Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-20
SAYING .HEMP.
None of the Cronin Murderers Will
Ornament the Gallows
Guilty of Murder But Not Guilty
Enough TO Hang.
Coughlin. Burke and 0'Sulhyan Get
Life Imprisonment.
Be@gs Goes Free, While Little kunze
Gets Three Years.
All the Prisoners Were Visibly fleet
ed by the Verdict.

CHICAGO. Dec 16.- One of the most
memorable trials in the criminal history of
America closed this afternoon when the
jury impanelled three months ago render
ed its verdict in the Cronin case That
the return of this jury is verdict and not
a disagreement Is a source of much con-
graduation in the public mind, and though
there is naturally much division of senti-
ment on the question of the approval of
the verdict, the sense of relief which is ex
perienced at the final elimination of the
case is unanimous. However bitter, too,
may have been the feelings engendered by
the two factions into which the Irish peo
pie have divided in the case, it cannot fail
to be a source of cOngratulatlon to
Judge Mcconnell that his impartial
conduct as presiding judge has been such
as to win for him not only the applause Of
both these opposing factions but the ap-
proval alike of the leading jurists of the
land upon the validity of his ruling. As
the court conv( ned at p. m. to receive
the verdict of the jury. there was momen-
tary silence as the vast audience breath
lessly awaited the first words of Judge
Mcconnell as he mounted the bench.
The july is prepared to make their re-
turn in this case, said his honor, but |
observe that Mr.. Donohue, counsel for
O'Sullivan and Kunze, is absent.
Il have been requested to represent Mr..
Donohue, said Forrest. The court an
nounced satisfaction at this arrangement
The door from the jail opened and the de-
fendats marched in to receive the annOun-
cement of their fate. Hardly a sound was
heard as every eve in the audiance turned
to,r,rJ Tob,, Il RaprrrS who laH tbn
cession. The face of the senior guardian
of Camp 20 was pale and anxious looking,
but he faced the stare of the audience bold
ly. Dan Coughlin affected his usual indif-
ference but his restless, furtiye eye be-
tokened the terrible mental suspense the
eX-detective experienced as he awaited the
dread announcement. Hardly i person III
the court room succeeded in catching the
eye of Patrick O'Sullivan. His locks were
directed toward the floor. and whatever
emotion he may have felt at this critical
moment. was not shown. Martin Burke S
face flushed for a moment as he approached
his seat. but Immediately after his Feat
ures regained their natural expression and
with affected nonchaance he resumed the
chewing of gum. as has been his Dnt dur
ing the course of the trial. For the first
time since his arrest the little German,
John Kunze, seemed 10 appreciate she
gravity of his situation. and his usual air
of jauntiness was absent As the audi
ence were contemplating the prisoners and
commenting upon their demeanor the noise
of many footsteps was again suddenly
heard without and moment later twelve
men in whose Judgment reposed the lives
of the defendants, entered the room head
ed by Foreman Clarke. Every prisoner
simultaneously TUNED his eyes upon the
jurors aS if to rel d in their lmpasslve fea-
lures the secret of the verdict, but there
was no sign to give them hope or fear.
The clerk will call the roll of the jurors
Every person in the audience started as
the found of the judges voice broke the
silence only to add deeper awe to the SOL
emnity of the occasion. Slowly the jurors
answered to their names and the twelve
men were announced to be present.
Gentlemen. " said the court, Il under
stand you have reached conclusion in
this case.
With low bow Foreman Clarke took
from his pocket a large envelope and
handed it to the Judge, who nturn handed
it to the clerk. The clerk will read the
verdict, said the court Instantly a hush
fell upon the audience-a hush so pro-
foEnd that as the clerk tore open the
envelope the sound fell disc0rdently
upon the anxious ears. A moment later
this anxiety became painful in its intensity
as the sonerous voice of the clerk began
reading the verdict, which is as follows:
I'VE, the jury. find the defendant, John
F. Beggs. not guilty; we, the jury, find the
defendant, John Kunze, guilty of man.
slaughter, as charged in the Indictment.
and fix his punishment at Imprisonment
in the penitentiary for a term of three
years; we, the jury. find the defendants,
Dan COughlin, Patrick 0'Sullivan and
Martin Burke, guilty of murder In the
manner and form as charged In the lndlct-
ment and fix the penalty at imprisonment
in the penitentiary for life
Forrest, of the counsel for the defense,
at once requested that the jury be polled.
To each Juror the question was put by the
clerk was this, and is this your verdict"
Foreman Clarke was the first to rise and
answer firmly in the affirmative. Eleven
others followed in turn and gave the same
answer Simultaneous with the announce
ment of the verdict Coughlin, O'Sulliyan,
and Burke turned deathly pale, while
Kunze started suddenly from his seat and
| a moment later dropped his head upon his
breast and broke into tears.
The blood rushed to the face of Beggs
and in a second it was of a carmine hue.
| His right arm which had been resting on
| the railing. fell to his side and his entire
| frame shook like that of man afflicted
| with the palsy Shortly after the polling
| of the jury he arose froU amid the prison
ers. walked over to the jury box and dur
| ing the breathless hull that followed shook
| the foreman's hand and said: Gentlemen.
| | thank YOU | trust that the future
} NAY confirm your Judgment upon me and
| 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 acknowledgement 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, God knows
| am innocent | never was in LakeYiew
| that night. Oh, God knows am inno-
| cent, gentlemen.
| 0'Sullivan was the only other one of the
| prisoners who was found in tears For a mo-
ment they triekled down his cheeks but a
minute later his black eyes flashed with
defiance on the revival of his courage and
| dashing his hand across his
brow. he b1aeed up IN his seat
and glanced around the court room.
The only evidence of horror to beperceived
| in Coughlin was the increased pailor that
overspread his face. as he fully realized
| the significance f the sentence 10 be life
| imprisonment. and his lips twitehed her
vously during the colloquy that followed
between the attorneys and the court rela-
| tive to a motion for a new trial. MARTA
Burke was uBqHestionably the least affect
ed OF all the prisoners. He was unusually
fiorid; but his face took or a slight pailor
as the verdict WIS announced. A moment
later his jaws t-gan the lnethodical mas
tication OF gum d regularly as al any pre-
yions time during the trial
As the verdict was announced the iargs
audience contemplated little kunzes grief
Beggs turned 10 reporter es.d said; II
Is shame 10 sentence kuuze. 1he pool
little fellow Is as innocent as am Il Is 3
damned ahame to send him To the penni-
tentiary for three years He had no NOR.
idea Of being found guilty than you had o.