Daily Republican., 1883-03-05
THE END.
THE JURY sxsE 70 AGREE. AMI
CRONEY PLEADS GUILTY TO
MANkIAUGHTER

|
The scenes in and around the cour
House on Saturday afternoon did no
vary much from those of the nornin I
The doors of the Court room were KEEP
locked, and large crowd were in wait
ing in the lower corridor and ON th'
front pavement, who passed the tim,
yenturing opinions respecting the con
duct of the jury, or giving their view,
what the verdict should be-.
: The majority Of the jury refused tC
have any dinner until about 2. 40 o'clock
when upon vote being taken it wa,
decided 70 allow the meal to be brought,
and Bailiff Rainey went out TO order il
In a short time two cOlored men came
in with large basket filled with food,
enough to supply twelve hungry men,
and a tin bucket of coffee, which was
partaken of by all except Frederick
X lair, who was too sick TO eat. Shortly
before 3 o'clock Judge Houston came
in and retired to the judges paror, and
a few minutes afterward was joined by
Judge Wales. The counsel on both
sides were also in the room for short
time, and il was finally decided to send
for Judge WOotten, who had remained
at the Clayton House after dinner.
The Judge arrived few minutes
before 4o'clock and shortly after com
mnnication was handed in from the
jury, stating that they did not think it
possible for them to agree. Judge
Wootten returned word to them that
they must render n verdict, as they
would not be discharged until they did
The Judges remained in their parlor in
consultation until about 4.3O o'clock,
when they came in and taking their
places on The bench ordered the prisoner
TO he brought up from the cells in the
basement, and placed in the dock.
States Attorney Gray, with Deputy
Attorney General Cooper and the
counsel for the defense took their places
inside the bar, and the doors leading in
to the Court room were opened, admit
ting the crowd Of spectators that had
been patiently waiting all the afternoon.
The baliffs came in with the jury ana
AS soon as they had answered to their
names Clerk of the Court Cochran asked
them ifthey had agreed upon a verdict,
and the foreman answered they had
not. Judge WOotten asked if their
was any possibility of their agreeing,
and the foreman replied that he did not
think their was. The clerk then, by
direction Of the Court, questioned
each one of the jurors, and they were
unanimous IN declaring that they
could not agree.
After whispered conversation with
Judges Houston and Wales, Judge
Wootten informed them that they were
discharged, although it was evident that
he was inclined to send them back to
to their room until this morning. The
twelve weary men left the room, no
doubt glad that their rtwenty-eight hours
imprisonment had come to such All I'M
expected termination.
Mr.. Bird had few minutes cOnver-
sation with the prisoner, and then in
formed the Court that in view of the
turn matters had taken, they were
ready if it met the approval Of the
Court and the Attorney General, to
Withdraw the plea of not guilty entered
by the prisoner when he was arraigned
last November, and plead guilty oman
slaughter.
The States Attorney said he had no
objection, and the Judge expressed
him self as being satisfied. Nonev was
then told to stand up, and Judge Woot-
ten sentenced him to pay the costs Of
prosecution, fine of 81 900, and under
go an imprisonment Of five years, ter
minating on March Sd, 1889, being the
full extent of the law. The sentence
was received by the unfortunate young
man without any perceptible change Of
| tam IL mn a Ia
afterwards removed to the cells in the
basement, and later in the evening taken
over to New Castle, where five OF the
best years of his life will be spent in a
living tomb.
1t is impossible to tell how the jury
stood, or how many ballots were taken,
and one of the bailiffs, who has held
that position for over twenty years, said
it was the closest-mouth jury he had
ever seen. 1t is, however, confidently
believed that had it not been for the
sweeping charge of the Chief Justice,
which some Of the country members
especially thought should guide them in
arriving at verdict, they would have
agreed upon manslaughter before being
out a single night.
There is considerable sympathy OK
pressed for Croney's family, who have
been afflicted during the past year
Within that time his father Philomena
Croney died, leaving his mother without
any one to look to for support except
John. At that time he was paying atten-
ton to very estiniabe lady to whom he
was engaged to be married. He being the
only son remaining single, and consider
ling that his first duty was to his aged
parent, broke the engagement and de-
voted himself to the support of his
mother.
One of his sisters, Mrs. Russell, who
with the mother was present during the
frst two days of the trial, was summon
ed on Thursday TO the bedside of her
diving husband. who expired on Friday
with consumption. Her place was tax
en- by Younger sister on Thursday,
hut IN Friday neither mother nor sister