, 1889-12-15
NO VERDICT YET.
The CrOnin Jury Deliberate but
Make No Sign.
Speculation Rife in Chicago as
to the Outcome.
Beggs and Kunze Have Some
Hopes of Escape.
waiting for the Verdict.

CHICAGO, Dec. 1.-THE all-absorbing
question in this city to day is: What's
the verdict in the Cronin case?" This
widespread interest, however, is not man
Tested at the scene of the iury's delibera-
tons, the people evidently having come
to the conclusion that a verdict will only
be reached after long consultation and in
consequence instead of crowds fighting for
places In the neighborhoOd of Judge Nc
Connell court. only a few persons aside
from the reporters and lawyers were pres
ent at the hour for opening the court
and scarcely a third OF the seats were oc-
cupied. The lawyers chatted about the
prospects. The defense, especially coun-
sci for Beggs, drew a very favorable au.
curry. He believed the delay meant ac-
quittal. The prosecution, however, main
tanned an appearance of calm assurance,
saying that in such al important case,
where five separate lives were at stake, an
extended elaboration wa to be expected.
Soon after Judge McConnell's appear
ance an Intangible rumor spread abroad
that the jury had reached a vesdict as to
all except Beggs. The m even went
so far That bulletins were sent out to the
effect that a verdict had been reached;
that Coughlin Burke and O'Sullivan we're
to hang, that Kunze had been given five
years and Beggs three. This was subse-
quently qualified as unofficial. Judge
Mcdonnell, when questioned, said:
Any such rumor is simply ridiculous
not on the grounds OF ~improbability but on
the grounds OF the utter impossibility of
any such information leaking from the
Jury room. | can assure you upon my
knowledge that no communication OF any
kind has been received by any one from
the jury and that the jury has had no
means OF communication with any one.
At II o'clock no communication having
been received from the jury, Judge Nc
Cornell LETT the chamber, saying he would
return at 2 p. IN.
As the hours passed the crowd grew al
most to the proportions of the previous
days.
1t is stated that the verdict ofthe Jury
when rendered will be a verdict which
will be conclusive; that is to say, the Jury
will not be permitted to return a verdict
as to the guilt of one of the defendants
and then retire for further deliberation as
to the fate of the rest.
Judge Mcconnell will probably accept
the verdict OF the Jury as final. If it is
agreed as to the guilt and punishment of
Burke, O'Sullivan and Coughlin. for in
stance, and disagrees as to the guilt Of
Beggs and Kunze. the verdict will be ac-
cepted as conclusive in its application to
the first three named defendants and a
disagreement or a new trial be the result
as to BSggs and Kunze.
At 3 O'Clock Judge Mcconnell had not
yet made an appearance in the court room
although the jury was prepared to make
n rnnn n,ntnof,nn fn him SFofo Attnrnnu
L~ongenecker, in an interview with an As
sociated Press reporter, said:
so far as the states attorneys office
is concerned, any failure of the jury to
agree now cannot now be a hope of much
congratulation among the defendants. In
case this Jury makes a return of disagree
ment | shall simply to Judge
Mcdonnell that the state is prepared and
anxious to proceed with a re trial of the
case and ask that a special yenire be is
sued on Monday returnable Tuesday. OF
course it is discretionary with the judge
whether the case will be proceeded with
at once, but | have the conviction that he
will accede to our request to enter upon a
new trial without any unnecessary delay. "
At {. Us p. m. Bailiff Santa, who bad
charge OF the jury, applied to the clerk of
court for some legal cap paper. The
sanguine accept this as an indication that
the Jury is arriving at an agreement and
that this paper is to write the verdict up
on. OF course all this is merely specula-
ton.
At 1 O'Clock court adjourned until 6. A
rumor was constantly repeated that the
jury stands eleven for conviction and one
for acquittal. Juror Culver was said to
be the one man.
At 10. 25 a large audience which had
assembled in the court room was raped
to order by Sheriff Matson who said there
was yet no return from the Jury. 1t
is understood that there will be no formal
session OF the court tomorrow Sunday
but that the Judge will be prepared any
time during the day to visit the court
room and receive the verdict. The pre-
vailing impression about the criminal court
building seems to be that the Jury has
agreed on the conviction Of Burke, O'Sul'
livan and Coughlin but are hanging on
the matter of the guilt or innocence Of