The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-10
When the Defendant Broke Out Into
Laughter, as II Glad to Escape
the Death Penalty.
JURORS WERE UNANIMOUS
ON THE FIRST BALLOT ON THE CUES
TION OF HIS GUILT,
But Required Over Three Hours to Fix
Punfshment-Luetge Confident
of New Trial.

CHICAGO, Feb. 9.--Adoph l.. Luetgert
was convicted of the murder of his wife and
sentenced to the penitentiary for the term
of his natural life. Luetgert received the
verdict with a laugh. 1t was 1850 when
word was sent to the courtroom by the jury
that they had agreed verdict and were
waiting to bring it into court. Judge Gary,
whose home is within few blocks of the
Criminal Court building, informed the jur-
ors as they passed out that he would wait
their pleasure and at any time during the
night that they agreed upon verdict he
would return to the courtroom to receive
it, in order that the long Imprisonment
which the members of the jury have under
gene might terminate at as early moment
as possible. Quickly as possible after the
jury had sent word of an agreement Judge
Gary hastened to the courtroom.
The news of a verdict had spread like
lightning to the street and in a few minutes
the courtroom was jammed with newspaper
men, policemen, witnesses who had given
evidence in the trial and curious spectators.
The rumor had been current since early in
the evening that the jury was unanimous
for conviction, and that the delay in an
nouncing Il verdict was because of inability
to agree to the punishment that should be
meted out to Luetgert. The general opinion
among the crowd, as it waited for the COM
ing of the judge jury and prisoner was
that the verdict would be against the de-
fendant. At Ills Judge Gary entered the
room and at the same instant Luetgert and
his guards entered through the door leading
from the Jail in the rear of the courthouse.
The big prisoner was calm to all appear
nd ~ moi i'm de-
gree. He glanced quickly around to see if
the jury was waiting for him. and finding
it was not sank easily into chair to await
its coming He smiled at one or two
friends, but after the first glance round the
courtroom contented himself with watch
ing the door through which the jury must
enter. In minute in they filed passing to
the seats which they have occupied during
the seventy-two days of the trial. The
spectators watched them eagerly, hoping to
catch from their faces some idea of what
the verdict was to be. Not one of the
jurors glanced toward fhe prisoner who
tried vainly to catch the eye of some one
of the men who had determined his fate.
The quiet air borne by the jurymen went
far to strengthen the opinion prevalent in
the courtroom that the verdict was adverse
to Luetgert 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 ver-
dict?"
1--WE have" was the reply.
'.Mr. Clerk, read the verdict said Judge
Gary in the same tone. Clerk Knopf step
ped forward took the verdict and then read
with a tremor of excitement in his voice:
I'VE the jury, find the defendant guilty
as charged in the indictment, and fix his
punishment at Imprisonment for life.'
There was Il hush and all eyes turned on
Luetgert to see how he would take it. He
laughed, and laughed in a manner that
showed plainly that he did not think the
verdict serious matter, comparatively
speaking States Attorney Deenen smiled
grimly as the verdict fell from the lips of
Clerk Knopf, and Police Inspector schaack
and Police Captain Sehuetler. who have
worked desperately in the ease. gave signs
of satisfaction of the most unmixed va
riety.
The sound of Clerk Knopf's 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 affirming
the verdict. Then Mr.. Harmon entered a
motion for new trial, which was entered
and will be argued within a few days.
Luetgert was led back to Jail in apparent
ly good spirits, glad for one thing, that his
long suspense was ended at last, and COM
forted by the assurances of his lawyers
that he will get a new trial and that the
state will not be able to convict him Sec
ond time.
The jury reached verdict on the first bal
lot. They retired at 4:5O and took their first
ballot at $40. 1t was unanimous for con-
viction. Some little time was consumed in
arriving at the punishment 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
After the prisoner was removed Judge
Gary expressed his thanks to the members
of the jury for the patience with which they
had endured their long confinement and for
the manner in which they had performed
their duty. In closing his remarks to the
jury he said Il am little short-sighted
gentlemen. and if 1 should meet one Of
you on the street might not recognize you.
If you will only mention your name, how
ever. I will fall on your neck"
After the announcement of the verdict
and the polling of the jury Luetgert was
Immediately surrounded by a crowd of re-
porters and friends eager to hear his first
words. At first he absolutely refused to say
anything, his one response to questions he
ing: Il won't talk about it tonight. At
length he yielded to inquiries enough TO say
that the verdict was surprise to him. II
don't see how the evidence justified such a
verdict, he continued But one thing is
sure: the Supreme Court will give me new
trial and l shall be acquitted"
From the time the prisoner was led in TO
receive the verdict until the bailins con-
Quoted him back to his cell his face showed
not one tremor of any sort OF emotion. lie