The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18
FOUR WERE CONVICTED.
SENIOR GUARDIAN BEees is FREE.
The Cronin Jury at Last Finds n Verdict
The Convicted Men Glad That 1t Was
No WOrse-JurOr Culvers Course
Views of the Judge.

America closed this afternoon when the
jury, impaneled three months ago. rem
dered its verdict in the Cronin case, That
the return of this jury is verdict, and not
a disagreement is the source OF much con-
gratulatiA u the public mind, and, al
though tEge Is naturally much division
of sentiment on the question of approval
of the verdict, the sense OF relief which is
experienced 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 been divided in this case, it can
not fail to be a source of congratulation to
Judge Mcconnell that his impartial con-
duct 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 rulings.
As the court convened at 2 p. m. to re-
ceive the verdict OF the jury there was
momentary silence as the vast audience
breathlessly awaited the first words of
Judge Mcconnell as he mounted the
rostrum.
''The jury is prepared to make return
in this case," said his honor, 'but l OBJ
serve that Mr.. Donahoe, counsel for 0'Sul-
livan and Kunze, is absent"
Il have been requested to represent Mr..
Donahoe," said Mr.. Forrest. 'He is out
OF the city to-day"
The court announced his satisfaction at
this arrangement and moment later the
door leading to the Jail opened with clang
and the five defendants marched in to re-
ceive the announcement of their fate.
Hardly a breath was heard as every eve in
the vast audience turned toward John I.
Beggs, who led the procession. The face
of the senior guardian of camp 20 was
stamped with anxiety, but his eye was
full of confidence as it boldly
faced the stare of the audience. Dan
Coughlin affected his usual Indifference,
but his restless, furtive eye betokened the
terrible mental suspense the ex-detective
experienced as he awaited the dread an
nouncement of the penalty to be meted
out to him by the law. Hardly person
in the vast courtroom succeeded in catch
ing the eye of Patrick O'Sullivan. The
piercing black eyes of the ice-man
sought the floor, and whatever emotion he
felt at that critical moment was invisible.
save in the grayish pallor that overspread
moment as he approached his seat, but a
moment later his features regained their
natural appearance, and, with affected
nOnchalance, he resumed the chewing of
gum, IS has been his wont during the
course of the trial. The elated air of John
Kunze was absent, and for the first time
since his arrest the little German now
seemed TO fully appreciate the gravity of his
situation, as he awaited the verdict of the
jury.
As the audience was contemplating the
prisoners and commenting upon their de
meanor, the noise of many footsteps was
again heard without, and a moment later
the twelve men in whose judgment re-
posed the lives of the five defendants, en-
tered the room, headed by Foreman
Clarke. Every prisoner simultaneously
turned his eyes upon the Jurors as if to
read in their impassive features the secret
of their verdict, but there was no outward
sign to give them either hope or fear.
''The clerk will call the roll of jurors,
said the judge.
Every person in the audience gave a
convulsive start as the sound of the
judges voice broke the silence, only to add
a deeper awe to the solemnity of the occa-
sion. Slowly the jurors answered to their
names and the twelve men were an
nounced to be present.
Gentlemen" said the court, 81 under
stand you have reached conclusion in
this case"
With bow Foreman Clarke took from
his pocket huge envelope and handed it
to the judge, who in turn handed it to the
clerk.
'The clerk will read the verdict" said
the court
Instantly a hush fell over the vast
audience-a hush so profound that as the
clerk tore open the envelope the sound
fell discordantly upon anxious ears. A
moment later this anxiety became pain
ful in its intensity, as the sonorous voice
of the clerk began the reading of the YER
diet as follows:
We the jury, find the defendant, John F.
Beggs, not guilty. We, the jury, find the de-
fendant John kunZe guilty OF manslaughter as
charged in the Indictment and fix his punish
ment at imprisonment In the penltentiary for
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 charged in the indictment
.aad fix the penalty at imprisonment in the
penite kiaryrty the term Of their natural lives.
MF~est, of the defense, at once re-
quested that the jury be polled, and this
was ordered by the court. To each OF the
jurors the question was put by the clerk
of the court: "Was this and is this now
your verdict?" Foreman Clarke was the
first man to rise and answer in the affirm
alive. The eleven men following gave the
same answer. Simultaneous with the al
nouncement of the verdict Coughlin,
O'Sullivan and Burke turned deathly pale,
while Kunze started suddenly from his
seat and a moment later dropped his head
upon his breast and burst into tears.
Beges' face was luminous with Joy, and
Immediately after the polling of the jury,
he arose from amid the prisoners,
walked over to the jury-box, and during
the breathless lull that followed, shook
Foreman Clarke's hand heartily and said:
"Gentlemen, / thank you. ] trust that
the future may confirm your judgment
upon me, and that you will never regret
that you found me not guilty of this terri
bic charge" AS he shook hands with the
jurors, each man bowed his head in ac-
knowiedgment 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 Lake View
that night. Oh, God knows / am inno-
cent, gentlemen"
Sullivan was the only one OF the other
three prisoners who found refuge in tears.
For moment they trickled down bis
cheeks, but a moment later his black
-.