Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-11

THE TRIAL.
On the 24th of June, just three month
after the murder, the trial was commence
before the Court of Common Pleas, Judg
Foote presiding. The case for the Stat
was conducted by the Prosecuting Attor
ney, NJ. S. Castle, ESQ., assisted by Mr.. A
T, slade. Messrs. C. W. Palmer and r. s
Knight appeared for the defense. A larg
number of witnesses were examined, an
the trial, which lasted four days, was i'm
partial, and the testimony searching. Dur
ing the whole time of the trial Mcdonnell
preserved the coolest indifference, excep
when the clothes worn by the murdered
woman were produced, together with thos'
belonging to Colvin which had been founC
in the prisoners possession, At the close
of the evidence Judge Foote, in q clear and
comprehensive charge of an hour and s
halls length, gave the case into the hands
Of an intelligent jury. Sixteen long hours
of elaboration succeeded and then came
the verdict "Guilty of Murder in the First
Degree" Not even then did Mcconnell
exhibit any feeling, although his sister who
had come from Canada to attend the trial
gave way to hysterical weeping. On his
way back to the Jail Mcconnell met his sis
ter on the Court House steps. She was cry
ing, and as he passed her, he said, with
some Of the old feeling of kindness that may
have filled his heart when they were chill
dren and played together "Neyer mind,
Becca." His voice quivered and he wept-
the drst emotion he had shown from the
first.
h DEATH SENTENCE.
A motion for a new trial was overruled
and Mcconnell having been r~e-conducted
into court Judge Foote proceeded to pass the
following sentence, during which the pris-
oner without the least visible emotion or
trepidation, gazed upon the Judge with a
vacant half-idiotic stare:
81 now propose to pronouce upon you
be sentence which the law requires 10 be
pronounced in your case. l wish to say no
"-AAt ~ NA@ANaAAN ~ -NAA @@@S NAe- L AeAN
said in your hearing, in disposing of the
motion for a new trial. You have had a
fair, patient and impartial trial; and you
no enc 70 blame for the result but
yourself; and No reasonable regrets there
for, q ' from your own misconduct. l alb
iure you to prepare to meet the result of your
trial, which l now announces to you 1t is
the sentence of the law that you, Alexander
Mcconnell, be taken from this place to the
jail Of the county and that you be therein
kept in close confinement by the sheriff
until the 10Th day Of August, A. D.
1866; and that between the hours of ten
o'clock in the forenoon and two o'clock in
the afternoon of said day, you be hung by
The neck until you be dead-and may God
have mercy on you"
BACK TO THE PRISON.
And Mcconnell was sent back 10 his
cell, a criminal condemned, litter
tie, r~evengeful and unmoved by the terrible
circumstances that surrounded him-un-
moved with the thought of his approach
ng doom, until he met his sister weeping
the court house steps. Then his unfeel-
ng heart gave way and tears filled his eyes
but for a moment only, and then came
,ver his features that same look of stolid
Indifference that sat there during the whole
the trial. Christian counsel and advice
vas furnished him, but the first week of his
o%nfinement was spent in frivolous CONVEX
alton with his fellows.
HOW THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED.
Mcconnell now became exceedingly de-
'ressed in spirit, and after repeated urging
the Sheriff he promised 10 confess the
Whole matter. From his confession we ex-
ract that portion which relates to the man
Ter in which the murder was committed:
"Wheu I started with CoIvin to 20 to Berea
n the morning of the oath of March last, I
id not intend to go all the way. Intend
d TO turn back and 90 to the shanty. There
7as no one at the shanty when l got there.
took Colvin's clothes and boots and left
ny own in the bed. l then started for the
past Crawiord's, intending TO go
" Elyria westward-the way l came. On
be way to the railroad track, I met Rosa
in Egler's lot. kept on, explaining
0 her that I had Colvin's things to carry
hem to him that he was going to Cleve-
md. She said if Colvin was going she was
Ding too. We went on about half way up
he lane by Clodelrs house, when l told
er that If Colvin did not get his things he
not 60 to Cleveland that I was tired
nd we would 90 back to the shanty-I
Iaying bethought me thai it wouldn't do to
ell the other story. We then went back to
shanty by Egler's. After laying the
lothes down and she seeing them, she said
he didn't believe l was going to see her
at all. I didn't know what to say.
confessed then 10 her that l was going
ono to Canada. She said, Have you
cen robbing the house," l said no, I was
lding some Of COlviu's clothes and leaving
Ome Of mine in their place. I then said /
'ould take my own and go home. l had
one of his clothes on then. She snatched
p the iron poker, and, placing herself in
ne door, said l should not go till William
OF home. l insisted that would 60. She
hid she would go and call in the n~eighbors,
got my own clothes and started to go out
+ the door when she struck me over the
rm with the poker. I laid down the
lothes and think I struck her with my fist.
t knocked her down. She got up and
at me; am not sure if she struck me
r not. I seized a stick of wood and struck
think on the back Of the head, she
III. She jumped up and struck me over
head with the poker. staggered back
gainst the wall, seized an X and struck
er on the head-one blow-she died in
When I struck her the blow with
ne stick of wood, she fell, and | kicked
er, which I think cut her ear. After she
I'll the last tine l took her in my m I
alarmed, and said, "My God, have !
illed you?' THE prisoner here wept bit
srly and could not speak for some mo-
Then I did not know what to do;
thought / had killed her in my passion,
Il IA --A 1-Av- --LAN I'LL e
he. This was between II and y o'clOck in
10 forenoon, as near as I eau tell. While
was inside the two Crawfords and the two
pears passed close by the house. I heard
lem talking and saw them from the shan
2. As soon as they had gone to dinner, I
gain packed up the goods and started.
ain twenty minutes or half an hour after
struck Rosa Colyin the last blow l took
or body out and deposited it under the
God pile. ! held her in my arms a good
-hiio expecting her 20 come too; was not
0~nscioUs when dropped the dress which ]
adj wrapped around her. After I had de-
osited the body under the wood l came
ack into the house and mopped up the
I did place the heavy logs Of wood
yer her feet. It was not more than fifteen
linutes from the time I struck her the first
till I struck her the final blow With
lie axe. The money that was claimed to
e lost, and the watch and Mrs. ColYin's
! never saw and deny taking. God
lows | am sorry for the deed I lave done,
nd hope to be forgiven. The foregoing
latement 1 make voluntarily, and have de-
red Sheriff Nicola and Mr.. Castle, the
rosecutor, to be present with other gentle
zen to hear it and take it down.
THREATS OF REVENGE.
Mcconnell was now placed in close con-