Year: 1872




The scenes in the court room to-day have been
OF dramatic interest, especially the closing hours
of the session, and the sudden termination Of the
second trial of Paul Schoeppe The trial is the
theme Of earnest conversation all the city this
evening


When the Court convened this morning there
was not one in the assemblage that gathered to
hear the days proceedings nor In all those con-
nected with the trial. that expected ere the adjourn
ment Paul SchOeppe would be virtually acquitted,
and the that has excited so much interest and
attention suddenly ended. But such is the case,
although the official announcement will not be
made until morning.


At the opening of the Court this morning the
evidence for the defence was resumed by Professor
F. A. Genth, Of Philadelphia, Professor Of Chemis-
try in the University Of Pennsylvania He stated
that he had read the evidence of Professor Aiken
and the result of his analysis of the stomach of
Miss steinecke, and that ne had no hesitation in
saying that that analysis


PROVED NOTHING AT ALL,


and much less the presence of prussc acid, leaving
out the question of carelessness in the use OF YES
sells, retorts &C. The tests were wholly INSULT
cient to develop any poison whatever. He then
stated in substance the same as Professor Reede
yesterday, adding that the very reagents used by
Dr. Aiken would necessarily make the poison he
said to be found. He left the stand without
cross-examination. After Professor Genth several
more medical gentlemen were placed upon the
stand, all of whom testified that Miss Steinecke
could not have died of the poison said to have been
found. A good part of the forenoon was occupied
with reading Professor Wormley's testimony on the
the former trial. When the afternoon session was
called, 1t was evident that the defence felt the
strength Of their case and were going to make
uhor n Thavn II
witnesses on the stand, the most prominent Of
whom was Dr. Nelsinger, OF Philadelphia, all of
whom sustained the theory that Miss Steinecke
could not have died from prussic acid poisoning.
Shortly after five O'Clock Samuel Hepburn Jr for
the defence declared their case closed and Mr. Sad
ler for the State, said they had no more evidence
to offer. At this point there was


QUITE A SCENE IN COURT.


All were breathlessly anxious to know what was
since the trial began, evinced little anxiety, and
looked earnestly at his counsel, while he himself
After moments consultation between his counsel,
during which there were eager inquiring glances
coanse ene arose 70 and said 1--WE DO not propose pre- to
occupy the time OF the Court and jury by discus
sion Of the evidence In this case We place this
prisoner in the hands OF the jury under the in
structions Of the Court where the law assigns him,
to be dealt with by them as to them may seem
meetD At this announcement there was look OF


BLANK AsToNIsHMENT


upon the countenances Of all present, and the
prosecuting counsel seemed to be worse dumb
founded than any ese They looked at each other
neither appearing to know what to do, for the
private counsel had fully expected to go to the
Jury with elaborate speeches. After moments
silence Mr. Mclaughlin, the prominent private
counsel arose and snid:-I the defence refused to
discuss the evidence the State could not, OF course,
insist on the discussion; but he deemed 1t justice
to say that ne had not been paid for his services in
this trial. but that he was some three hundred dol
lars out of pocket by his dsinterested zeal in behalf
OF the public good One Of the counsel for the de-
fence remarked that they were that many thou
| sands out In defence OF


|
Mr.. Mclaughlin then stated that while they did
| not rely much upon their medical or chemical tes-
| tim0ny, they thought they had some moral evil
dence that II properly presented, would have some
| weight with the jury.


| Judge Junkin remarked that he regarded the
moral evidence as exceedingly weak, fully as much
so as the medical or chemical which Is no evidence
| at all; and II the case, as presented during this
| trial, had been brought before him on habeas cor
| pus, he could not cOnscentiOusy have committed
the prisoner to answer the charge OF murder, and
he regarded 1t as Gods providence that the former
Judgment OF this Court was not carried out and the
| Court thus saved from the commission Of great
wrong 1t would have been, said he.
JUDICIAL MURDER.


| At this juncture there was considerable excite
ment among all parties, every one looking for the
| announcement OF O verdict OF not guilty imme-
| diatey by the jury. The prisoner was, perhaps,
more affected than any one else, and betrayed con-
| siderable emotion The counsel for the prOsecu-
with the case, and, amid the general excitement,
the Judge said that 1t but due to the Court that
the Jury should be retained until tomorrow morn
ing that formal charge could be delivered, citing
the law and reviewing the evidence. He would,
therefore adjourn the Court until tomorrow morn
ing, at nine O'Clock There was a general feeling
OF relief at this announcement, and the court room
was soon cleared