The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-04

ST. Louis. Mo. March 29.-An innovation
in criminal Jurisprudence that has caused
intense interest here, and is likely TO be
fiercely opposed when initiated elsewhere,
was introduced at the trial of Campbell
Angaier, charged with the murder OF
James A Bs.5er. The latter was shot and
killed in front OF his home. 5S5 Ridge ave
nue. on the night OF August z last The
quarrel is supposed TO have been over
Bette Angaier, sister of the accused man
Two shots were fired Allgaier pleaded
seif-defense. but the fact that both of the
bullets lodged in Bakers back seemed 10
point TO hopeless case. The whole ques-
ton then arose as 10 the positions of the
men during the struggle. OF course there
could be no self-defense unless Allgaier
was placed in danger of his life. and the
fact that he had shot his antagonist IN
the back seemed 10 make conviction GER
tain.
The defense claimed that the two men
were clinched in a fierce battle and that
Allgaier drew his revolver, reached around
Baker and fired the fatal shots. Support
ing this explanation was the fact that
Bakers shirt was ignited by the blaze of
the powder indicating that the muzzle Of
the revolver had been held in close prox-
unity TO him. Note that all of the state :
witnesses claimed that the two men were
standing six feet apart at the moment
of the shots. The prosecution set its wits
10 work 10 devise some means of showing
convincingly that the shots were fired
from distance OF some feet, and that
the killing was therefore cold-blooded
murder. and not the act of man in fear
of his own life.
Photos of the Fight.
Assistant Circuit Attorney Charles
Krone was the man who hit upon the idea
of enacting the whole scene as witnesses
described it, and taking photographs of
the grim pantomimic performance for the
benefit of the jury. Mr.. Krone preached
his plan to G. E. Baker. police photo
grapher, and together they arranged a
series of pictures upon which The State
has rested the burden of it's proof. 1t was
an entirely new idea, but it was found to
have great weight with the jury, bringing
before them as it did all the vivid sur
roundings which enabled them to under
stand every word descriptive of the fight.
The first photograph was one showing
the Baker hona, in front of which the
killing took place, bringing out promi-
where the men we're standing at the tirle
of the murder. A second photograph
showed The two men as they stood talk
ing or arguing on the eventful night. The
third portrayed the tragedy. as the STATE
wished to prove it had been acted. A man
representing James A Baker. is about to
enter the gate, and a figure, intended for
Campbell Allgaier, stands about six feet
tE,a h.. sid Il
volver in his extended hand, as if firing
the fatal shot Again, another exhibit
shows how a man six feet away from
another. ascending the steps in front of
the Baker home, might easily extend his
arm and place the weapon within eleven
inches of the second mans back. With
the exception of the foliage. which was
somewhat heavier at the time of the kill
ing than is portrayed in the photographs
taken some time later, the pictures were
pronounced true likenesses. Every detail
had been carefully introduced.
The family living in the Baker resi-
denee occupied seats in the garden at
the time of the murder. These seats were
placed in the positions described by the
witnesses and the photographs showed the
Jurymen where those who described the
shooting sat when the bullets struck Ba-
ker down. There We're other witnesses
10 had seen the tragedy from a little
distance Oft; the camera was taken to the
spot where each witness had stood and
photographs taken of the mimic tragedy
SO that it could be judged whether or no.
these witnesses were near enough 10 see
clearly what took place
II was only after a stormy argument
tat the prosecution won its point and
the photographs were admitted as evil
dence ATTORNEYS for the dgferSp ola iD1pd
that such a procedure was unprecedented.
but Judge TAFT Fl mly adhered TO his de-
cision. that the photographs were legal
evidence.
The murder case was an ordinary one
in point Of character. There was nothing
startling 10 attract interest until the
States attorneys came forward with the
series of photographs. which have at
tTacted attention far and wide. Every
lawyer in st. Louis has discussed the
remarkable testimony. which. though
mute. spoke louder than any witness on
the stand