The Power of Circumstantial Evidence by ValHall

http://www.thehinkymeter.com/?p=1726

The Power of Circumstantial Evidence

The case against Casey Anthony is almost completely circumstantial evidence. Many have voiced their personal concerns over this matter as they interpret circumstantial evidence to be weak. However many a cunning murderer has been convicted of his crime based solely on circumstantial evidence – even when there is no body to definitively prove a death. In fact, convictions based on circumstantial evidence have steadily increased since the 1960’s. One review listed more than 250 “bodiless” murders that were taken to trial. That same study found that less than 10% of these cases resulted in an acquittal, or a reversal of decision on appeal. In certain instances, circumstantial evidence can be deemed to have more veracity than eye witness testimony.

The earliest murder conviction based on circumstantial evidence, and without the body of the victim, I have found reference to in U.S. criminal history was the case of Adolph Leutgert. Leutgert was a successful sausage maker in Chicago in the 1890’s. Leugert’s wife, Louisa, disappeared and was ultimately reported missing by the family. During the investigation of her disappearance the investigator, Captain Herman Schuettler, became convinced Leutgert had murdered his wife. This suspicion was based solely on curious behavior by Leutgert just prior to Louisa’s disappearance. He had ordered a large amount of potash and arsenic for his sausage factory, which had been shut down for 10 weeks remodeling and reorganization. He had been seen by a factory worker with his wife, at the factory, at about 10:30 pm the evening she was last seen alive. Upon meeting that employee in the factory, Leutgert sent him on an errand and gave him the rest of the night off.