The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-03
THE GREENWICH STREET MURDER.
The Jury Disa gree-Gill Pleads Guilty
to Murder In the Second Degree-State
Prison for Life.

The Jury Disa zreo-Gill Pleads Guilty
to Murder in the Second Degree-State
Prison for Life.
Yesterday morning Recorder Hackett took his
seat on the Bench OF the General Sessions and d.
rected the jury in the case OF Mark Gill tried for
the murder OF Mortimer Sullivan, who were locked
up for the night to be brought into Court. In
response to the usual question propounded by the
Clerk, whether they had agreed upon a verdict, the
foreman said:-We find it is utterly impossible
Tor US to agree upon verdict. IN
The Recorder said:-
regret very much, gentlemen that you have not
arrived az any conclusion IN this 1t was very
fully and fairly brought before you. think the
case demands that you should have arrived at
some conclusion; but IS you have been kept TO-
gether throughout TIE night and failed to agree
\ ffast discharge you from any further consider.
alton Of the case.
PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE
Colonel Fellows, addressing the Court, said
May please the Court counsel feel that they will
De dischargins their duty to their client. and will
be preerring plea precisely OF the crime Of which,
IN their judgment this man guilty under the evil
dence, by Offering to plead guilty to the second
degree; and with the consent OF the prosecuting
authorities the prisoner will Withdraw his plea OF
not guilty anu plead guilty to murder In the second
degree.
Assistant District Attorney Lyon was present,
but did not oppose the offer Of counsel
Recorder Hackett said-I DO not think that a
case has ever been presented to the consideration
ola jury that was marked with features OF greater
elaboration and Fermentation to commit murder
~ the first degree than the evidence shows in this
case, and cannot but believe that the humapt-
taran feeling which pervades this State has prac-
ticaly moulded the Legislature 20 construct such
law regarding homicide as, TO use slang term,
70 make murder in the first degree, which Involves
/
ceive that there ever will be a conviction ior MUIR
der in the first degree in this state. This case,
my mind, developed very strongly the deliberate
intent which constitutes murder in the first de-
gree. cannot but believe that that sympathetic
tuted man has had its effect upon some o. the Jury
present at this time to induce them to say that the
man guilty OF the lesser crime. l have no objec-
ton to receive the plea.
Colonel FeOws-I am not here as an apologist
for the law for think OF all the States In this
Union, whose legislation has been marked by a
degree OF ordinary care, prudence and good judy
ment, ours, perhaps, has the worst law the most
crudely drawn. upon the subject of homicide But
whatever The law may be. we must treat 1t as it
is. and believe. under the law as 1t exists, the
offence OF which this is guilty IL the crime TO
which his counsel Is now prepared to plead.
the S plea is accepted let the
THE SENTENCE STATE PRISON FOR LIFE
the clerk Ter, directed the prisoner to stand up. and
When asked what he had to say why judg.
m mel should not be pronounced against
and his countenance betokened the same
stolld indifference which characterized him
throughout the trial physiognomlst would
read In the prisoners lace not much the spirit
OF lmpudent bravado as sort OF recklessness re-
suiting from low grade OF moral Organization
and the lack OF mental culture. The Recorder
then pronounced the sentence of the Court estate
Prison at hard labor for li1e.r
HOW THE JURY STOOD.
NOW that this case-whlch thanks 20 the iudi.
cal dignity and drmness in ruling on ali legal
points OF the Recorder, only occupied one
day IN the trials over, 1t may be in
terestng to state how near young Gill
came expiaung his crime upon the scaf1old The
statement made by the HERALD reporter that at
ten O'Clock wednesday night the Jury stood eight
LOT murder IN the nrst degree and four for
the second was absolutely correct; but shortly
before they were called into Court ten were
Ior murder IN the first Degree and the s'obstinateu
Two, II is said, were wavering, and expressed a
WISH 70 thelr associates that The Recorder would
iepeat ms cnarge II this request had been made
10 hs honor ne undoubtedly would have acceded
10 II, and the result might have been dinerent
Gin was evidently ushered into the world upon a
lucky Day 80 ar as this present result in his career
Is concerned. 80 $40 o"i@ei
SICK JUROR
IL seems tnat during the night one OF the iurors
mao severe attack OF cholera morbus which NO
cessltated mis- removal TO the PARK HosDital where
ne renamed ior three or four hours and ha vn1
recovered, the of1cer in charge OF the .nGisnoseds
gentleman conducted him back to the conrt rron,
TO re0in MS brethren in distress-witn the rasnIt
OF their deliberations above stated Nv NSS~As