Clerk, '
nd shook hands with his attorneys and 1
Tiers who gathered around him. After v
irving at the jail he retired as usual, b
oparently undisturbed by the adverse I
erdict.
ONLY ONE BALLOT. L
The jury reached a verdict on the first :
lllot. They retired at 4:50, and took =
leir first ballot at $40. IL was unani- -
ous for conviction. Some little time was -
,nsumed in arriving at the punishment o.
be inflicted, but this was settled by $50, :.
nd then the Jurors sat around in their :
om until 10 o'clock, when they an g
,unced their verdict. =,
BLANCO's FAILURE IN THE EAST. n