The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01

/ and we exonerate the mother
/ from all blame.
! This was the verdict of the jury
impaneled by Coroner Burgess to in
1uire into the death of Chester Is.
Schwendner, the month-old baby
found dead In bed In the Salvation
Army Rescue home, last Saturday.
The case went to the jury shortly af-
ter noon, Wednesday, and the Jurors
came to their conclusion after delfb'
Grating about 80 minutes.
There was general satisfaction
among the spectators when the YER
dict was announced. but no demon
stration took place. Attorney James
IT, Pound. who represented Margaret
Schwendner, mother OF the infant,
took her by the hand to the Jury box
and she rendered her thanks for the
verdict
The decision of the jury frees Mar
garet, for Prosecutor Van Zile said he
would be guided by the action OF the
/ jurors. After the announcement VI
the verdict the girl-mother returned
to police headquarters, where she has
heen held in the matron's quarters.
pending the outcome of the inquest
and will go home with her father In
the afternoon.
The taking of testimony in the cese
was concluded about 1880 in the
morning, and Assistant Prosecutor
Charles Jasnowsh and Mr.. Pound
made brief addresses to the jury. Mr..
JasHowski pointed out that the case
was most unfortunate one, and
drew attention to the youth of Mar
garet and her misfortune In becoming
a mother under the circumstances as
brought out by the testimony. He
also told the jurors of her affection
for her baby and said he didn't boz
,ieve she did anything Intentionally
to cause its death. II was the duty
of the Jurors to take the facts into
their consideration, and he impressed
on them that Il was possible for them
to temper justice with mercy.
| Mr. Pound made a most impassion-
ed Plea for Margaret.
Gentlemen OF the jury" ."'he plead
ed, "be merciful to this little girl.
Let her not find that she is without
| friends and obliged to exclaim, like
the Savior in His hour OF need, My
God! My God! Why hast Thou for
1
sallen me?"
In the beginning he set forth that
he was not appearing before the jury
as paid pleader.
II would scorn the man who would
accept money to plead for the liberty
OF girl in the predicament Of Mar
garet Schwendner and the circum-
stances surrounding her case" said
Mr.. Pound with emphasis. 1T Is the
duty Of men In the legal profession
to act regardless Of a retainer under
such conditions, and | am glad to
know that there are men In the pro
fession who are willing to do their
duty on such occasions"
Mr.. Pound. after congratulating As
sistant Prosecutor Jasnowski on his
fairness, went on to picture the dis
tressing conditions OF the case. He
referred to the extreme youth of Mar
garet Schwendner and the circum-
stances leading up to her misfortune
Margaret herself was one of The
witnesses heard Wednesday morning
| to the stand by her attorney.
ID response to questions from Mr.
Jaenowski, who, by the way. treated
|
unwilling to care for her baby, mas
much as she was unaccustomed to the
duty, but was willing and anxious to
care for II after being shown now.
She related how the baby slipped
from her lap while bathing II, Friday
afternoon, the day before II died. She
omitted shaking the baby, Friday
night, when II cried, but said she %as
,lfterward sorry, and that she kissed
the child.
Her relations with the father of
the babe we're also told. Margaret
said the young man overpowered her
while accompanying her home In Sag
inaw, and assaulted her, despite her
struggles.
Margaret's father, Paul Schwend-
ner, also testified He said he Knew
nothing of Margaret's assault at the
time, but said she cried most OF the
i following day. He said Margaret was
the eldest OF four children; that his
wife was now almost blind; that lie
was a laborer, and that his wife, GO,
went out working at times.
Dr. william E. Anderson. called by
the defense, said that the fractures in
the baby's skull could have been
caused by the fall from his mothers
lap, thus differing with DIR. Davis and
Or. Morse, who testified on Tuesday.
/ Mr.. Pound then asked DIR. Anderson
La hypothetical question of about 800
words, bearing on Margarets case.
from thes time she was assaulted ul-
al the death of her child. Mr.. Pound
wanted \te/ know II the doctor could
Imagine a mother OF Margaret's age
and circumstances, pointing out how
Margaret loved her child, could pos
ably take her baby's life.
The doctor answered In the mega
tive