The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-25
MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

HESTER, FULLY AND MHUGH, THE MOLLY MA
CURE AssAssINs, CONVICTED AT LAST
ALEXANDER REAs DEATH TO be AVENGED
THRILLING SCENES IN COURT on THE REM
DITIoN OF THE JURY's VERDICT ON NINE
YEARS OLD CRIME-FIFTEEN MOBILES WATT
ING FOR HALrERs.
BLOOMSBURY, Pa, Feb "a, 1877
Tho excitement incident to the great Molly Mcguire
murder trial reached thrilling climax to aay mud
gave to such before Witnessed
in Bloomsbury. At hil:-pas eight O'Clock Hon. +. W.
Hughes resumed his powerful closing speech Tor
the Common wealth, which had been inter-
rupted by the adjournment Of the court las.
evening The prisoners. Hester and TuIIy, were
accompanied by their wives, but McHugh was alone
with friend to share his anxiety The court room
packed the tair sex bong present In large num-
bcrs and In this rcspec: the concluding was in
strong contrast to tho opening, when not lady WINS
to be in court except Iiesters wiic and daugh.
tiers, who have been constantly beside HIM during tho
terri. bic ordeal
HUGHES cLosEs THE ARGUMENT
The address vi Mr. Hughes was listened TO with
eager interest. Ho reviewed the testimony cioscls
showed that In Its main features the evidence of
Kelly ''the Bum" relating to the plot and the deed
remained mistaken despite the vigorous cross.
examination to which he had subjected
Mr. Hughes detailed the OF the Kill.
ing Of Rea with weird passionate clio
quence that called forth frequent expressions OF
subducd from the pack ed AUDIENCE and during
this part OF the speech Mrs. Rea and her daughters
overcome that they were compelled to retire
the The irng of tho fatal bullet INTO the
expiring man s brar. The brngrg Of the body To the
bereavcL home, the agony OF the grief stricken fam.
y-ali we're depicted N touching terms that nei,cd
many an eye To tears. AFTER this, however, came
u surge Of indignation when TIE speaker LAID the
TO the society OF tho Molly Maguires,
which he character zed ~ hell born organiz,.
Ion" and turuIng 10 Hester Tully ana Ntzhugh, he
pointed them out as It's votnrics and tho whose
hands dyed red IN the blood o Alexander Rcs
Tho address OF Mr.. Hughes, which occupied nne
hours III ALL closed with earnest appeal Tor a YER
dict against the prisoners III accordance with the tcst
moDy
JURY
At the close OF the speech Colonel Freeze OF the
counsel Tor the defence moved Tor the discharge Of
the jury ON the ground that Mr. Hughes had mis-.
rcprescu the proofs, and argued upon matters out
SIDE OF the testimony ~ the case intended excite
the fears and prejudice the jurors TO procure verdict
The motion was ordered TO bc flied.
JUDGE LLwgLL's CHARGE.
Judge EIwcI proceeded TO charge the jury. He
gave an exhaustive review oi The tcstimony eynliu
ing the dricrcnt legal points involved, and aiming
from INDUCING IN single sensational phrase opin
that might help 10 overturn the dspass ionate
mind HIS charge took an hour IN rs delivery.
WAITING fos TUE VERDICT.
AT one O'Clock the casc was committed to the Jury,
and the Adjourned TO await tho verdict The |
town very much excited anticipation OF the re-
suit, which II was thought would be Known
elgnt O'Clock tn evening. Bets freely
made on Tic vcrdci, and just wncn every
busy guessing what II wonid TIC the solemn he
Court House bell were heard starting all with tho |
announcenent that the Jury had arrived at decision.
Instantly there was rush IRON all parts OF the
to the couit Tho people poured, pell neil. |
wildly through doors, crushing ana knock. |
ing each other down IN thcir cagerness TO Obtain |
admission. Precisely at three O'Clock the !
jurors INTO court, and the prisoners
looking pale and restless. were marched iuto The ROOM
the observed OF every eye rho suddenness OF tho |
verdict forebodcd them good Hcstcrs VIE and two
lnl aut
every heart was tnrobbng evershy Tor the hrs, word
to be- spoken The Court House bell ollcd It's last and
the words
THAT'S TngIR DEATH kSgLLn
were whispered from one 10 announcer. Judge ElweI
those present not to indulge In any demon
STATIONS no matter what the verdict might be- 70
the query, GcntI,m OF the Jury, havo YOU agreed
upon your verdict In the OF a,r,ck Hester the
foreman answered, I'VE havc;'' adding IN SLOW solemn
tones III rs
rng FIRST pgoRgs"
Then tho pent up agony OF Testers daughters was
broken In Hood OF tears and Mrs Hester who sat az
pale death beside her husband with drooping ewes
and ushcn lips tainted away. a bret com notion
ensued alter which the poll Of tho jurors was pro
ceeued with, each rising IN his place and ans wornr
"GuiIty OF murder In tho itst dcgrec.''
ALL GUILTY.
The same verdict was rendered In the case of Patrick
Tuiv anu Peter Ntzhugh, aud during this solemn stage
OF tho proceedings the situation painfully distress
ing, the women moaning and weeping bitterly
The verdict having been rendered the jury were dis
charged, ana Colonel Freeze, ICr the defence made a
moton Tor rule IN arrest OF Judgment aud to show
cause why new trial should be GRANTED The rue
the Court adjourned. ~
The prisoners led back 10 their cells md tho
great audience dispersed IL safe 10 say that DO now
uiai WIZ DC granted. there being good grounds upon
winch 10 base the order that Hester fully ana Nc.
Hugh. who swell the list Molly Maru,re prisoners
now under sentences or death 10 htccn Will doubtless
have to meet the fearful late netI,ed by their crime
rms v the nrst verdict Of murder In tho first degree
ever found IN this Court and 1t Is said that Diner
@fess lot Molly Mcguire oasrascs VIII rapidly follow