The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-14
TRIAL
NEARING END.

Pratt murder case go to the jury
District Attorney Baldwin closed
the Commonwealth's TESTIMONY
with snap this morning. Whel
objection was made hat Coroner's
Physician Wadsworth, of Phila
delphia, should have been called
in direct testimony instead of il
rebuttal, Mr.. Baldwin concluded
that he could get along without
him. After calling one or two
witnesses to colroborate previous
testimony that Mrs. Pratt was not
a hypochondriac, and never had
expressed any intention of commit
ing suicide he began his summing
up to the jury. His address was
short and to the point. He assum-
ed that the jury had listened to
the testimony and confined his
remarks to commenting on the
Significance OF it, from the Common
wealth's point of view.
Attorney Hayes, who made the
opening address for the defense,
talked for two hours about the
relative Importance Of the testi-
mony, and then began step by
step review of it, lest, he explain
ed the jurors should have forgotten
what had been said to them. After
Mr.. Hayes had talked for two
hours more, and shook his head
when Judge Butler suggested a
possible time limit, court was
called off for tha day. Mr.. Hayes
will resume tomorrow morning.
He will be followed by Mr.. Pierce
the leading counsel for the defense
The last word will fall to Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Reid, for
the Commonwealth. Under these
circumstances it seems likely that
the case will not go to the jury
until Saturday afternoon, and
that a Sunday verdict is possible.
The Undertook murder verdict,
t], | ST famous trial in this colln-
ty, was delivered on a Sunday.
The really dramatic spectacle
of the day, quite Napoleonic in its
inception and the way in which it
was brought abo t should be cred
tied to the defense. Just before
Mr.. Hayes began his speech on
behalf of the accused man little
Wilbur Pratt ran into court exact
ly like a joyful child running from
his schoolroom into the playgroun
He darted straight into his fathers
arms almost knocking the hand
cu IS from the deputy sleriff's
hands as he did so. Father and
son wept together. Pratt wiping
the continuous flow Of tears from
his own eyes and then from his
sons. The momentary outburst
Of sympathy toward both Of them
from all over the courtroom was
noticeable. While Mr.. Hayes
talked little Wilbur sobbcd until
Il, fell asleep on his fathers
ST., nhicr.
When it was decided not to call
Dir. WadSworth the prosecution
produced Miss Sallir'tIoopes and
Miss Sadie Barnes, of West Ches-
tcr. who corroborated other wit
II, SIS IS as to Mrs. Pratt's being in
her usual spirits just before her
death, without the slightest pre-
disposition to suicide. She had
Indigestion aud stomach trouble,
but that was all.
District Attorney BaldwinS ad-
dress was powerful and convincing
from the Commonwealth point
of view. He grasped firmly by
the blade the knife which Mrs.
Pratt is alleged to have cut her
fingers, He even drew the
sharpcned end OF the blade across
his throat in order to demonstrates
that ii would leave only Il white
ridge on ruddy skin and not draw
!, drop Of blood, All the persons
in the packed courtroom looked on
in breathlcss interest
But it was not with the conflicting
testimony Of the medical eXper's that
Mr.. Baldwin bothered himself most.
lie said enough about IL to present
lis claim thai suicide was most i'm
probable and murder was most proba.
DE. but that was all. Ills greatest
fleet was in graphic word picture
If the neglected home and the I'M ,
lappy wife while Pratt was away
,laying cards and buying presents
'or Neltie tcrra One could almost
eel the hot Indignation that thrOb.
ned from every man and woman in
he room. They were al! friends and
leighbors af Mr.. Pratt Shortly be.
ore her death they had seen her going
round in her shabby clothes. with
van, fearful face. just as described
" Mr.. Baldwin. His words moved
nnm all Ia 1nars MrS prati = rnln