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Impassioned Address by Attorney E. S. PurkhiserIN McLEOD MURDER TRIALJoliet Lawyer Crates Stir in Chicago Court Room—Makes Good Use of Pathetic Situation* and • Scores die Alleged Betrayer of the Woman Defendant—Verdict Expected Today,Thr Chicago Examiner of yesterday prints a group picture of the courtroom scone at the trial of Lucille Me* 5* Leod Mem hard, charged with murder at Chicago. Prominent in the picture is the face of E. G. Purkhiser, of Joliet, who, with his law partner. J. S. Reynolds, is associated with Attorneys O'Donnell, of Chicago, in the defense of the woman.All the Sunday papers make more or less prominent'mention of Mr. Purk-htswr's address at the session Saturday night in behalf of the woman who ia under indictment for killing her sweetheart, William Neiman, and then attempting to kill heraelf. Mr. 1?urk-htser is credited with making an impassioned talk of nearly two hours.The tragedy which the woman In this case before the court occurred nearly a year ago. She had been a -show-girl and among her acquaintances was William Neiman, a young man Chicago. The two one night went to a hotel, and later Nchnan ‘was discovered dead with a bullet wound in his body, while the girl was badly hurt in the same way. Physicians nursed her back to life, and now she is on trial. She alleges Neiman shot her and them killed himself.The case will go l® the jury today. It Is generally believed that the girl will be acquitted. The proceedings Saturday night were dramatic. The mbthor and sister of the dead man were in court, and were compelled to listen to a scathing denunciation of Neiman by Attorney Purkhiser. Finally both, left the room, weeping violently.On his part Prosecutor Crowe scored the defendant, making a strong address from the standpoint of the state.Reason for suicide! thundered Attorney Purtrhiser. tftktng up that phase of the question which appealed to the defense most strongly. Why, Neiipan had the best reason in the world for suicide. If I had done what William Neiman did, I would have killed myself as he did.William Niemann committed the snipe crime as did JTwdai fse^rlorwhen he betrayed his Master for thirty piec-tffl* of silver. Niemann betrayed the love and confidence of an innocent little girl of srtxteeh, and then did not -...futitn ,hi« promise of.-marriage.xsl her,“Any man who ruins the life of an Innocent £lrl and then refuses her reparation ought to blow out his brains or hang himself to the nearest rafter. said Attorney Purkhiser.Earnest Plea for Girl.Although Prosecutor Crowe did not ask the pem^ Pu rk -hiser frequently referred to the gallows in his address,“This is the flimsy evidence upon which the state wishes you to send little Lucille McLeod to the gallows,’ he said frequently, and at each reference the slight figure of the prisoner seemed about to collapse and she drew „ arer to her mother who sat beside : j r ier.“The Nan Paterson case over again.”This is the way in which Prosecutor Crowe referred to the trial he was •irguing.I ask you gentlemen of the jury, to tell women of her kind,-of the stripe of Nari Patterson, that they cannot •redress their private wrongs by as-Wsslnatloh. * vState Makes Sensation.Then the representative of the state startled hia hearers by advising wronged women to seek revenge through their male friend#.It women are wronged they musttheir male friends to tike the life of the man responsible. They cannot steal into hotel bedrooms and kill menwhile they sleep/* he said.Prosecutor Crowe was also given a severe scoring by Attorney Purkhiser, who characterized his attitude as unfair. w,Both sides must make opening statements, Attorney Purkhiser told he Jury in beginning his address for he purpose of telling the jury just vhat they mean to prove. Prosecu-or Crowe has failed utterly; to prove chat ho* said he would. In many indances he has made assertions which -he could not bring evidence to support for the sole purpose I bellve of prejudicing the Jury.
Newspaper Details
The Joliet Weekly News
Joliet, Illinois, US
Thu, Nov 22, 1906
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 27 Mar 2024
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