Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-20

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interviews to a score of newspaper mer
that crowded around him. Forrest OF
behalf of the four convicted defendants
entered the accustomed motion for new
trial and after considerable discussion the
Judge fixed January 18th as the day on
which the motion for new trial should be
argued and the prisoners were take back
to the Jail. Beggs proceeded smiEngly
to his own cell staying only long enough tc
get his hat and coat. 1t was not until
the afternoon that the jury finally came
to a verdict and then it was
that Juror Culver who had been voting for
aequittal for all the defendants since the
jury went out, consented to compromise
with the others. The jurors were for
hanging Burke, Coughlin and O'Sullivan
while he was for acquitting them all
Culver finally agreed to life sentence fo1
three. The jury were practically unani
nous on the subject of BeggS acquittal.
and but little time was needed to h2
kunze's term of imprisonment
CHICAGO, Dec. 16.-When the verdict
was read this afternoon Dan Coughlin'
wife and little girl were sitting in the
main corridor of the criminal court build.
ing. Some one rushed into the corridor
and called out the result. Mrs. Coughlir
gasped, stood erect, shrieked and fell
back into a chair She buried her face
in her hands and moaned
wildly. The child too, began
to cry loudly. Mrs. Whalen. O'Sullivan'
sister-in-law, was standing by and turned
savagely upon the men who were silently
Watching Mrs. Coughlin. 30, you cut
throats; you tried your best to hang them,
aud now you hang around to gloat at us IN
our misery she shouted and followed Mrs.
Coughlin into private room. Judge
Longenecker when asked if he was satifed
with the verdict, replied that it was a
compromise verdict and that is all anybody
could say about it. 1t was quite plain
that he was not pleased at the outcome of
the case. Juror John Culver was
seen at his home in Evanston this evening,
and refused to make any statement as to
what took place in the jury room, or
whether or not he was the dissenting
member. All he would say was: Il took
what to me was the only just
course. " Mr.. Culver warmly denied the
stories of quarrels among the jurors. John
F. Beggs left the Jail this afternoon soon
after the court had adjourned in company
with lawyers and friends. AS he
stepped into the street fIee
man, Beggs was heard to say:
I'm going to spend the rest of my life in
hunting down the men who killed Cronin. =
BeggS spent a few minutes at his office
and then hurried home where he positively
refused to receive callers.
CHICAGO, Dec 16.-After the jury was
discharged this afternoon and while the
gentlemen were waiting for their certif-
Gates a crowd of reporters besieged them
for informrtion about what had transpired
in the jury room, and the cause of the
long delay.
Its no use said Juror Marlor, I'VE
agreed not toesay anything. From what
have heard since | got back into the
world, the newspapers have been
doing some pretty tall lying
Juror Culver was not the cause of the
delay and there was not any knocl-down,
as one paper has declared. -"
Juror North was angry at the state
ment mentioned above. The man who
wrote the story of the row ought to be
punished" " said he. There was no tr ou-
ble at all. and we passed time as pleasant
ly as we could under the circumstances.
What do you think of the verdict,
Judge?' Asked an Associated press rep
resentative of Judge Mcconnell after the
adjournment of court for the day.
''Judicially, of course, | can pass no
opinion upon the verdict. As an individ-
ual, however and without being cOgnizant
of all the proceedings in the jury room, |
might say that think the verdict is the
result of the probable objection of some of
the jurors to the death penalty on circum-
stantIal evidence"
Mr.. Culver, probably?"
No, not Mr.. Culver, necessarily. | un-
derstand he was in favor of acquttal from
the start 1t was only after long harass-
ing deliberation that he originally agreed
with the rest upon this verdict You will
probably find that Mr.. Culver was not the
only man upon the jury who was opposed
to the hanging of the three principal de-
PENDANTS
But the jurors all swore on being ex-
amined as to their competency, that they
had no conscientious scruples against
capital punishment on circumstantial evil
dence
That is all true But behind all this,
each man probably had mental reservation
that the evidence must be convincing
beyond reasonable doubt. Now, if some
of these mer should think there was even
the faintest shadow of doubt as to the guilt
of these three men. do you not see how
gradual it would be for them to mentally
resolve to compromise the matter with
their cOnsciences-no matter how cOnClu-
sive their judgment might be favoring
life Imprisonment in lieu of the death
penalty-all because the case was one OF
circumstantial evidence.
Il believe you feel relieved that there
has not been a disagreement"
Il do, most assuredly. Although if the
jury had disagreed, and it became neces
sary to try the case again, | should not
have 1inched from presiding over the same
case again.
About 4 clock an Associated press rep
resentative went to the jail and found the
four convicted defendants in the corridor
with the other inmates, taking the usua
exercise before supper. kunze seemed &c
hold himself apart from the other prison
ers. and remained in his cell, refusing tc
be comforted in his misfortune. Coughhr
and O'Sullivan were at the entrance of the
cage. discussing the case with a compile of
members of Camp 20, who had called to
| offer their sympathy-or congratulations
who knows which? At the approach of the
press representatives they quickly lapsed
into silence, and the visitors departed. A
note was subsequently sent to Cougnlin
| al d his companion. requesting an inter
| view. and they finally approached the cage
Il am sorry to disappoint you, saiC
| Coughlin very courteously, but ] do no
| desire to be interviewed.
But what is your opinion of the yer
dict?'
Il am afraid shall have to refer yoG Il
Mr.. Forrest, my attorney, for an answer t.
that question.
Are you disappointed at the yer
dict?''
Well suppose no man regards a yer
| dict of life Imprisonment with any particu
! lar enthusiasm. said the ex-detective
grimly. But, really gentlemen, mus
decline to be interviewed :
/ With this sentence Coughlin retired
| pleasantly bowling good evening as b
went. 1t was evident to all that th'
prisoner was in a mood very nearly al
! preaching elatiOn. and TO Dan Coughlin
at least, the verdict was source of self
/ congratulation His habituai mood dur
! ing confinement the past SIX months ha
! been one Of taciturnity, bet this evening
/ bright smile illuminated his face. and III
step was light and buoydnt
/ In the boys department Martin Burk
was found walking up and down smoking
l a cigar He seemed entirely compose,
and good natured as he greeted the Asso
ciatesi press reporter
"Well Burke, what do you think Q
it,
..0n. am not SAYING a word said th
| Young frishnau- the Chicago Taner