The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-17
The Verdict,
REPORI0R The CRONIN JURY.
Coughlln, O'Sulllvan and Burke
Sentenced to Life I'm.
prlsOnment
u,nbn nnUun unM nUIT mV
BEGGS FOUND NOT GUILTY
While "The Little German
Kunzc, Gets OF With
Three Years In the
Penitentiary.
A Dramatic Scene in Court AgeFthc
Announccmcnt-HOw tho Verdict
Was HcceIvcd = Dr, oronin's
Friends Indignant that Death
was not Melted out-!Thc
Other Faction Glad II
Was No Worse.

CHICAGO, Dec. l6,-The verdict Of the
Jury in the Cronin case, rendered at 2;S(
this afternoon, is as follows; "We, the
iury, find the defendant John F, Beggl
not guiIty!.-We, the jury, find the de
iepdant John Kunze guilty Of man
slaughter as charged in the indictment
and fix his punishment at imprisonment
in the pCnitentiary for term ofthree
years. We, the jury, find the defend
ants, Dan Coughlin, Patrick o'sulllyan
and Martin Burke, guilty Of murder In
the manner and form as charged in the
indictment, and fix the penalty at i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary for The
term Of their natural lives"
MIR. Forrest, Of the defense, at once
requested that the Jury DO polled, and
Ills was ordered by the court. To each
Juror the question was put by the clerk
oi the court: "Was this, and Is this now
your yerdiCt?" Foreman Clarke was the
llst man to rise and answer firmly Ia
the affirmative, with eleven following ID
turn aud giving the same answer.
Simultaneous with the announcement
Of tho verdict Coughlin, 0'Sulllvan and
Burke turned leathly pale, while Kunze
ptarted suddenly from his seat and q mo-
ment later dropped his head upon his
breast and burst into tears.
DRAMATIC SCENE.
Beggs' face was luminous with Joy,
and Immediately after the polling Of the
Jury he rose from amid the prisoners,
walked over to the jury box, and during
the breatbless lull that followed shook
Foreman Clarke's hand heartily and
said: Gentlemen, l thank you. l trust
that you will never regret that you
found me not guilty Of this terrible
charge"
As he shook hands with the Jurors
each man bowed his head in acknowl-
Cdgement Of the grateful words OF the
liberated man. The only sound that
broke the stiffness was the deep sobs oi
the little German, Kunze. lie burst
out with "God knows am innocent. !
never was In Lake View that night.
Oh, God knows am innocent, gentle-
men,"
o'Sullvan was the only one OF the
other three prisoners who found refuge
in tears. For q moment they triCkled
down his cheeks, but minute later his
black eyes flashed with defiance or a re-
Yival Of courage, aud dashing his hand
across his brow, he braCed up In his seat
And cast u long glance around the court
room, The only evidence Of terror Ia
be perceived In Coughlin was the In.
creased pallor that oyerspread his face as
he fully realized the significance oi q
sentence to life imprisonment, and hil
lips twitChed nervously during the col
lOquy that followed between the attor.
leys and the court relative TO the mo
tiOn for new trial.
Martin Burke was unquestionably the
least affected Of all the prisoners. Hi
usually tlorid face took on slight pal
lOr as the verdict was announced, but {
moment later his jaws again began thl
methOdiCal mastication oil gum as regu
larly asat any previous time during TIT
ttial. AS the verdict was announced
and the large audience contemplated lit
tle Kunze's grief, Beggs turned to are
porter and said: at is q shame 10 sen
tenCe KunEe. The poor little fellow
think Is as innocent as l am. II 10
damned shame 10 send him the peniten
tiary for three years. He had no NOR
idea Of being found guilty than you ha,
Of being declared an accomplice in tlli
crime"
VARIOUS COMMENTS.
In the meantime the comments anon
the audience were as varied as tn
individuals that constituted the mott,
@semblagV that had come together II
morbid curiosity to hear the penalt,
pronounced upon their fellow men
The friends and admirers OF the mur
dercd physician were naturally indig
nant at the verdict.
at Is shane," said Hon. p. w
Dunno, "a shame and a ttayesty OF
justlCe.h
His sentiment found an echo In thl
hearts Of a dozen IriShmen who werI
near him, while only dozen feet awal
members Of the other faction were con
graduating themselves and the prisoner
that the verdict had been no worse, ant
friends OF Beggs were elbowlng thei
way through 70 grasp the hands 81 th,
Senior Guardian Of Camp 20 In ielicita
ton upon his exoneratlon. Beggs tool
aseAt in one Of the Jury chairs after tht
retirement pi that body and spent lh,
next half hour pleRgahtly, AccordinI
interviews TO the score oi newspape
men that crowded around him.
Mt, Forrest, on behalf oil the four con
yiCtcl defendants, entered the accrH
TONED motion for q new trial and ate
considerable discussion, the Judge hkel
January 10 aB tho day on which tho mo
tiOh Tor a new trial would be argued, AMI
The prisoners yefe taken back 10 jail
ktlhEe was still crying aud went out o
ihe door with the tears running dow
hlS lace and Btill inuttering aud Goblin
Martin Burke followed KunEe, and a
nc passed 10 whispered 10 Forrest ami
smiled, lie seemed entirely unCon
.,Ii.a INi,salivan followed, looking pale an,
Dan CouRhlln, the ex.delecllye, wa
Me iAsl oil tho prlsonets 10 leave andas b
sMINeI out, lie half turned and locke
nN.eu INTO Tho courtroom % II expect
ing TO lind some friend,
Tie lOOfs clanpad behind lhA thailiA