Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1881-12-14
EGAN'S FATE.
Judge tfidder's Sentence Of THes.
Ega', the Wife Mmrderer-The UncoE-
cern OF the Prisoner


Egaa, the wife umrderer-The Uncon.
| Germ oftsle Prisoner
Sioux Falls Paragraph, Dec :.
The jury retired to its room, and
the first ballot was unanimous. AZ
ter supper, court reconvened to re.
ceive the verdict, which was duly
recorded. The jury was then re-
iuested to arise, and the defendant
also standing, confronted them, when
Mr.. Waits, clerk Of the court, read
the finding: I'VE, the jury. find the
defendant guilty as charged in the
Indictment Apparently, the only
unconcerned person in the room at
the time was Thomas Egan. All
about him were men with bowed
heads and that serious air which be-
ttayed the emotions they felt as they
saw a human being doomed ff nj
ignominious death; the public pfos-
ecutor dropped his face iEto bis
hands and shutldered at what it had
been his duty to perform; but the
prisoner stood there SO stolidly and
unaffected that it seemed as if to
punish him for anything would be
like wreaking vengeance on a dunn
my.
1t was expected that sentence
would be passed Friday morning,
but it was deferred until Saturday
The courtroom and gallery were
filled with people to hear the doom
of the man who had SO grossly out
ragged public sentiment and all the
decent instincts of humanity. The
first thing disposed of was a motion
by the defense for new trial, and
the overruling of the same by the
court, and noting of exceptions.
The prisoner was then given posi-
ton in front of the bench, and
Judge Kidder proceeded with the
sentence. After formally stating
the facts Of indictment, arraignment
and trial, the court asked the pris-
oner if he had anything to say why
judgement should not be passed
upon him. to which the reply was,
Il don't know anything about it."
The Judge then proceeded:
'She whom you solemnly prom
ised to love, cherish, protect and de-
fend, take care of and support, and
be kind to in sickness and in health
SO long as both should live. you de-
liberately, brutally and inhumanly
murdered. There is no record more
brutal and bloody in the criminal
annals than the one which You hnye
made. In contemplation it is enough
TO unstring the nerves Of the strong
est man and PROSTATE the finer fac
ulties Of his mind. 1t stops the
pulsaticn Of the strongest hearts in
this community at the fountain, and
congeals the flow therefrom IN their
Businesses. The great hearts Of the
people Of this vicinity are now throb-
bing at the portals OF the grave oi
your mangled victim, and tenderly
sympathize with her motherless lit
tie ones, who ars left to the n,ercies
ofa censorious world, bercft Of that
! affection which emanates only from
a mothers heart and gives pleasure
unalloyed to the dearest objects 81
her life.n
4 Il have not said this to laeerate
your feelings, however benumbed d
however sensitive they may 81
upon this, the most solemn occasion
/ Of your life; but have saisi il ii 81
der that yoiI may behold tho bloody
drama as others sec Il. And / III
constrained to say that I take cour
age from the fact as shown in Mi
awful tragedy, that however perrel
the asts ofthe rieiops may q tl,,
nnerring chain lf citcuns h M e. / " m m
& 2s.Sx 44s ~ ss Il III VI.