The daily gazette., 1883-03-05
CRONEY CASE SETTLED.
PLEADING GUILTY OF MAN
SLAUGHTER
THE DEATH OF A RAILROAD MAN
A Number Of small Items 0lsansd During
Two March Days-An Old Wstchman's
Death.

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The much.talked OF Croney case, which
| occupied the attention Of the court In this
city the greater portion of last week, came
to q somewhat unexpected though rather
| anticipated end last evening. At noon the
| jury, which had been out nearly n hours,
reported an agreement as altogether out OF
| the question aud were sent back to try
again. Dinner was furnished at ESQ O'Clock.
About o'clock Judge Houston arrived aud
retired to the judges private parlor. Soon
after Judge Wales put in an appearance,
aud about $40 Judge. WoOtfen, who had
| been sent for, came from the Clayton HoU;se
A consultation was held and communities
ton, the purpoFt of which could not be OBJ
| tanned, was received from the Jury, and an
answer returned. Soon afterward It was
| rumored among the few court officers,
lawyers and reporters present that the Jury
had again reiterated an inability to agree,
coupled with the assertion that Judge
WoOtten had insisted upon their giving a
verdict.
About 4.3O q hurrying Of feet In the rear
corridors gave warning that something was
going to happen. Judges Wootten, Houston
and Wales entered and took their seats, the
former In the centre chair, the Chief Justice
having gone home after announcing his In
tention not TO await for a verdict. The
Attorney General and his deputy and the
counsel for the defense took their places In
the bar just as the front doors we're opened
and the crowd Of men and halfgrown boys,
who had been lettering in and around the
court house since Tuesday morning rushed
in.
The prisoner John Croney was brought
in and took his seat with the same ease
which had characterized ali his movements
during the entire trial, whilst the Jury,
which had been sent for, took their regular
seats In the box. They were all somewhat
brighter looking than when they appeared
at noon, although Frederick Klair, who had
complained OF being 80 hungry, looked
very weak and miserable, having been
unable to eat his dinner.
After the jury had been polled and an
nounced very decidedly their inability to
ever agree they were discharged from fur
ther attendance by Judge Wootten, who did
so briefly and evidently with bad grace.
The 10 then left the room with q sigh OF re-
lief and started for their homes
Mr.. Bird then Informed the Court that,
provided tho State had no objection, the
prisoner would withdraw his plea Of not
guilty aud enter one of guilty Of man
slaughter. The offer was accepted by Mr..
Gray, and Judge Wootten quickly, and In
few words, sentenced theunfortunate young
man to five years. imprisonment, "a 900 fine
and the costs of prosecution-the full ex-
| tent Of the law. The prisoner received his
sentence witoout any change Of countenancc
and was taken at once to cell In the base
| ment, later In the evening being removed to
New Castle to begin his long residencc
within the walls of the prison.
Members of the jury when interrogated
as to how they stood during the % hours
they were under lock and key, seemed very
reticent and dislnelined to give any definite
information. One OF the II, however, had
no hesitation In saying that for greater
portion of the time the ballots taken stood
eight to four in favor of acquittal, the four
holding out for verdict In the second de-
gree. No names were given, but 1t was a
/ fact generally known and commented on
during the trial that the jury stood eight
Republicans to four Democrats, some even
| going SO far as to offer to bet that the result
| would be as 1t really turned out The mat
| tor Of the disagreement was almost fore
gone conclusion after the twelve had been
| out five hours without a verdict.
The number of ballots taken 10 not given,
but 1t Is reliably stated that on Thursday
right, after all the evidence was In, ballot
was taken in the jury room which resulted
In 10 to 2 In favor OF acquittal, the two only
| holding out for granddaughter and having
| tai, after a little argument.
The next day, Friday, however, after the
Chief Justice had declared that the evi-
denee would not warrant a verdict of man
| slaughter, four of the IL changed their
| minds. Two of those at first favoring ac-
| auittal and the two OF the manslaughter
| opinion decided to vote for q verdict OF
murder In the second degree, to which they
adhered, as already stated, throughout.
| The family to which John Croney belongs
has been particularly unfortunate Of late,
| especially within the last 10 months. About
| one year ago Philomen1 CroRey, Johns
| father, died, leaving widow. John, who
was engaged to be married at the time, re-
leased himself from his intended wife and
| expressed HIS intention to care for his
mother, his brothers having families Of their
| own 10 look after. Since then he has ad-
hered to his determination.
In June last, at the city election, the
prisoners brother, William, was assaulted
and cruelty beaten In row at the Eleventh
ward polls, for long time being confined
to his bed Out of that disturbance came
the arrest Of Dan Mcguire on the morning
OF November last, and on the evening OF
the same day his shooting BY John Croney.
On Friday last J. E. Russell, living at $50
West Fifth street, died of consumption.
His wife is a sister of the convicted man,
and with her mother had been in constant
attendance at the trial until Friday. On
that day the two women were obliged 70 be
absent.
On the top OF all other trouble William
Croney's property is advertised 70 be sold
by the sheriff.
During the entire trial Croney's family
were particularly attentive TO him, one Of
his brothers and his wife bringing his meals
regularly to the Court House. The woman
who was TO become his wife also attended
court during one of the days of the trial.
John, who had resigned himself TO his
fate, feels keenly, outside of his own dis-
grace and misfortune, the fact that BIZ
aged mother Is now deprived of the sup
port he had rightly rendered and intended
| giving her.