South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-05
Prosecution Presents Evidence
of Fourteen Witnesses and is
Not Yet FiniShed-CaSe Will
be Resumed Monday.

The trial of Mrs. Augusta Suhl now
before the circuit court bids fair to
make a record in the annals of St.
Joseph county courts. 1t is unusual
Tor murder trials to continue more
than five or six days at the most, but
the case of Mrs. Suhl has now been
before the court during four days and
the state has not yet rested. There
is little doubt but that the most, If
not all, of next week will be occupied
in the hearing of the case.
Much care is taken in the selection
of jury for the trial Of a person
charged with a capital offense. In
this case the jury was not accepted
until late Wednesday forenoon ana the
case had been called on Tuesday
morning. When court adjourned Fri
day afternoon DR.. II. a. Fink, the 18th
witness for the state, was still on the
stand under cross examination. The
defense apparently considers the
cross examination OF this witness to be
of considerable Importance and it is
therefore expected tnat the doctor will
be kept on the stand for some time
Monday. Counsel for the state say
that they probably will not 6e able to
rest their case before Monday even
ing at the earliest.
Defense Yet to Be Heard.
In addition to the strong array Of
witnesses which the state has produced
there are yet 10 come those who will
testify for the defense. Just what
testimony the defense will produce is
not known, but before the case came
10 trial it was the belief of counsel
for the defense that they would have a
larger number of witnesses than would
appear for the state. 1t Is a matter of
conjecture as to what this testimony
is to bring forth but the probabilities
are that there are some surprises in
store for next week.
1t has become evident to those who
have watched the course of the trial
thus far that Pros. Montgomery has
displayed cOmmendable skill in the
building of such a case as ne has on
purely circumstantial evidence. The
defense also has SO far been mastery
but the failure of the defense Wednes-
day afternoon in their attempt 10 force
the state TO a proof of the corpus de-
lecti before proceeding further mark
ed an important advantage for the
state.
Attracts Big Crowds.
Popular interest is invariably
aroused by the trial of a woman
charged with a capital offense. Usual
ly in such a case spectators are at
tracted by the possibility Of startling
testimony. 1t has not been generally
expected that the trial of Mrs. Suhl
would bring out any very eXtraordin-
airy features, but nevertheless the
crowds have been present each day so
that the capacity of the court room
has been taxed. Thursday every
available part of the court room was
packed and for hours men and women
stood and listened patiently and in
perfect quiet except for one or two
moments when slight demonstration
was unavoidable. Not SO many were
allowed in the court room Friday, but
regardless of the fact that there was
no chance for them 10 enter a crowd
stood for three hours outside the door
and several OF these were women.
patiently and hopefully gazing into
The room and wondering what was be-
ing said.
Mrs. Suhl Cries.
Mrs. Suhl cried bitterly twice Fri
day afternoon as she listened TO testi-
mony given by her daughter, Mrs.
Thomas II. COffeen. At no time had
the defendant SO completely given
away as she did at that time. Since
she came into the court last Tuesday
she has Steadfastly maintained an
impassiveness that has been eXtraOr-
dinary. She has for the most part
kept her gaze hXedly on witnesses
and counsel. or IL tor moment she
has looked 10 one side or the other
* has been furtively.
Mrs. Coffeen and her sister. Marga-
ret. have each day been seated be-
hind their mother. Margaret. who is
10 years old, has kept her hands and