The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-21
RUDOLPH'S SISTERS Oh, STAND.
Girls Are Loath to Give Testimony
Damaging to the Defendant and
Thereby Make Good Wit
nesses for the State.
BY A srAFE coRREsPoNpENr

| opportunity to prepare their suggestions for
| the instructions of the jury. All the evil
| dence is in and the cases Of both sides are
| closet save for the arguments before the
| jury.
| Judge Davidson will instruct the jurors
| regarding the laws governing the case to-
| morrow morning. and the arguments by
| counsel should begin Immediately. 1t is he
| lieved that a verdict will he reached before
| tomorrow night. There was some ;aik
this afternoon OF arguing the instructions
| this evening" but Judge Davidson would not
| consent to having the prisoner brought into
| the courtroom at night.
| The electric lights often go out suddenly
| and the court did not care to take the risk
| of an attempted escape during the confusion
| incident upon the courtroom being plunged
| into darkness.
! Judge Jesse II. Schaper leading counsel
| for the defense. said tonight that If the
court instructs for murder in the first de-
gree or acquittal. without allowing a verdict
| carrying Peuitentiary sentence, he Will
not make any argument. He will take ex-
| ception to the courts ruling and appeal TO
| the Supreme Court.
IN the event of Penitentiary sentence he
| will not carry the case into higher court.
! 1t is intimated that Judge Davidson will
| issue instructions for either the death pen
atty or an acquittal.
Collins shows no visible effect of the strain
he has been under for the last week. There
was no evidence of nervousness. ard while
some persons thought they could discover a
disposition to prompt the Rudolph girls
while they were on the stand it was purely
imaginary.
TRIAL DRAGS.
The trial dragged to-day and although
the defense introduced only five witnesses
it was after o'clock before the prosecu-
ton began its rebuttal. Only two wit
nesses were introduced by the State AMI
their testimony had little bearing on the
case.
Esther Rudolph, Bill Rudolph's younger
sister, proved a strong witness for the
State, as did Nellie Rudolph. her sister. al
though both girls were placed on the stand
by the defense.
The manner in which the girls answered
the questions asked BY both the attorneys
for the State and those representing Col
Inns was such as not to impress the jury.
Esther was especially backward in her re-
plies When the question had little bearing
on the case her answers were prompt ana
distinct. but on any vital topic it require
the utmost effort by both the prosecuting
attorneys and the court to force reply.
The text of the girls testimony was not
particularly damaging to the defendant, but
her evident stubbornness and reluctance
had it's effect upon the jurors.
WOMEN CROWD COURTROOM.
This afternoon the courtroom was more
crowded than at any previous session OF
this case The women are greatly in en-
cess of the men spectators, and there were
also more than twenty young children
present.
Two little boys. who said they were and
years old, climbed upon the railing of
the clerks desk and remained there
throughout the day. listening intently to
the descriptions of the murder given by
Esther and Nellie Rudolph.
The space in the rear of Judge David
sons chair was crowded with girls in short
dresses. and many young girls were seen
seated in other parts of the courtroom. Sew
eral women were present who carried babies
and very young children in their arms.
Mrs Frank Rudolph was recalled this
morning by the State for cross-examination.
She was questioned regarding Fred Collins
and stated that he used the name of Lewis
when living with her family, but that he
was no relation of her husband as had been
stated to neighbors.
Frank Rudolph also was recalled. He
said it was by Collins's advice that he had
introduced the prisoner as my nephew,
Fred Lewis
Henry Soph was the first new witness to
be introduced by the defense. The result
of his testimony was to impeach the evil
dence offered by Louis Vedder. Soph stated
vedder had told him that he was unable
to say whether Schumacher had fired dur
ing the fight at the Rudolph house on jan
uary "a.
NONE OF HIS BUSINESS
Nellie Rudolph. 16 years old. was the next
witness. Her answers were barely audible,
and in ending she caused a ripple of mirth
by informing Attorney James Booth that
lit was none of his business" in reply to a
question regarding whether Collins ever
paid his addresses to her"
Her testimony was to the effect that Ru-
dolph and Collins were standing in the
dining-room when the approach of the posse
was noticed by her sister. She said that
loud knocking at the door was heard. which
of the house.
Rudolph told her to go into the cellar. as
there would be trouble" She obeyed and
did not re-enter the room until after the
fight was over. She claimed not to know
who killed Schumacher.
The defense attempted to bring out dur
ing the examination of Esther Rudolph. who
is IA years old, that she had been coerced by
the persons who secured her testimony at
the Coroner's inquest and the de facto ex-
animation conducted by Prosecuting Attor-
ney Meyersieck Immediately following the
shooting of Schumacher.
GAVE HER CANDY.
The statement was elected that August
Hoffman, had given several oranges and
some candy to her. She stated that De-
tective winn, Pinkerton man, had used
her roughly.
The cross-examination of the little girl
was particularly severe and the State sue
ceeded in breaking down her testimony in
several important details.
In rebuttaI Hoffman, was placed on the
stend by the State. He admitted that he
had given Esther oranges and that he had
paid her board and that of her sister at
Coleman's Hotel for several DAYS following
the shooting. Hoffman said that he had
done SO to keep the two girls from going to
Jail, where their mother and father were
prisoners.
In reply to. questions from counsel for the
defense, HOFFMAN, admitted that he had an
object in what he did other than that of
charity. He said he was anxious, to learn
where Rudolph and Collins had secreted