Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-27

z FAMOUS TRIALS HAVE BEEN HELn,
presentation address on behalf OF the
Board OF County Commissioner OF the
structure to the court and people Of the
county was made by John c. Gown.
county attorney. Judge Eleazar Wakeley
accepted the dedication on behalf OF the
district court of Douglas county in an
eloquent address. Judge ]. w. Savage
accepted the building on behalf OF the
people, and Judge John NJ. Thurston fol-
lowed with an address, reciting the history
of the old court house and the events
leading up to the erection of the present
structure. ]. NJ. Woolworth delivered an
eloquent address upon THE Past Juris-
prudence of Douglas County" and he was
followed by John l. Redick with a rem
iniscent address upon the Bar OF Doug
las County, The sentiment of THE Bar
Of the Future Douglas County was ex-
pressed in an eloquent address by Arthur
c. Wakeley. This concluded the formal
speech making.
The county commissioners in office at
the time OF the dedication were Richard
O'Keefe, chairman; F. w. Corliss and
George B. Timme. The bar committee in
charge of the arrangements consisted OF
d. E. B. Kennedy, w. ]. Connell, Z. W.
Simeral and w. A. Redick. with q. w.
Ambrose as chairman and master Of cere-
monies Of the dedication proceedings.
Resolutions were adopted expressing the
thanks Of the commissioners and the peo-
pie OF Douglas county for the able and
honest manner In which the building had
been constructed by Architect E.. e. Mey-
ers and Builder John F. Coots. The clos.
ing act Of the program was the presenta-
ton of a gold-headed cane to d. L. Shane.
superintendent OF construction. By the
Board Of County Commissioners The pres
entation address was delivered by COM
missioner O'Keeffe.
Many sensational trials have been held
in the old court house, some Of which have
engaged national attention and which have
employed the best legal talent In the state
These include the John w. Lauer case,
the Ed Neal murder trial, the Beecher
murder trial, the Cudahy KIDNAPPING or
Pat Grove case and others of less import
ance, including the Davis case just con-
cluded.
The first Of these big trials was John
W.. Lauer case. On the night Of Novem-
Der 81, 1885, John w. I4auer, a prominent
citizen Of Omaha, and with his wife, NOV
ing in the exclusive social circles Of the
city. shot and killed his wife as she stood
at the foot of their bed, under the pre-
sumption, as he alleged, Lildt SHe WdS ~
burglar. So many peculiar circumstances
surrounded the killing of Mrs. Lauer that
Lauer was arrested on the charge of MUIR
der and his preliminary hearing was held
before Police Judge Z. M. S%ternberg the
following day, and his bond was first fixed
at $4,000, but he was subsequently, re-
manded to jail without bail. Mrs. Lauer
was formerly Miss Sallie Goetschins. a
niece Of the Hers of Omaha. She was but
% years Of age when she became the wife
of John w. Lauer In May. 1888. From the
very outset Of their married life domestic
differences arose and Mrs. Lauer was
driven from her home. Through the inter-
cesslon Of friends a reconciliation was at
fected between the two and Mrs. Lauer re-
turned to her home and husband in 1884 and
continued living with him until the tragedy
which ended her life. Up to 9 p. m. the
evening of the tragedy, Mr.. and Mrs. Lauer
were out riding and returned home much
fatigued. Lauor said that some time early
in the morning ho was awakened by a
noise IN tho next apartment. a dining room,
and saw the dim outlines Of a face. He
supposed II 20 be that Of a burglar and
shot instantly. killing the person, whom
a moment later he discovered to be his
young wife. Her sister, then living with
the Lauers. came running into the room
and Lauer exclaimed 20 her: "Oh. Minerva,
l thought l was shooting at a burglar and
have killed Sallie."
The trial OF Lauer begun on March 8,
1886, and continued for eleven days, when,
on March 10, 1886. the jury came in with a
verdict Of guilty Of manslaughter. Lee 8.
Estelle was the prosecuting attorney and
was assisted I'm the trial OF the case by
John c.. Gown. John NJ. Thurston was at
torney for the defense, assisted by Judge
Savage. Judge Neville presided al the trial
OF the case. William Coburn was sheriff.
The trial created the most intense ex-
element, and during It's entire proceeding
the court room was crowded with specta-
tors. Owing to the social standing OF the
parties many Of the witnesses were among
Omaha's most prominent citizens. as were
many of the spectators. Lauer subse-
quentIy secured a new trial and was adj
Judged not guilty. This new trial took
place the following year, and the verdict
of acqulttal was rendered March 10, 1887.
Just one year later than his conviction OF
granddaughter. The verdict was received
by the public with many expressions Of dis
approval.
Another sensational case OF about this
period was that Of the state against Loyal
l. Smith, charged with the fraudulent
transfer OF property, embracing a large
department store Smith had established
on Douglas street between Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets. Smith was arrested on
June 2. 1856, and was held under $4,000
bonds. The case never came to trial. as
Smith afterwards compromised with hts
creditors and the case was nolled. smith
made good all his alleged debts and died
a few years ago in New York. a reputed
millionaire.
Ranking only second in Importance % TIA