The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-26
SAXTON SCORED.
Lawyer S~terling's Argument in Behalf
of Mrs. Annie L. George.

CANTON, o., April 25.-At the adjourn
ment of court this evening the arguments
i'm the trial Of Mrs. George were little more
than half completed. Mr.. Welty, who has
the close for the defense, had barely
warmed up to the work and will in all prob
ability occupy all of tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Pomerane, who closes for the State.
will not be expected to finish in less than
half a day, which, at the earliest. will throw
the end of the umen to the adjourn
ment hour tomorrow evening. The judge
has unofficially said that his charge will
not be lengthy; that it will not occupy more
than fifteen or twenty minutes. There may
be some hesitancy, however. about sending
the jury out at the close Of the day and it
will be no surprise if the judges charge is
not delivered until Thursday morning.
At the opening of court this morning At
torney James d. Sterling began the address
to the jury on behalf Of the defense in the
trial of Mrs. George. The first hour was de-
voted to consideration of legal PROPOSE
tons. The Barberi case, dwelt upon by Mr..
Grant yesterday, was first taken up. Mr..
Sterling disputed the position of the State
that the testimony on Mrs. Georges griev-
ances against Saxton could only be consid-
cred in connection with an implied confess
sion and then only in determining the degree
of the crime. Mr.. Sterling took the position
that the wrongs of the accused were offered
and should be accepted as showing the cir
cumstances and conditions surrounding the
threats which 1t was sought to be proved
she had made.
Following the citation of authorities on
the legal propositions involved Mr.. Sterling
introduced a quotation from a number OF
medical textbooks In support of requests
for the charge to the jury on the point
OF the opium or morphine habit and then
very briefly referred to the testimony. Early
I'm his summing up Of the testimony Mr..
Sterling diverged to pay his respects 10
Saxton and the other people connected with
the case. In this line he presented SaXtCn
In the most unfavorable light and dweit
on the alleged wrecking of the George
home. Mr.. Sterling continued TO talk during
two hours of the afternoon session. review
ing and summing up the testimony and es-
pecially attacking the testimony of Mrs.
Eckroat, the eyewitness. on the ground Of
her alleged excessive use OF morphine and
the contention that by reason of the dark
ness II was impossible for any one to have
tions.
Mr.. Welty, who is closing for the defense.
had spoken but a little more than an hour
at the adjournment, part of which was de-
voted to citing additional authorities on the
legal propositions. He then began "A review,
Of the life OF Mrs. George so far as 1t has
been given in evidence in this case. repre-
senting her an unsophicated country worn-
an, a novice in the ways OF the world until
she came in contact with Saxton. Her fan
he described in detail and was just entering
upon n review of threats which constitute
considerable volume OF the evidence and the
conditions under which they were made
when adjournment occurred.