Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-02-07
Emma Sigler Gets
Life Sentence
Verdict of Guilty" Read Sunday
Afternoon; Jury Out More than
Twenty-seven Hours.

the curtain was runS down sunday
afternoon ia the IsOn county circuit
court room on the most sensational
trial in the history of Iron county
Emma Sigler, charged with being
an accessory in the murder Of her
husband, Andrew Sigler, unflinehing-
" heard the fatal words from the
lips of the foreman of the jury and
displayed no emotion when sentence
was read by Judge w. R. Foley of
Superior Thursday morning Sheriff
Robt. Erspamer took her to Waupun,
the Judge having granted her few
DAYS to arrange her business affairs
y before taking up her life's residence
at the states prison.
Jury Deliberates Twenty-Seven
Hours.
The case went to the jury at 1920
Saturday noon. After having lunch
Il at a downtown restaurant the jury
retired and began a elaboration that
lasted more than 81 hours, the
y verdict being rendered at $3.50
o'clock Sunday afternoon.
duuSE FOiSy tFfudlucu III Tie
room until II o'clock Saturday even
ing and then ordered the jury taken
to a hotel for the night During
the afternoon the jury came out
twice and asked for further instruc-
tons.
Sunday morning the jury again
returned to their room in the court
house. Judge Foley remained in
the building the greater part of the
day. About $3.50 o'clock in the
afternoon word was sent to him that
verdict had been reached and
assembling court again the verdict Of
guilty" was heard from the lips of
Foreman VIM. Miller.
Last Friday afternoon the taking
of testimony was completed and
Judge Foley ordered night session
to hear arguments of the attorneys.
Friday evening, starting at 1880,
District Attorney Foster made the
opening arguments to the jury for
the state, talking for one hour and
z quarter. Court was adjourned until
the following morning.
Saturday morning Attorney W. c.
label, counsel for defense, made
arguments that lasted two hours.
Attorney c. A. Lamoreux made the
closing arguments for the state, fol-
lowed by the judges instructions to
the jury.
In his arguments District Attorney
Foster made plea for justice, de-
claring that the evidence showed that
two people were to blame for the
murder of Andrew Sigler, whose
bullet-riddled body was found along
side the Mercer road on the after
moon of May 2, 1924. He referred
10 Andy Gudleski's testimony as a
pack of lies concocted in an attempt
TO save Emma Sigler from deserving
punishment. Gudleski, he said, was
willing to tell any kind of story
that might be construed as evidence
in support of the defendant. He
Deferred to Gudleski as an irrespon-
sible witness who has tasted prison
iife and is now willing to swear to
pack of falsehoods.
Attorney Foster maintained that
II was highly improbable that Sigler
Gould have been shot by Mrs. Sigler
~ the way she said she shot him in
self defense in a bedroom in their
Own home, supporting his argument
with the facts in the case regarding
the location of the bullet wounds in
Sigler's head and in his left side.
Dne bullet went through the head
from ear to ear and another pierced
fhe left side of the body under the
armpit. Mrs. Sigler testified that
she shot her husband twice while he
pas advancing towards her with
eseaver in his hsnd.
Attorney label, in his arguments
for the defense, attempted to
belittle the testimony of Detective
Joseph Hayes, and assailed him
pndIctiyely. He also paid I'M
complimentary remarks to the dis
nlct attorney and to witnesses for
the state.
Points in the testimony which the
asfense failed to refute were en-
phasized by Attorney Lamoreux in
rs closing arguments for the state.
He also questioned the reliability
q the testimony OF Gudleski.
The news that Mrs. Sigler had
been found guilty and sentenced to
nc Imprisonment spread like wild
me. Previous to the verdict ex-
s presions of fear of disagreement
were heard after the jury had been
out all night.
Mrs. Sigler, it is said, is the second
Menan IN the history of the state Of
misconsin - ne sentenced To life i'm
rrssonment.
Mrs Luella Trier has been named
eaardlan for the I, ur Sigler children.
tna oldest Of which is nine years. II
= probable that they will be placed
= ~ orphan asylum.
Aatotaey Marion F. Reid has been
apRelnted administrator Of the estate.