The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-22
BEFORE THE JURY
The Arguments of Counsel I'm the
Jennie B~osschfeter Murder Case

Paterson, N. J., January 17.-For the
I%entire session today the opposing our
lsel in the Jennie Bosschieter murder
trial appealed TO h jury.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Ralph Shaw began the summing up
flor state. He claimed that the state
had proven its case and that its every
contention had been sustained. He
denounced the accused, who, he said,
had taken the girl out to do her to
death like a dog. He demanded that
the jury render such a verdict as the
llaw and evidence demanded, n of
guilty in the highest degree.
EX-Judge Francis Scott led in the
summing up for the defense. He was
followed by Michael Dunn. Their ad-
dresses were very similar. They de-
tclared that no case had been made out
against Walter McAlister, William
death and Andrew Campbell. They
lridiculed the expert testimony and
branded the hackman, Sculthorpe, as a
imam OF the lowest type and of the
!basest motives, They maintained that
the story told by him was not sup
ported by evidence and that 1t was a
llie. Mr.. Scott made a point that if
I~Scuthorpe's story was to be believed
loN GIL AS oAAOoAa ~
iof participation in the crime.
The case Of the state, Mr.. Scott as
serted, was made up of circumstantial
le~vidence. He alluded to Jennie
~Bosscheiter as a girl, foolish and vain,
Though not necessarily vicious, who
was under no control. who was in the
habit of being out late at night,
Though only 16 years old.
Mr.. Scott was arguing that the state
Ihad failed to prove it's first count, that
of assault, when Judge Dixon inter-
lrupted him, saying: Before you pro-
coed 1 want the jury to understand
that if choral were given, or if a per-
son were struck or choked in order to
l~accompliShe the assault, the poison or
violence is a part of the assault. The
Jury must not be misled on that
point"
The counsel for the defense declared
that 1T had not been proven that
lchloral was administered to the girl
land maintained that if the statements
made by Professor Witthaus as to the
finding Of choral in the stomach of
the girl were to be taken into consid-
Ieration, 50 also We're those of DR..
Vandenberg to be given weight.
DIR. Vandenberger had declared that
he had seen persons knocked out"
by drinking abstinthe.
The defense maintained that it had
IllOI Dten proven tHdl dHy Ol the Ut-
PENDANTS had purchased choral or
that the bottle alleged to " been
found near the dead girl belonged 10
one of the prisoners. He declared that
none Of the medical testimony offered
had shown that the girl had been as
lsaulted.
Counsel for defense denied that there
was any motive, said the mems action
Showed them guiltless and commended
that weight mad been given the mems
lstanding-Death, a young man oniy
recently married and of respectability;
Campbell, almost a boy; McA!ister, a
reputable business man and well
known to the people Of Patterson.
They claimed that between the az
lcused men there was no p~re-arranged
plan to make Jennie ~Bossschieter
drunk and afterwards her to
submit to their evil passions.
The prosecution asked for a verdict
Iof murder in the first degree; that
there was no evidence to show she was
not a vfrtuous and upright girl.
1t is believed the case will go to the
Jury tomorrow afternoon.