Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-20
FOUR GUILTY MEN.
All the Prisoners in the Cronin Case.
Except One, Convicted.
Three Men sentenced for Life

Chicago, Dec. l6.-State's Attorney
Longenecker finished the closing argument
In the Cronin case Saturday, making a
stroug, impassioned plea for the conviction
of the accused men. Following this came
Judge McConnelis charge 10 tho jury.
He urged the jurors TO resist all caprice or
prejudice and 10 return verdict on the
evidence introduced, and 10 arrive at their
conclusion, whatever IL might be, after CIV
ing the accused the presumption OF limo
cence. The court said IL was the duty or
the Jury il they can reconcile the facts In
the case upon any reasonable theory con-
sistent with the innocence OF kunze,
Goughln Burke a !" these osui ma.t
follow. As to Beggs the court said
that there was no evidence TO show any
overt act on the part OF that defendant and
unless the jury is convinced that "a consplr-
acy existed TO which Beggs was a party tho
accused should be acquitted The Jury
was also instructed that even though as
sured that Burke had rented the Carlson
cottage that in itself WIS not sufficient To
connect the accused with the crime OF muir
der The hiring OF Oman horse by Cough
lin, it was likewise declared, was not evil
dence conclusive that Coughlin was guilty
of murder The court further said that
the contract entered into between y Sull-
van and Cronin, by which CrOnin was lured
20 his death, was not In itself OF sufficient
strength TO justify O Sull.van's conviction.
The court then went into the charge OF
conspiracy, beginning by admitting that
Evidence 10 prove such conspiracy must
necessarily be circumstantial, and then at
great length told the jury that IL they
believed from the evidence that the de-
PENDANTS or any of them had coaspired 10
kill DIR. Cronin, as charged in the lndlct-
ment then a verdict of guilty of murder
must be found. On the other hand, IL the
jury think the accused guilty, but reach
that conclusion because such guilt they be
lieve to be possible, not relying upon the
evidence for that decision, the verdict must
be not guilty
The jury retired at four p. m on Satur-
day, and came in with their verdict at 2 30
D. IN. today The verdict is as follows:
We, the jury, find the defendant John +.
Beggs not guilty.
We, the Jury, find the defendant john
Kunze guilty OF mansaughter, as charged
in the indictment, and fix his punishment
at Imprisonment in the penlteutary Tor the
term of three years
We, the Jury, find the defendants, Dan
Coughlin, Patrick O'Sullivan and Martin
Burke guilty of murder in the manner
and form as charged in the Indictment, and
Tx the penalty at imprisonment in the
penitentiary for the term OF their natural
lives.
Mr.. Forrest of the defense, at once re
quested that the jury be polled, and this
was ordered by the court.
10 eacn Juror the question was put Oy
the clerk of the court: 'Was this and is
this now your verdict -
Foreman Clark was the first man TO rise
and answered firmly IN the affirmative.
The IL m.n followed in turn and gave the
same answer.
simultaneously with the announcement
of the verdict Coughlin, o Sullivan and
Burke turned deathly pale while Kunze
started suddenly from his seat and "a mo
ment later dropped his head upon his breast
and burst into tears,
Beggs was luminous with JOY and i'm
mediately after the polling OF the jury be
arose from amid the prisoners, walked over
TO the jury box, and during the Dreathless
hand heartily and sid: "Gentlemen, i
thank you. / trust that the future may
confirm your judgement upon me, and that
you will never regret that you found
me not guilty OF this terrible crime.n
AS he shook hands with the jurors each
man bowed his head in acknowledging nt
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, "God knows / am
innocent. | never was in Lakeview that
night God knows i am innocent, gentle
men,"
OSullivan was the only one Of the other
three prisoners who found refuge in tears.
For a moment they trickled down his
cheeks, but minute later his black eyes
flashed with defiance or 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 terror 10 be per-
ceived in Coughlin was the increased pallor
that overspread his face.