Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-14
IN THEJURY'S HANDS.
TWELVE GOOD MsN AND fRUB DBLlBSR-
ArING ON LIRE AND DEATH
FOr the Oruniu Suspscts-LOngsnscksr Closes the Case
for the Prosecution in a Mastery Speech
An Important Charge from
the Bench.

the Bench.
CHICAGO, December 13.-EveIy avsila-
BILE foot Of space 10 the court room, which
has for four months been the scene OF the
Cronin trial, YVES thronged to its utmost by
the bus,ling, eager crowd that congregsted
this morning to witness the closing scene
in this Sensational drama. States Attor-
ney Longenecker made the closing argu-
ment on behalf OF the State, owing to the
illness OF Mr.. Mills, to whom the task had
been assigned. Judge Longenecker began
his argument with review of the case
for the defense, and said that the defense
had never revealed its theory Of the case
until the very last speaker hsd made bis
address. Then il WAS learned that their
theory was that there WAS conspiracy on
the part of a section OF the Clan-na-G iel to
prove the prisoners guilty. Thls theory
Judge Ltngen, cker revie we'd and rioiculed
at length. Mr. L'nganecker then took up
the argument on behalf OF defendant Bsggs
and replied to it at length, claiming that
Beggs was a party of the conspiracy.
BEGGs AT THE HEAD OF The PLOT.
The States Attorney went on to ssy that
Bfggs' letters TO district member Sp,ll-
man, asking MIN TO investigate Dr.. Gro
Minis c)nduct, were to cover mp the work
of the secret committee of Camp 20, aud
that was the reason Beggs wa' 80 ready
to have them made public Mr.. B.ggs,
he said, was a lawyer and an educated man
"a man of ability-and iustead Of being
innocent. was at The head OF the conspiracy
The chain of evidence binding him to the
crime was irreiragable. The speaker then
took up the question Of the relation which
the various circumstances testified to have
10 each other, the whole in combination
making a strong case as be claimed. AT
the close of the forenoon session, the adVo-
cate WAS reading from the expert testi-
mony as to the cause OF death.
On reassembling Court in the afternoon
.Jadpe Longenecker continued his reply to
Mr.. Forests argument, and then made a
rapid running sketch of the evidence OF lead
ing witnesses and the circumstances under
which it WAS given, by way OF reply TO
Mr.. Forests charge, that there was con-
spiracy to convict the defendants.
THE JURY CHARGED.
At the close of Judge Longenecker's
addree, Judge Mcconnell read his charge
to the Jury. Judge Mcconnell, after de-
fiuiug murder, accessory circumstantlal
evidence and conspiracy, said in regard to
BeRgs that il was not sufficient iJr them
10 lind that a resolution WAS adopted for
the appointment Of a secret committee IN
Camp 20, February Ssb, but it must fur
ther appear beyond all reasonable
doubt that such committee was appolntt q
by Beggs and in furtherance OF
conspiracy to commit murder.
II the Jury believed any or all OF the de-
PENDANTS had conspired TO kill DR.. Cronin,
they were guilty Of murder. whether the
identity of the actual murderer be estab.
lished or not, whether such defendants
were present at the time OF the killing or
not: and Notwithstanding that the jury
might believe that DR.. Cronin WAS muir
dered in the cottage, yet they would not
be justified in concluding that Burke was
a party to the alleged conspiracy unless
Burke's acts were intended by him to as
sist in the murder. The same applied 10
Coughlin's act in hiring Dinan's horse and
TO O'Sullivan's contract.
THE LAWS OF EVIDENCE.
The evidence in proof of conpiracy will
generally in the nature OF the case be cir
cumstantial. Though common design
ia the essence of the charge, it is not neces'
ssry to prove that the defendents came to-
gether and actually agreed to the terms to
have that design, aud TO pursue it by com
mon means. If the Jury believe from the
evidence beyond reasonable doubt, acting
in the light Of the entire
charge of the Court, that the
defendants now on trial, or some OF them
conspired together, or together and with
others who were to the grand urors un-
known, to murder Patrick Henry Cronin,
and that one or more OF the conspirators IN
pursuance and in furtherance of the con-
spracy did kill and murder the said Gro
min in the manner and form as charged In
the indictment, they any or oil OF the de-
PENDANTS Of any, who 80 conspned,
are in law, guilty ofsuch murder; although
the man who actually killed the said
Cronin had not hsen captured or was un-
known.
CANNOT CONVICT ON SUSPICION.
You ought, and cannot legally convict
the defendants, or either OF them, upon
the mere doctrine of chance and probabil.
ity. Although You may believe that i. is
highly probable and very likely that the
defendants are guilty, and even that 1t is
far more l. kelly and probable that they are
gu lty than that they are innocent, yet, no
amount OF suspicion will warrant you IN
finding verdict of guilty against the de-
PENDANTS or any OF them.
The bailiffs who were TO take charge OF
the Jury were then worn to the faithful
discharge of their duty. The iurymen
we're then taken in charge by the bsilifis
and taken to their room to begin their de-
liberstions. At ABS p. m. the court ad-
iourned until D. m.
WILL THE JURY DISAGREE?
At s D. m. the court room wss again
crowded, hot 10 communication was re
ceiyed from the jury. The Judge 7, main
ed until IL p. M, when the DRY not being
heard from, the court adjourned until 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. II il conf
IDENTIFY predicted that the iury will diss-
gree.
Conspired to Murder Juror.
CHICAGO, December 13.-The Daily
Nelcs will print tomorrow narrative CT a