River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-19


the verdict is the result OF a probable objection
OF some OF the jurors 10 the death penalty on
circumstantial evidence"
'I3ut the jurors all swore in being examined
as 10 their competence that they had no con
scientious scruples against capital punishment
on circumstantial evidence"
THAT is all true. But behind all that each
man probably had a mental reservation that he
must be convinced beyond a reasonable
doubt juror might almost uncon-
sciously have an objection TO cir
cumstantial evidence, and yet never
be fully aware of il until great case like this,
involving human life, caused him TO pause, and
finally TO guard against the possibility OF error
favor life Imprisonment in lieu OF the death
penalty The law may be infiexible but men
are human"
Mr.. Foster, who defended Beggs, was
happy man. $50 far as Beggs is con-
cerned the verdict is just what | ex-
pected," said he. ''Of the other pris-
oners | do not care to speak my
own opinion. | have felt satisfied
from the first that my client would
be acquitted, and lost little
sleep, can assure you, over the matter
after the case went to the jury. There
was no evidence against Beggs that
would warrant his conviction, and my
only wonder was that he should have to
face trial at ALL"
Mr.. Forrest, the attorney for the de-
Tense, says the verdict was unfair and
that he would secure new trial for his
clients. lie fully expected an acquittal,
he said. Judge Wing was also apparent
ly dissatisfied with the verdict.
The. acquittal of all the prisoners
was, he thought, what it should have
been.
After the jury had left the courtroom
Beggs held an agreeable levee with the
newspaper men of his acquaintance. To
the surprise of all of them he said he did
not expect the verdict as rendered. lie
looked for a disagreement. He said he
could make no explanations of his rea-
sons now further than to say that he
was possessed of information which led
him to believe that the jury would di-
vide on the question of guilt, and that
he would explain further some time in
the future.
Beggs was asked why he did not take
the witness stand in his own behalf. He
hesitated, but finally said that such a
step on his part would have put the
other prisoners in bad position.
do you think the other prisoners
guilty?"
"A man wouldn't be convicted of
burglary on such evidence. The Supreme
Court will set the verdict aside"
'Will you remain here and practice
law?"
81 expect to. presume some people
will still look on me with suspicion and
think me guilty, but | think the whole
matter will come out and the people will
see that l knew nothing about the MUIR
der. 1t was brutal, dirty murder"
All efforts to procure from the con-
victed men their opinions of the verdict
proved fruitless.
Mr.. Longenecker said last evening:
'Inasmuch as that jury fixing did not
Interfere with a verdict in the Cronin
case, we will probably forego our de-
termination to at once go ahead with
the trial of the jury bribers under in
dictment. We need a rest. think the
cases will go over to the January term.
Then we will take them up and push
them with all the vigor that we can
command"
The sentiment of many well-known
citizens on the Cronin verdict Is some
what diversified at the first blush, but
it will probably concen trate in a few
days upon the idea that it is just and
intelligent rendering. This impression
is obtained from the remarks of prom
inent iurist, who said:
mo one may ever know what Influenced the
jury in making up its verdict. The satisfaction
comes from the fact that there was not dis
agreement, rendering another trial necessary,
and the further fact that the verdict was
unanimous as to all OF the defendants.
The three principals received a life sentence,
but you must remember that the evidence was
wholly circumstantial. and while the iurymen
all swore they would not withhold the death
penalty for that reason, they could easily JUS
tify themselves for infiicting the next highest
sentence
The cool heads Endorsed this senti-
ment in its entirety. Radicals among
the Irish were not wholly satisfied, be-
cause they thought the law ought to
take IAN eye for an eye and a tooth for
tooth" to avenge the murder of DIR.
Cronin. These contended that death
should have been imposed upon Burke,
Coughlin and 0'Sullivan.
LONDON, Dec. 17.-The Daily News
commenting on the verdict of the jury
in the Cronin trial says: Three of the
vilest wretches ever left unhung have
received subsequential Justice" The
Telegraph expresses surprise at the
verdict, but is thankful for small mer-
cies The Post says: SHOULD the case
result in thorough awakening
of American public opinion to
the true character of the Gamma
Gael, the Murder of DR.. Cronin will
not have been wholly in vain. The
Standard says the illogical verdict
speaks little for the manner in which
criminal Jurisprudence is conducted in
America, that it should have occupied
so long a time to arrive at such an
abortive result. The Times says that
considering the difficulty experienced
in impaneling a jury the verdict may
be regarded as satisfactory, and the
trial as proving plainly that the murder
was caused by financial squabbles.
SKETCHES OF THE PRISONERS.
Daniel Coughlin the big detective, was born
In Hancock Mich, not more than thirty years
ago. In appearance he suggests 30. He is six
feet one inch tall, weighs 1885 pounds and is Of
light complexion, with wart on his right
cheek He came to Chicago some years
ago, and secured employment In the North
side street railway barns. -Four years ago,
through the influence Of Alexander Sullivan,
he obtained position on the police force, where
he remained until arrested. He has been a
member OF Camp 20 ever since he came TO the
city. He Is married and has one child
Martin Burke was born in County Mayo,
Ireland, 20 years ago. He is feet liz
inches tall, weighs liz pounds, and has
dark brown hair He came to Chicago
five years ago worked at odd jobs and
frequently went under the name OF De-
laney. A year ago he joined Camp 20. and
shortly after secured work In the water de
partment OF the city. Since February he has
done nothing except one days work in Joliet
last May. He has a very coarse appearance.
Patrick O'Sullivan was born in Galena, Ill,
thirty one years ago. He is feet IL
inches high, weighs i39 pounds, and is very dark
complexioned He came here ten years AGO.
and for a time drove a North side street car. He
left that occupation 10 enter the employment Of
the Lincoln Ice Company, with which he re-
manned until five years ago, when he started in
the ice business for himself He has been
very active in politics, and Is claimed 10 have
been one Of the ringleaderS in the last street.
car strike. He has been a member OF Camp 20
for two years and an intimate friend OF Dan
COughlin. He is unmarried.
John Kunze Is a light-complexioned German,
OF about % years OF age, OF small, slender
stature and weighs lss pounds. Coughhn and
Kunze became very intimate az the time OF the
bomb explosion at the Schufeldt distillery.
kunze wanted 10 become detective and
Coughlin found many ways TO make him useful
N1laa old Ia arQ hnr