The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-04-18
RESULTS OF THE MCCONNELL AND
NIEDERPRIM TRIALS.-LESSONS
FROM THEM.

fsor the murder of Edward Maddocks was the
sRcquittal Of Mcconnell. The opinion is pre-
xvaent with some that Mcconnell was very
ably defended and not very ably prosecuted
Perhaps the reason of this opinion is that tie
prosecuting Attorneys thought the law and
evidence we're against them. Had they felt
shat law and evidence were on their side, and
acted with determination to convict, the re-
suit might possibly have been different AS
1t was. the Jury stood, when they first went
a~t 0s we are informed six for acquittal and
six for conviction II this is true of the first
standing the jury Mcdonnell stood scarce
,Ty more than an equal chance for acquittal.
g8ut. as the jury finally acquitted him, the
public generally feel TO acQuiese with the
&inding of the jury.
The result of the trial of Jacob Niederprim
dor assau't with intent to kill William Smith
rRAs the finding of Niederprm guilty and re-
commanding him to the mercy Of the Court
by the Jury, and the Court sentencing him to
rE9c State Prison for three years, the first three
.davs in solitary confinement. Niederprim
vg7a4 ably defended with the determination TO
80 have him acquitted if possible, and still
anlore ably prosecuted, and evidently with
che determination to convict in accordance
with the requirements of law and evidence.
Mcconnell and Niederprim can each learn
q useful lesson from his own trial and also
1rom the trial of the other. The public can
also learn a useful lesson from both trials.
If Mcconnell and his company had gone on
nome without stopping at the saloons he
Fould not have got into asfght with Mad
8cks and others II he had left as he could
ave done when the boys of the City at the
ther saloon showed fight and a determine
ion to whip the boys from the Country, he
San}d have avoided the fight, an2 also the
El0micide of Maddoclls even il selEdefense
From ali the evidence it is clear that beer
rwa8 he cause OF the Sunday fight, and that
geae fight was the cause of the use of a dam
sgerOus weapon which caused the death OF
GEaddocks. And the saloons which furnished
r1fle beer we believe were licensed by our
sl3ity authorities to sell beer. How much
a1bey paid for their licenses can be ascertained
fcom The records of the Common Council
The expenses of the Mcconnell trial can
also be ascertained from the records Of the
Courts. McConnell's expenses can also b
-&scert aimed, and the value of the time and
The expenses of those attending Court can be
estimated approximatiYely. And when all
IS summed upt can be compared with the
amount the City obtained for tie licenses
.zad the City Fathers can then answer for
themselves whether they think they have
sndered the people of the City, of the
ounty, and of the State, fathery kindness
rr which they are entitled to their thanks
id gratitude for granting licenses to the
.loons to sell beer for themoney which they
seived and placed in the City Treasury.
il Niederprim had stayed at home on Sun
lay and not gone hunting, or shooting pig
cons, he would not haye been ordered
sway for shooting before William Smiths
e ouse, and if he had gone away when order
ed, I'm place of claiming the right to go into
Smiths field to get the pigeons he had shot,
he would not have shot Off Smiths arm, and
would not have been convicted of assault
with intent to kill, and been sentenced to
State Prison for three years. The pleasure
Of shooting and the value OF a few pigeons
sare not to be compared with the expenses
1ofAis trial, the loss of his freedom, and his
punishment in prison. No City Council or
4lCher authority had granted him license to
shoot pigeons on Sunday or any other day on
Mr. Smiths premises or any other mans with.
sat permission. His only authority was the
Example of others of his own age and young
OK and older than himself. These ex ampes
IDre but poor authority, but such as they
re, they tended to lead Niederprim on to
as he did, and to help him 10 the place
aich he now occupies. Whether 1t was
m considerations of this kind, or from mis-
iHings as to his guilt, not amounting to a
lsonable doubt, or some other cause which
asduced the Jury to recommend Niedei rim
10 the mercy of the Court, we know not. It
GG-certain that the recommendation of the
-gary had effect with the Court, and it is well
That il had. Ne ore can fud fault with the
GozrS.
There Gre things connected with b 9th tri-
ais away above anything that can be esti-
Aaated on money basis. The feelings Of
the parties themselves, and of their
Fagentes and brothers, and sisters,
sod friends, cannot be estimated. All have
had their trials and have had to bear khem
as best Ehey could. And their trials are not
vet oyer. But we would not add by word or
deed 60 their grief or woe. On the contrary,
we woEld, and would have all others. help
1AeGn bear their burdens. And We would
eyisi& those in prison as we would feed the
saRVDgry and clothe the naked. And we
usVuA do this whether in prisons mental and