The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-04
.FRITCH GUILTY OF.
CAUSING DEATH OF
MABEL MILLMAN
Jury Finds Doctor Killed Ann Arbor
Girl in Performing Criminal
Operation and Threw Dismem-
bered Body Into Ecorse Creek.
Verdict Reached in Hour and Five
Minutes First Ballot Being Ten
To Two for Conviction.
Guilty Of manslaughter

the jury in the case or Or. George A
Fritch. charged With causing the death
OF Mabel Milfnan Dy a criminal opera
ton. Aug. p laS; in Judge Phelan
court at / o'clock Thursday afternoon
The verdict was reached al l2:3o
O'Clock. after the jury had been odl
an hour and Aye minutes, ana the de-
lay in the announcer ent was due -
the absence OF Prosecutor Van Zi-e,
who left the courtroom immediatcy
after the jury retired He could nos
be found aud tho verdict was finally
announced without ais being present.
The penalty Is prison term not eN'
ceeding Is years or fine not exceed
ing 81 .0o0, or both
Attorne~ Lodge announced that he
would take an immediate appeal in
case a new trial is denied
Attorney Frank T Lodge. who had
remained In the courtroom with his
client, demanded a roll of the jury and
10 the question by Clerk Barlow Was
this and is this your verdict" each OF
the IL mea answered Yes" or 1T is.
Lodge then made the usual MOTIONS Tor
a stay of sentence and the admission
OF the defendant 70 hail pending an ap-
take these matters ur later Fritch was
escorted 10 the county jail by CourL
Oficer Phil Kerwin and straightaway
sat down 10 a hearty dinner OF cOrne
beef and cabbage. He was not locked
in a cell, being allowed the freedom of
The Jail office until it was time 70 re-
turn 10 court.
Fritch Crushed BY Verdict.
1,k 10 ho m
feelings, FTitch was plainly crushed
by the verdict.
II did not expeci it, was all re
snid.
To all other questions, Fritch e
ferred the newspaper men to his al
torneys.
II don't want 10 talk now. boys, he
raid with a war smile. His attitude
was in strong contrast 90 the care-fre'e,
condescending, smiling manner be dis
played throughout the trial To those
who had been watching him closely il
seemed that he had begun TO lose
hope long before the verdict was an
nounced. During the prosecutor
final summing UP and the judge ;
charge he sat mCtionless IN his chair
with his hand - his face and seri-
Gus expression that was almost a
f-own. Hate was often apparent ~
his eyes when the prosecutor grew
particularly vehement in his denuu.
citation.
The scene presented in the court
room when the jury fiied IN was
dramatic one The jurors ranged
themselves in a semi-circle about the
counsel tables ana every man looked
straight ahead with countenance as
cminous rs a thunder cloud. Frltca
noted this with dread He read he
verdict in their faces and nerved MIN
self for the announcement he knew
was inevitable George \. Shaw spoke
for the jury.
Guilty OF manslaughter' lie
ansN cred solemnly 10 the usual ques-
ton from the clerk.
There Was no demonstration OF any
Kind. only a scuryIng of reporters.
eager 10 get 10 The nearest telephones
and fash the news 10 their papers.
Judge Phelan mai already ordered
dinner for the jury before II was an
nounced mat they bad agreed. II ar.
rived while the court was waiting for
Prosecutor Van Zile and as soon as
she verdict hal been recorded the
1urors repaired 10 Judge COnnollys
courtroom and rcg9led themselves
only Two Ballots Taken.
Two ballots OILY were taken by the
sury. On the frs. the jurors stood
70 TO for conviction one Of Jhe
two men who voted for acquittal TX
planned that he had done so merely 10
feel the others out This left onl.
Juror Francis Baubie standing ont for
pcuuittal He was won over after II
minutes OF argument and on the sec
ond ballot the Jurors were unanimous
for conviction.
When the Jurors rad retired 10 thei,
deliberations, mr. F'ritch prepared 20
leave the courtroom. as he had don
heretofore. but Court officer Jon1
Canaan blue uniform barred The way
you'll nave 20 remain in the court
room. said Caraan Those are my
orders
DR.. Fritch had been on bail since
his second arrest. but his bond tx
pired whan the case was given into
the iury's hands and from that mo-
nent he was again In custody Of tho
law.
AS Attorney Frank T. Lodge left the
Municipal building. a few moments
after DR.. Fritch was led away TO tho
county Jail, a "newsy" with an ira
,nense armful OF Times extras ran
toward him ~ Cllntonst.. shouting
"wuxtry! AN about Fritch found
guilty."
what 10 you think Of that" said
a friend with Lodge. Here is the
verdict, In type and waiting for us
Blsrnes Court and Van Zie.
Attorney Lodge was asked what ho
tAought was responsible for the vr--
dict.
What did it," re repeated rThs
strongest factors were the extra 90
minutes talk allowed to Prosecutor
Van Zile Thursday morning and The
judges charge The charge was
against u. And as for that extra SO
minutes, would have given anything
TOT that privilege said, "Wednesday
AFTERNOON, when court was adjourned.
and van Lilo was granted the 40 min.
ute-taik Thursday morning. There.
we have lost at least two jurors right
now j ind that ne lost more than
that IL was an immense advantage
that the prosecutor gained"
The Jurors were overioved M he.
ING released from their long service.
During their dinner they acted ike a
lot OF school kids" on the frst dav OF
oummer vacation.
sxx,haf dav OF the month A. t.s,,