The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-10
LAUGHS AT LIFE TERM.
EUETGERT NOT IMPRESSED WITH
THE JURY,s FINDINGS.
Fully Expects to lie Freed BY the Higher
Court--Jury Unanimous for
Conviction.

CHICAGO. Feb. 9.-Adolph L. Luetgert
was tonight convicted OF the murder OF
his wife. and sentenced TO imprisonment
in the pententiary for the term OF his
natural life. Luetgert received Inc Ner-
dict with 4 laugh.
IL was 1850 o'clock when word was
sent to the courtroom by the jury tnat
they had agreed upon verdict, anu were
waiting to bring IL into court quickly
as possible after the jury had sent word
Of an agreement, Judge Gary fastened
to the courtroom.
The news OF a verdict spread like hght
ming TO the street. and in few MIN
utes the courtroom was damned with
newspapers men. policemen witnesses
who had given evidence in the trial, ana
curious spectators.
At 111J O'Clock Judge Gary entered
the room. and at the same instant Luet-
CERT and his guards came-in through the
door leading from the jail In the rear OF
the courthouse.
PRISONER CALM
The prisoner was calm, 10 all appear
ances. and did not seem nervous In any
degree.
Not one Of the jurors glanced toward
the prisoner who tried vainly to eaten
an eye of some of tho men who had
determined his fate.
chair as the jury entered. and watched
them silently az they filed in 10 their
seats. Then he spoke in his usual caln'
even tone:
gentlemen, have you agreed upon a
verdict"
I'VE have" was the reply
"Mr. Clerk. read the verdict said
Judge Gary. in the same tone.
Clerk Knopf stepped forward, took inc
verdict. and then read with trcmor OF
excitement in his voice:
1--WE. the jury find the defendant
guilty. as charged In the indictment. and
fix his punishment at imprisonment Tor
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
matter. comparatively speaking.
The sound OF Clerk Knopf's voice had
not died away when Attorney Harmon
was on his feet with a request that the
Jury he polled. This was done, each
juror affirming the verdict.
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL.
Then Mr. Harmon entered motion Tor
a new trial which was entered and VIII be-
argued within a few days.
I.uetgert was taken back TO jail in APP
parently good spirits glad for one thing.
that his long suspense was funfu az
last and comforted by the assurances Of
his lawyers that he will get new trial
and that the State will not be able TO con-
Wet him a second time.
After the announcement Of the YER
dict and the polling Of the jury Lueteert
was Immediately surrounded by crowd
Of reporters and friends. eager to hear
his first words
A. first he refused TO say anything At
length he inclined enough 20 say That the
verdict was a surprise 10 him.
"I don't see how the evidence justihes
such verdict" ne continued. but one
thing is sure; the Supreme Court will
give me a new trial and shall be acquit-
ted
40 EMOTION.
From the time when the prisoner was
led in 10 receive the verdict till the
baiiffs conducted him back to his cell, his
face showed not one tremOr of any sort
Of emotion. lie smiled repeatedly. even
when the verdict was read 10y the clerk.
and shook hands with his attorneys and
others who gathered around him After
arriving at the Jail he retired as usual.
apparently undisturbed by the adverse
verdict
The jury reached a verdict i'm the first
ballot. They retired NJ 1850 and took their
first ballot AT $40. II was unanimous
for conviction. Some little time was
consumed i'm arriving AT the punishment
10 be inflicted. but this was settled by $50
and then thu jurors sat around in their
room until 10 o'clock when they announced
their verdict