The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-21
MRS. FINGERHUT'S STORY.
SHE TELLS nov SIZE CAME TO sHOoT
MIR ROEHRICHT.

| She Was Asitsted when Giving Her Testi-
| mony, hut swore That the Revolver
Went on Unexpectedly-BeRan to Re-
| alise Things when Roehrioht Was Dying.
SoNERyrLLE. n. j., Dec. 20.-At the trial Of
| Mrs. Henrietta Flngerhut for the murder OF
| Paul Roehricht. before Chief Justice Magic In
| the Somerset Court, to-day. there was ripple
| OF excitement when the aged defendant took
the stand. She corroborated the testimony OF
| her husband relating to their trouble with
Roehricht and his agents up to the day OF the
shooting. She related the story OF the first at
tempt OF Roehrichts agents to dispossess
them. She said that she heard loud
talking In the 1cd near the house
and her husbands call to let the dog loose.
As she went out young man stood near the
door. He held revolver and pointed II at
her. She pushed him aside and persuaded her
hus band to go into the house and lock the
door while che remained outside to have
sensible talk with the men there. She swore
that after her husband went inside. Lawyer
Robert Clark. who had Ratchet started to
hammer In the door. She placed herself before
the door. when Clark shifted his Ratchet to
his left hand and drew the revolver which no
pointed at her In her excitement. she said.
she grabbed him about tho neck to protect
herself. when he exclaimed to the other men.
"Oh. what nice girl"
She asked the young man who he was to con-
front her like a robber. He said that his name
was Clark aud handed hor his card. The card
was produced in court Mrs. Flneerhut said
that on the following day. during the absence
OF her husband and son. Robert Clark ac-
companled by number Of men. again came to
her door and said that he was there to put them
In the road. He aid that Roehricht had sent him
and the men to do II. She told him that II they
broke ip the door or attempted 70 use force
would protect herself, and displayed 10 them
the revolver given to her by her husband;
ana hSy hns
about the house she became greatly, excited
and impored Mrs. Clements. neighbor who
T oshrlcht what she could do, Ho demanded d
dare not do Il ~ her husband had forbidden her,
She heard lsoehricht say: 90 ahead. boys. and
took w on G' his soas snd went for biz
the Kitchen door with a crash that shook the
dows. The locks on the kitchen door were
broken and the door was opening, She threw
power Edward Clark appeared at the open
window and pointed revolver at her and
sG Ss. Finssrhat o." scSinued vsby excited
Then cried out 70 Mrs. Clements They are
GGooglPf to XIII me- God help ne! Where shall
hands md was horrired when IL went on / |
seemed dazed at IL all and when | began to |
understand again Mrs. Clements said: Mr.. |
Roehricht Ia dying
Mrs. Fingerhut has been characterized as a |
woman with mask, but "a she told her story |
oil the suffering. remorse and agony that she |
had rndergone since the day Of the murder |
were depicted In her face. With the last words |
Of this testimony she lifted her ha1dkerchiet
clnred recess. When tho court was |
rcconvened II was noticed that cush- |
toned rocker had been brought In and |
the Justice requested the defendant to
sit Ia II instead OF the stifr chair in |
the witness box. Later he ordered that court |
attendants move the chair 40 that Mrs Finger |
hut could alt In II during the remainder OF the |
trial. Mrs. Fingerhut, resuming her testi. |
mony swore that II was the first time in her life |
that she had handled revolver. She said that
she had no Intention OF shooting Roehricht or
any one. that she was distracted when she |
heard he was dead and at once gave herselfup |
to the officers.
Mrs. Augusta Clements, French woman. who
was with Mrs. Fingerhut at the time Of the |
shooting. corroborated the testimony OF the |
deiendsnt Enil Clemsnts, Joseph Mattce. |
lawyer Of PlalnHeld. gave corroboratiye trsti- |
mony q the story told by the Fingerhuts. The |
case will be continued tomorrow.