South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-02
Montgomery Lays Groundwork
of Case in Opening Statement
Declaring Couple QuarTeled
Over Ownership of Realty.
CORONER SWANTZ Is
FIRST WITNESS CALLED
Atty. Farabaugh Makes VigOr-
GUS Effort to Break Down
Effect of Testimony Concern
ing Autopsy and Analysis.

Public interest during the murder
trial of Mrs Augusta Suhl "wednesday
morning centered on the matching OF
wits between the FIRST witness for the
state Coroner Thomas j.. Swantz and
q. A. Farabaugh, counsel for the de-
fense, who made "a vigorous attempt
TO break the effect of the Coroner's
testimony. Technical terms We're
used freely much 20 the annoyance Of
the court reporter ana occasionally TO
the merriment OF the spectators.
The jury was finally accepted BY
both sides a few minutes after 10
O'Clock and thereupon Pros. Mont
gOmery presented his opening state
ment. Following a brief recess DIR.
Swantz was placed on the stand and
underwent a rigid cross-examination
for the remaining hour OF the morn
ing session.
The jury was sworn at 1910 o'clock
after more than "a day being spent in
the selection and after the state had
excused five men and the defense had
excused Il. The jury contains four
Of the regular panel, Joseph Gardner,
Of Greene township; Serphen Cooley.
Clay; a. A. Borden, Olive, and James
Clemens, Diamond aY., city. The 9TH
er members OF the jury are Louis
Gardner, 745 Prairie av.; Frank
Young. 313 W. Division ST.; David
Sweitzer, GA Blaine av.; Henry Van
Dusen, Olive township; w A. Gros-
hans. 2O2 Paris ST.; Edward ]. Weaver.
216 + Sample ST.; oscar Barrett, -
r. Seventh ST., Mishawaka, and Jerry
r. Reynolds OF Olive township.
Makes Opening Statement.
Pros. Montgomery and Deputy
Schwartz are conducting the prosecu-
ton. The opening statement for the
sci for the defense, Messrs. G.. s..
Farabaugh and G. A. Hagerty. with
held their opening statement until the
evidence of the state is presented.
Montgomery brought out in detail
the evidence as narrated i'm the news
paper accounts Of the death Of Charles
Suhl and of the arrest and Indictment
of his wife. Augusta SuhL tie eX-
planned TO the jury that the states
case rested entirely upon circum-
stant!al evidence. MONTGOMERY said
he had evidence 90 show that there
had been from time TO time consider
able trouble between Mr.. and Mrs.
Suhl concerning property OF which
they owned considerable. 1t was
pointed out how this property had at
first been held in joint deed by Ar.
Suhl and his wife and how later this
property had all been conveyed TO
Mrs .Suhl
The contention of the state is that
the motive for the deed Law in the
| fact that Mr.. Suhl finally had threat
ened 10 bring suit III the property was
not re-cOnVeyed SO as to again be
held by joint deed. The state also eX-
poets to show that the question had
caused much trouble between the two
and that finally Mrs Suhi had de-
clared her Willineness 10 make ar
rangement with her husband for set
Ting the dispute and SO avoiding
suit.
According to the statement present.
ed by the state, Mr.. Suhl had been at
the home of his daughter. AIRS. Thom-
as COffeen, for some time. because OF
| the fact that he could not get alOng
/ with his wife. He finally came home
/ on a Sunday. at the instance OF his
/ wife, who sought 10 make the settle
ment OF the property matter, and that
/ on the week from the following Tues
/ day he was taken III SO that he died
on Wednesday morning, the prosecutor
! maintained
says Wife was UnConccrncd
! The state also expects TO bring in
/ much detailed evidence 20 show that
! Mrs. Suhl did not take proper care II
/ her husband during his illness and
! that she did not even show proper
! concern after his death. This eFi-
! dence. IL was said, VIII come from
! neighbors and from the attending
/ physician. DR. III. A. Fink. AT one
! point during the recital OF the opening
/ statement. counsel for the defense Ob-
1 jected 10 a statement meant 20 show
\ that Mrs. Suhl had not been on good
| terms with any Of her neighbOrs. 10
I was held that this could not bee proved
7 and that 10 was presented for the pur-
/ pose OF causing prejudice ia the minds
\ OF the jury The objection was over
| ruled.
/ OF the proposed testimony mention
/ ed in the statement there was nothing
/ Of sensational nature, but it was
/ suggestive Of the fact that there would
+ posslbl Doe testimony given in thls
I connection that would add a dramatic
/ touch 10 the ease. u was declared
that Suhl had suffered Tor several
hours and that ne died az 5 o'clock in
3 the mOrnins without having been
gwen the medicine or the care Aat
, the doctor had prescribed. Mention
3 was also made OF testimony that Wll
go 20 show that Suhl was not even
given bed 90 lie upon hur that he
was found by neighbors to oe lying
/ half covered partly on the floor and
/ partly on "a cot The state VIII direct
/ much effort on the attempt 90 show
/ that Mrs. Suhl purchased arsenic for
/ other reasons than that which she
/ gave 90 the druggist namely that she
/ wanted DO 20 XIII rats and mice with
Coroner SWantX on stand.
! Or. Thomas j. Swantz. county corr
/ Oner, was placed on The stand as the
] first witness for tho state The buzz
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