The Portland daily press., 1889-12-17
Kunz b Gets Three Years and Reges
Us Once More a Free Man.
Tina Scene In the Court Room when
the Verdict was Announced.

pallor that overspread his features. Martir
Burke was flushed as he approached hi!
seat, but moment later his features re
gained their natural appearance. With af-
fected nonchalance, he resumed his gum
chewing. John Kunze, for the first time
since his arrest, seemed to fully appreciate
the gravity of his position. The 12 jurymen
entered the room, headed by Foreman
Clarke Every prisoner simultaneously
the verdict in their features. The CLERK
called the roll of the jurors and then Fore
man Clarke took flom his pocket huge en-
vetope and handed 1t to the judge, who gave
1t TO the clerk. "The clerk Will read the
verdict" said the court, and hush fell ov.
er tne vast audience, broken moment later
by the voice Of the clerk reading the verdict
which follows:
we, the jury, find the defendant JOHN E
BEGGS, not guilty.
;S, We Il the Jury, iind the defen dant, JOHN KUNzE
lnent. and iix his punishment at imprisonment Ia
the penitentiary for term of three years.
rrM wgs .9e Jury, ma the defendants, DAN COUGH
LlN, ,rATRICKIOSULLIvAN and MARTIN BURKE
guilty OF murder In the form anu manner as
GnarEea IN she Indictment, aud fix the penalty al
er OF tnelc natural lives.
Mr.. Forrest CT the defense requested that
the Jp.ry be polled. To each juror the Ques-
th; ti3h was put by the clerk Of the cou.t: "Was
VII 4, and is this, now your verdict?" Fore.
ID an Clarke was the first man to rise and an.
swer firmly in the affirmative. The other II
men followed and gave the same answer.
verdict, Coughlin, O'Sullivan and Burke
turned deathly pale and Kunze started sud.
denly from his seat. A moment later he
dropped his head upon his breast ana burst
into tears. Beggs's face was luminous with
JOY, Immediately after the polling Of the ju-
". tha a
walked over to the jury box. During a
6feathless lull he shook Foreman Clarke's
1and heartily and said: Gentlemen,
tnank you; trust the future may confirm
your judgment upon me and that you will
never regret you found me not guilty Of this
terrible charge" As he shook hands with
the Jurors, each man bowed his head in ac-
knowledgement of the grateful words of the
LIBERATED man. The only sound that broke
the stiffness was the deep subs of the little
German, Kunze. He burst out with: "God
knows am innocent. God knows that |
Longenecker bought two witnesses. am
sure OF that They went out and bought
farms with the money they got. Him and
Schuetter did it,"
OSullivan was the only one of the other
three prisoners who found refuge in tears.
For moment they trickled down his cheeks
but minute later his black eyes flashed
with defiance or a revival of courage, and
dashing his hand across his brow, he braced
up IN MS seat and cast long glance around
the court room. The only evidence of ter
ror perceived in Coughlin was his increased
pallor;, His lips twitched nervously during
the e0ll0quy that followed between the at
tolneyS and the court relative to the motion
for new trial. Martin Burke was unques-
tlona6iy the least affected of all the prison
ers;. His usually ford face took on slight
pailor as the verdict was announced, but a
moment later his jaws began their methodi-
Cal maStlcatl0n OF gum as regularly as at any
previous time during the trial. Beggs turned
10 reporter and said: 1T is shame to
sentence Kunze. The poor little fellow, |
think, is as innocent as l. 1t is damned
shame to send him to the penitentiary for
three years. He had no more idea of being
found guilty than you had of being declared
an accomplice in this crime"
Inc comments among the audience were
varied. OF the Irish in the audience, and
there were scores, among whom were many
warm friends and admirers of the murdered
physician, strong indignation lat the verdict
was evinced 1T is shame" said p. w.
Dunn, "a shame and travesty upon
Justice" Some congratulated themselves
and the prisoners that the verdict was no
worse. The friends of Beggs, elbowing
their way through the crowd grasped the
hands OF the senior guardian of Camp 20 In
fellcitation upon his eXOnerati0n. Beggs
took seat in jury chair, after the retire.
pleasantly according interviews to news
paper men. Mr.. Forrest in behalf of the
four convicted defendants entered the ac-
customed motion for new trial. After con-
siderable discussion, the judge fixed January
18th as the day on which the motion for the
new trial would be argued. The prisoners
we're then taken back to jail. Kunze still
crying went out of the door with tears run
ning down his face, still muttering and Sob
hing to himself. Martin Burke followed
Kunze. and as he passed whispered
TO Forrest and smiled. He seemed
lowed. looking pale and sallow. Dan
Coughlin was the last of the prisoners to
leave. AS he stalked out he half turned and
looked back into the court room as If ex-
pecting to find some friend. Beggs proceed
ed smillngly to his old cell to get his coat
and hat.
IL Was not until after noon today that the
jury finally came to verdict. Then Juror
Culver. who had been voting for acquittal
for all the defendants since the jury went
put, consented to compromise. The other
jurors were for hanging Burke, Coughlin and
O'Sulliyan; Culver was for letting them all
OIL but finally agreed to life sentence for
three. The jury was practically unanimous
on the subject of Beggs's acquittal and but
little time was needed to fix KuDze's term Of
Imprisonment.
A little before o'clock an Associated
Press representative visited the Jail. and
found the four convicted defendants in the
corridor with the other inmates, taking the
usual exercis before supper Coughlin and
OSulllvan were together. Burke Was alone
aud the little German remained in his cell,
still refusing to be comfOrted in his misfor-
tune. His confident demeanor has given
away to heavy gloom, and as ne bemoaned
his fate he denounced the states attorney
and the jury. Coughlin refused to be inter-
viewed. 1t was evident he was in mood
very nearly approaching elation, and the
verdict was source of self congratulation,
Burke on the verdict were in vain.
The twelve jurors were Desieged for infor-
nation about what had tranSpired In the
jury room and the cause Of the long delay.
Juror NARROW said: I'VE agreed not to say
anything. From what have heard since
we got back to the world again, there has
been some pretty tall lying in the newspa-
perS. Juror Culver was not the cause of the
delay, and there was not any unpleasant
ness as one paper declared"
States Attorney L0ngenecker, when asked
If he was satisfied with the verdict said he
was always satisfied when he had an honest
jury in murder case. He does not expect
any confession and thinks it is a compromise
verdict. 1t was plain the States attorney Is
far from being pleased at the outcome of the
case.
Juror John Culver was asked if he wonld
make statement regarding his position In
the jury room. He said 81 cannot. Before
we came into tie court, each man placed
himself upon honor not to reveal the pro-
ceedings in the Jury ROOM"
"Will yCu say whether you were the odd
man?"
Il can't"
1T might be for your interest to say you
were not"
II won't say was not"
That is equivalent to stating that you
were.'
Il certainly took what TO me was the only
just cause" He added; - hlle at times the
arguments waged warmly there was no at
tempt at bulldozing and much less were
there any blows struck.
AS Beggs left the jail he was heard to say,
"I'm going to spend the rest of my life hunt
ing down the man VINO killed Cronin." The
ex-senior guardian of Camp 20 spent few
moments at this office and then proceeded
home. His wife answered all callers and re-
fused to give any admittance. It was stated
tonight, on what is called good authority,
that but for fear of Juror Culver going mad
in the jury room, the other IL would have
stood out indefinitely for hanging Coughlin,
Burke and O'Sulliyan; 21 years imprison-
Ynant far RaOoc and IA wars for Knnza