All the additional evidence and the preparation of the case was made
by the State's attorneys, William H. Rittenhouse. Edwin S. Day, Frank
Comerford, City Police Attorney, and other officers. All the names of
new witnesses (some twelve or fifteen in number) and the evidence were
concealed from Detective Wooldridge, and at no time was he present, or
did he hear to what the witnesses would testify. Therefore, he had no
knowledge of any new facts when the case was called for trial.
The mystery of Guerin's death proved too much for a Coroner's jury.
More than two weeks after the artist was slain the Coroner's panel
returned an open verdict. It merely found that Guerin had died from a
bullet wound in a manner which the jury was unable to determine. This
same verdict Colonel Lewis sought to introduce at the trial in Judge
Brentano's court. Such a move was new in criminal annals, and it was
some time before the court decided that it should be ruled out.
Mrs. McDonald was meantime transferred to the County Jail from the
Harrison Street Station. She was broken in health and a confirmed
invalid. Two persons, however, were faithful to her, Mike McDonald and
Miss Amanda Beck, her nurse.