The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-03
'FR|TCH CONVICTED
ON MANSLAUGHTER|
CHARGE
Caused Mabel Millman's Death u
Criminal Operation and Threw
Body Into Ecorse Creek,
Jury Finds.
Jury Reached Verdict in Just an
Hour-poctor Was Confident of
Acquittal.

The jury in the case Of or.
George A. Frltch. charged with
causing the death Of Mabel Mill
man, Of Ann Arbor, by means of a
Criminal operation, returned a ver-
dict OF guilty at o'clock Thurs
day afternoon. The jury was ready
with its verdict at 1880, but a
ns'f hours delay was caused by
the absence Of the prosecutor.
DIT George A. F'r.tcn's fate Is in the
hands OF the jury Immediately after
prosecutor Var Zile had concluded
ms powerful argument, Thursday
morning, Judge Phelan delivered his
charge, which, 1t was generally agreed.
was one OF the ablest efforts OF the
kind ever delivered from the recorders
court bench. The charge consumed
about an hour. md was clear, logical !
and complete.
AS The jury retired Fritch declared
himself confident of acquital.
Continuing his argument, Thursday
morning Prosecutor Van Zile took up
the testimony of joe Leach.
Ills testimony" ne said, was very
disconcerting TO the defense First,
because OF the way he answered ques-
tons on the stand He was at all
times plain, straightforward, convinc-
ing. His words carried conviction and
his TESTIMONY puts the defense in a
very troublesome position, and IT Is
significant, gentlemen, that not 4
single witness mas been produced to
attack Joe Loachs character Driven
10 desperation IN this regard, thoy
were forced to 90 outside the record
and were called To order by the court.
The venom manifested by this defend
ant on the stand is not surprising.
coming. as 1t does, from a man who
would purchase witnesses TO secure his
freedom, as we charge has been done
in this case.
Case Hinges on leach's Story.
III you believe Joe Leach, there In
an end to all your considerations, be-
cause he tells you that DR.. Fritch car
ried those sacks from his Office and
dumped them into Ecorse creek.
Il do not question the testimony OF
Mr. Tolsma as to the lights around
Fritch's office that night. What diff
ference does It make? Or. Fritch had
no control over those lights. Hero
was a BODY on his hands and he had
TO get II out OF there, no matter what
the conditions were. My friend says.
And 10, the moon came out in all its
fulnessl' Why. OF course IL did.
Fritch couldn't help that, could he?
lie couldn't pull curtain over y.
Moon or no moon, he had to get rid
OF that body
The prosecutor disposed OF Lodges
that no trail OF blood was
found by detailing several ways in
which the doctor could have cut up
the body without leaving any trace.
Counsel ntimates that Joe Leach
was actuated by desire for the $1,000
reward" continued Van Zi!e. IF Joe
Leach had wanted that reward. don't
you suppose he would have come for
ward with this information at the very
outset instead of waiting until 1t was
forced out Of him in the grand jury
proceedings?
ct is remarkable the way these
women patients Of DR. Fritch have
come here 10 testify with such alac-
rity If this man will purchase Wit
nesses. il shows that he is forced I'd
the flrthest extremity for a defense.
II shows. gentlemen, that he is guilty.
WHY some of the testimony in this
case is ridiculous Just compare the
demeanor OF Mrs Knott on the stand
with that Of Martha Henning And yet
they tell us that Knott is a sneak and
a cur because he sneaked into the
case
Attacks Frtch's Witnesses.
Then there is this Mrs Putzig. She
talks too much She reminds me or
the story OF the fight between the
parrot and the monkey And just
compare her testimony and her actions
ON the stand with those of Mrs. Cum
bingham. who took the stand 10 I'M
peach her. Mrs Albrecht is another.
Here I'm my hand are tho ferocious
documents my friend. Lodge, has told
,ou about. the papers ON which based
he questions asked her on the
stand. the documents. If you please,
hat place a worse stigma on this de-
ondanJ than buying Of witnesses. the
iatlng back OF a receipt Has it oc-
,urred 70 YOU that IL he has dated
pack this receipt he has dated back
lthors How many OF YOU are careful
q LOOK an the date when q receipt Is
yven II he has dated back receipts.
hat very fact points unerringly TO his
guilt? r. is reasonable 20 suppose that
he very moment he found this girl
lead on his hands. DR.. Fritch began
O plan his defense.
Murder Will Out"
IT'S the old old story murder will
,ut In spite OF everything. Sometimes
{ seems, 20 me as though the Ncircum-