Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-17
CRONIN COMPROMISE.
Substitute for Justice to The
Doctors kurdelers.
Cou6hlin, 0'SulliTan, Burke, Life; Kunzs
Three fears, Besss, Liberty.
BsSgs Grateful that He Got Clear-
Kunss wallpapers His Innocence.

Besgs Grateful that He Go. Clear
Kunss Whimpers His Innocence.
CHICAGO. Dec. le.--The cou.E eors ned
st y. NJ 10 receive the verdict Vt the
CfoniB jury Uonshoe. counsel for O'Su!ii-
van and kunze vas absent, but vas reprs =
| seRfed by Mr. Forrest. A moment later The
door leading from the jail opened and the
I'VE defendants marched IN. John +. Besgs
led the procession. His face WAS pale vi,h
~ xisty but he balily faced the stare of the
audience. Dan Coughlin affected his usual
Indifference but his restless. fartive eye be-
tokened . terrible mental suspense The
piercing black eyes of Patrick Sullivan
sought the hDor and whatever emotion he
felt vas invisible save in the greyish pzlor
that overspread his features.
Martin Burke flushed ~ he approached
his seat, and = moment later his features
regzined their naturAl appearance, and with
| Affected nonchalance resumed bis gum chew
ing. John kunze, for the first time since
bis arrest fully appreciated the gravity Of
bis position. The twelve jarymen entered
the room, headed by Foreman Clarke.
Every prisoner Simultaneous turned his
eyes upon the Jurors, as il to read the ver-
roll Of jurors. Foreman Clarke took from
his pocket huge envelope and handed it to
the judge, who gave it to the clerk. THE
clerk will read the veriict,' said the Court.
A hush fell over the vast audience, which
Was broken a moment later by the voice Of
the cl rk reading the verdi,t
which was a. follows: We, the jury,
find that defendant John f. Beggs is not
guilty. We, the jury, find that defendant
John Kunze is guilty Of manslaughter ~
charged in the indictment and hx his punish
ment at imprisonment in the pententiary for
q term of three years. We, the jury, find
that defendants Dan Coughlin, Pa rick
o Sullivan and Martin Burke are guilty Of
murder in the manner aud form as charged
in the Indictment and Hx the penalty at i'm
priscnment in the penitentiary for q term Of
their natural lives. Forrest, of the defense,
requested the jury poiied To each juror
the question was put BY the clerk Of court
WAS this and is this now your verdictf"
Foreman Clarke was the fist man to rise and
answer firmly in the affirmative. The other
IL men followed and gave the same anwer.
Simultaneous with the announcement Of
the verdict, Cough,in. O'Sullivsn and Burke
turned deathly pale. Kurxe started sud ienly
from his seat, a moment later his head drop
Besgs face was luminous with Joy, and i'm
medistely after pooling the jury he arose
from amid the prisoners walked over to the |
jury box and during breathless lull
shook Fore man Clarke BY the hand heartily |
and said; "Gentlemen, l thank YOU. and
trust the future may confirm your judgeme ut
upon me. and you will never regret you found
me no, guilty of this terrible charge.
As he shook hands with the jurors, each |
man bowed his head in acknowledgements of
the grateful words of the liberated man |
The only sound that broke the stiffness was
the deep sobs of the little German, Kunze.
He burst out with, IL am innocent; God
knows ! am innocent l never was in Lake
View that night. Longenacker bought two
witnesses; am sure of that. Tney went
out and bought fsrms with the money they
got. Him snd Schnettler did it,
O'Suliivan was the only one of the other
three prisoners who found refuge in tears.
For a moment they trickled down his cheeks.
and a minute later his black eye, flashed
with defiance, or a revival of courage, and
dashing his hand across his brow he braced
up in his seat and cast long glance around
the court room The only evidence Of ter
ror perceived in Coughlin was the increased
pallor which overspresd his face His lips
twitched nervously during the coiloquy that
followed between the attorneys and the
court relative to the motion for a new trial.
Martin Burke was uuqnestionably the least
atected of all the prisoners His usually
florid face took on slight pallor as the YER
dict was announced. but a moment later his
jaws began the methodical masticatioh of
gum as regularly as at any previous time
during the trial
Bepgs turued to the reporter and said: at
is shame to sentence Kunze. The poor lit
tie fellow | think is as innocent as l. 1t is
q d-d shame to send him to the penitentiary
three years. He had no more idea of being
found guilty than You had of being declared
an accoml lice in this crime
"A Travesty Upon Justice
Comments among the audienoe were varied.
OF the Irish in the audience, and there were
scores of them. among whom were many
warm friends and admirers of the murdered
ply sician, a strong Indignation at the verdict
was evinced. 1T is = shame" said Hon. p.
w. Dunne "a shame, and q trsvesty upon
Justice
Some congratulated themselves and the
prisoner rs that the verdict was no worse and
friends of Beggs elbowed their way through
to grasp the hands of the senior guardian Of
Camp 20 in felicitstion upon his exoneration.
Beggs took his seat in jury chair after
the retire meut OF that body and spent half
an hour pleasantly according interviews to
newspaper men.
Forrest on behalf Of the four convicted
defendants entered accustomed motion for
new uial, After considerable discussion
the Judge fixed January Is as the day on
which the motion for . new trial shall be ar
Rued The prisoners were then taken back
to Jail.
Kunze still crying, went out Of the door
With ears running down his face, still NUT
tering and sobbing to himself. Martin Burke
followed Kunze and as he passed whispered
to Forres. and smiled. He seemed entirely
unconcerned. O'Sullivan followed looking
pale and sallow. Dan Coughin was the last
of the prisoners to leave and as he stalked
out he half turned back into the court room |
40 if expecting to Hnd some friend. Beggs
proceeded smilingly to his old cell to get
his coat and hat |
1t was not until after noon today that the /
Jury finally came to verdict and then juror
Cuivert who had been voting for acquttal Of |
all defendants since the jury went out, con-
seuted to compromise. The other Jurors
were for hanging Burke. Coughliu and
O'Sullivan and he was for letting them all
off. Culver finally agreed to life sentences
for three. The jury were practically unani- !
nous on the subj act of Besss acqlltsal and
but little time was needed to fix kunzes
term of imprisonment
SEEN IN JAIL.