Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-12-19
ECkERT NOT INSANE.
Jury Decides that He was in His
Right Mind at Time
of Murder.

Waukesha, Wis, Dee 16.-[ Special. i
The insanity issue of the Ecl1ert murder
trial was ended last night with the YER
dict of the jury, which was that Ecke;z
was sane at the time the crime was com
mltJed and is sane at this time. 1t was
80 O. clock, three hours and a half after
they had retired, that the officer in charge
Of the jury announced that an agreement
had been reached. The attorneys were
notified and came into court. There was
a small audience of men and boys who
had hung about the building in hope that
something would develop, though it had
been the general opinion that no verdict
would be rendered before this morning.
Eckert was brought in and took his usual
seat beside his attorney. The jury filed
in and took their places. There was dead
silence when the foreman handed tie YER
dict to the judge, who opened it and read
the answers. Eckert sat immOvable and
not the slightest demonstration escaped
him. The judge had warned the specta-
tors that no signs of approval or diSap-
prevail of the verdict would be allowed
and not until court adjourned was Il word
spoken.
Eckert held short consultation with
his attorney and then was taken back to
his cell, this time accompanied by two
officers instead of the one who has had
charge of him during the trial.
Reviewed the stimony.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Parkinson
completed the argument or the state
He made an able review Of the testimony
introduced by both sides, and after talk
ing two hours left the spectators much
exercised in their minds as to which side
of the case had been most ably presented
to the jury by the attorneys.
Judge Dick owed with long
oh n to tho illrV He fold them they
were not to determine the question of the
guilt or innocence Of the accused man,
but they were to determine whether
or not he was sane beyond Il reasonable
doubt or net The term insani-
ty, as used in the case, was de-
fined to mean such a condition Of
the mind as to render a person incapa-
bic of distinguishing between right and
wrong or unconscious OF the act at the
time of it's commission or conscious Of
the act and its consequences, but with
a will so weakened as to be unable to
resist the impulse to commit the act. An
insane deluSion must be mental and not
moral. 1t must not arise from de rada-
ton. Mere moral or emotional IL anlty
arising from excitement or anger did not
exempt Il person from the consequences
Of a rash act.
The verdict must be given in the light
of the evidence and if there was rea-
SOnaDlo OOuDC OF the sanity VI dI
the time Of the tragedy he was entitled
to it. If the jury should find that Eek
ert was able to distinguish between right
and wrong at the time the act was COM
mitted then he was sane. The Judge
submitted four questions to the jury
with instructions as to the form OF an
swer to be given to them. They were:
First-WaS the defendant, George Eckert:
at the time of the commission of the alleged
offense, on the 25th day Of August last IN
sane. or is there a reasonable doubt as to
his sanity at that time?
Second-If he was so insane or there is a
reasonable doubt of his sanity at that time:
do you find him not guilty of said alleged
cffenSe?
Third-Has he recovered from said insan-
ity:
Fourth--Is he now of sound mind:
Trial for Murder.
The trial for murder was taken up this
morning Mr.. Armin will endeayor to
secure a verdict of murder in some less
degree than first The testimony re-
ceired this morning was a repetition of
that received during the week. except
that it was more minute in details. There
was quite q change i'll Eckerts demeanor
this morning. Previously he had dis
played little or no interest in the proceed
ings, but this morning he spoke to his at
torney, apparently coaching him. When
Undersheriff Don Mckay left the stand
and took seat near Eckert the prisoner
turned to him and disputed the truth OF
some of the statements made by MIR. Nc
Kay on the stand. The state had only
part of their witnesses on the stand this