The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-20
WHY SHE SHOT R0EHRICHT
OPENING SPEECH FOR DEFENCE IN
MRS. FINGERHUTH'S TRIAL.

LAWYER Betfield Says tho Trouble Began
when Her Husband Refused to Become
the Hired Incendiary of tho Murdered
Man FinRerhuth Takes the stand.
soMEnyII.LE, Dec 1o-The State rested It's
case against Mrs Henrietta Fingerhuth for the
murder OF Paul Roehricht. the wealthy New
York jeweller at noon to-day. The witnesses
who testified for tho prosecution In Chief
Justice Magie's court this morning did little
more than corroborate the story OF the shoot
ing and the exciting Incidents that preceded
IL. as told by Lawyer Robert Clark yesterday.
In the opening for the defence Lawyer
Walter @. Hetheid stated that the defence
would prove that the trouble between Roeh-
iicht and Fingerhuth arose when the latter
steadfastly refused to act as Roehricht's hired
incendiary In burning down the old farm
house In which he lived Lawyer Hetield said
that the relations between FinRerhuth and
Roehricht were unusually pleasant. when one
day Roehricht asked FinRe rhuth II he had his
household effects insured When Fngerhuth
replied In the negative. Roehricht. the lawyer
said. ordered him to have his furniture in
sured. saying he would pay for the in
surance. Roehricht. the LAWYER continued.
said that he had Just placed heavy
insurance on the old farmhouse. and with
Fingerhuth's household goods insured there
was no reason why Fingerhuth should not set a
match 70 the pile,and they would both come out
ahead Fingerhuth told Roehricht that he dared
not do II. hut Roehricht still tried to persuade
him and finally gave him week 70 think the
tho lawyer said. RoehrIcht again called. but
Finnerhuth still refused to carry out the plot.
Roehrcht left him then and he did not see
him again. but q few. weeke later Fhgeruth
Lawyer Hetneld also stated that the defence
would prove by Mrs. Cemins who was In tho
| hou0e with Mrs. Fingerhuth ut the. tinSe Of tho
Nat Esgn q terror eTssd
fear and that Mrs, Clenins herself was 40
| terrorrized by the threats and noise made by
| the armed force outside that she beseeched
to the road: also that Lawyer Robert Clark
| forced open door and. pointing revolver at
| her. threatened to shoot her II she did not get
out also that Edward Clark was threatening
force Of men were attempting 10 batter the
| front door down with timber. II was under
| these conditions. he said. that Aps. Fingerhuth
became frantic and hired her revolver hap
| tormentors She had no intentIn Of taking a
human lie. the lawyer said. The first witness
| for the defence was Theodore pingerhuth. the
English. and the Rey;, T. KcchlEi. oi the Fourth
Dutch Reformed Church. acted rs inter-
| prefer Fingerhuth denied the testimony
| OF Robert Clark about serving the
no first saw Clark the day before the shooting.
| when he confronted him in a field near his
| house In company with Supt Dom borski and
Constable Bartlett, who said they had come to
which were followed by a struggle in which
| Mra. Fingerhuth and her son came to his
| assistance. Mrs. FinRerhuth let the big dog
oose and Clark POINTED "a revolver at her hS
on the charge OF trespass. The case will 90 on
| tomorrow.