Episode 10: The Trial of the Century Part 1

When Chester Weger went to trial in 1961, it was heralded by the media as the “Trial of the Century.” Throngs of people, ranging from hungry journalists to curious citizens, lined up outside the LaSalle County Courthouse in Ottawa, Illinois to try and get a coveted seat in the gallery. The quiet Illinois Valley community had never seen a spectacle of this kind. The press, armed with giant cameras and blinding flashbulbs, waited for the police to pull up and escort the accused into the courtroom.

The Weger family had pooled what few financial resources they had to hire Chester an attorney – John McNamara. But even with a fine lawyer like McNamara, Chester was facing a prosecution, with its vast resources, that was interested in nothing less than the death penalty, execution by 50,000 volts. Three women were dead, and someone needed to pay. The public needed their pound of flesh and the State needed to put this case to rest.

After a three-week trial, the jury returned its verdict: Guilty.

But the question that haunted jurors long after the trial had ended was whether or not the right man had paid…Those doubts were evidenced by the fact that the jury elected not to sentence Chester Weger to the electric chair, as the State had demanded…Just in case they got it wrong.

It’s likely his resolve to prove his innocence that has kept Chester alive all these years. For 62 years and counting, Chester Weger has been waiting for that evidence, that full picture, to finally emerge and definitively reveal that YES. . . they got it wrong and real killers have never been brought to justice.

Andy and Whitny dive into the trial of the century and discuss what the jurors were never told.

There is a lot more to this conversation so make sure you listen to the episode and take a look at the documents and photographs provided and outlined below for more context to the discussion and the case! For our audience without the ability to listen to the audio, check out the full transcript provided!

Referenced Documents in the Episode

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Images from Episode

Becky Weger, 3, daughter of accused slayer Chester O. Weger, shows her doll to her aunt, Mary Weger, sister of the man on trial for the slaying of three Riverside, Ill., women, Jan. 30, 1961. Becky and her aunt are shown in the LaSalle County Court House in Ottawa, Illinois. (AP Photo/Charles Knoblock)
Chester O. Weger, accused slayer of three Riverside, Ill., women, is greeted by his wife JoAnn and daughter Becky, 3, on arrival at LaSalle County Court House, Jan. 30, 1961, in Ottawa, Illinois. (AP Photo)
Seated in judge Leonard Hoffman's court in the LaSalle County Courthouse at Ottawa, Ill., Jan. 30, 1961, at the opening session of the trial of accused slayer, Chester O. Weger, are prosecuting attorneys Robert E. Richardson and his assistant Anthony Raccuglia, right. (AP Photo/Charles Knoblock)
Accused slayer of three Riverside, Ill., matrons, Chester O. Weger, is shown with is attorney John A. McNamara, left, in an Ottawa, Ill., courtroom, Jan. 30, 1961. Weger's trial opened to an overflow crowd in the LaSalle County court. (AP Photo/Charles Knoblock)
Chester Weger, 21, sits at the right hand table with his attorney, Feb. 14, 1961, during his trial on a charge of slaying Lillian Oetting, one of three women from Riverside, Ill., found slain in a cave at Starved Rock State Park last March. (AP Photo)
Chester O. Weger, right, was back in LaSalle County Court at Ottawa, Ill., Feb. 27, 1961, to resume hearing of the triple slaying of Riverside, Ill., matrons, found dead at nearby Starved Rock State Park. The trial recessed last Thursday due to the death of the spouse of juror Amy Rinker. At left is Weger's defense attorney John A. McNamara. (AP Photo/Paul Cannon)
The Chester O. Weger murder trial resumed this morning at Ottawa, Ill., Feb. 27, 1961 after a recess since last week due to the death of the husband of juror Amy Rinker. Shown are spectators unable to gain entrance to the crowded LaSalle County Court of Judge Leonard Hoffman. Deputy Sheriff Bill Dummet, background, stands at door. (AP Photo/Paul Cannon)
Spectators have a close up look at Chester Weger, in handcuffs, who is on trial for the slaying of three women in the Starved Rock State Park murder case, Feb. 27, 1961. (AP Photo/Paul Cannon)
In LaSalle County Court at Ottawa, Ill., March 2, 1961, before the Chester Weger slaying jury retired to deliberate the fate of the defendant, JoAnn Weger, his wife, and his sister Mary Ann Weger, right, are shown seated together. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Herschel and Juanita Weger, parents of accused murder Chester Weger, are seen in court after the lunch recess, March 2, 1961. Weger is on trial in the slaying of three Riverside, Ill., socialites. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Citizens as well as LaSalle County officials await the verdict that will decide Chester "Rocky" Weger's fate at Ottawa, Ill., March 3, 1961. They line the county court house hallway adjoining the circuit court room where the lengthy trial is being held for Weger, who is accused of slaying three Riverside, Ill., women in March 1960, at Starved Rock State Park, where he worked as a dishwasher. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Chester "Rocky" Weger, left, glances over his shoulder as a deputy sheriff holds back a crowd at the elevator after the jury of seven women and five men delivered its verdict of guilty in Ottawa, Ill., March 3, 1961, and recommended life imprisonment for the slaying of Lillian Oetting, 50. Weger, whose 22nd birthday was today, claims he was framed by the sheriff's office of LaSalle County. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Chester Weger, 22, who learned his fate of life imprisonment from a jury for the slaying of Lillian Oetting of Riverside, Ill., last March, conducts a press conference after his conviction, March 3, 1961. Weger remained stone-faced during the interview. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
In this March 3, 1961 file photo, Chester Weger, left, is shown after he was convicted in the 1960 murder of Lillian Oetting at Starved Rock State Park, one of three women found murdered there. Illinois officials have again denied parole to the 79-year-old inmate sentenced to life in prison for the 1960 killings. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted 7-7 Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 on Weger's request, leaving him short of the needed majority vote for his release. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch, File)
The jury in the case of Chester Weger, who maintains he is innocent, listens to closing arguments in his murder trial, March 2, 1961. Weger is accused in the slayings of three Riverside, Ill., women in Starved Rock State Park, nearly a year ago. (AP Photo/Edward Kitch)
Accused slayer Chester Otto Weger and his daughter Becky, 3, kiss during a noon hour recess of his trial in LaSalle County Courthouse in Ottawa, Ill., Jan. 30, 1961. (AP Photo/Charles Knoblock)