The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-12-27
CRONIN'S SLAYERS.
The Great Trial Ends in O Compro-
mise Verdict.
O'sullivan, CoughIin and Burke Sentenced
For Life. Kunze Gets Three Years aud
ReRgs Acquitted-Scenes In the
Court Room.


months ago, rendered its verdict in the
CrOnin case. That the return of this
jury is verdict and not a disagree
ment is the source of much congratula-
ton in the public mind, and, although
there is naturally much division Of SEN
timent on the question of approval of
the verdict, the sense of relief which Is
experienced at the final elimination of
the case is unanimous.
Hardly breath was heard as every
eye i'm the vaStaudience turned to John
F. Beggs, who led the procession of the
five prisoners. The face of the senior
warden of camp 20 was pale with
anxiety, but his eye was full of conf
dence, as it boldly faced the stare of
the audience.
Dan Coughlin affected his usual in
difference, but his restless, furtive eye
betokened the terrible mental suspense
the ex-detective experienced as he
awaited the dread announcement of
the penalty TO be melted ont to him by
the law.
Hardly a person in the vast court
room succeeded in catching the eye of
Patrick O'Sullivan. The piercing black
eyes of the ice man sought the floor,
and whatever emotion he felt at this
moment was invisible save in the gray
ish pallor that overspread his features.
Martin Burke flushed for a moment
as he approached his seat, but a mo-
ment later his features regained their
natural appearance, and with affected
nonchalance he resumed the chewing
of gum as 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.
The jury soon filed into the room
amid profound silence.
After the usual formalities the fore
man of the jury handed in the follow
ing verdict:
1--WE the jury, find the defendant,
John F. Beggs, not guilty.
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant,
John Kunze, guilty of manslaughter,
AS charged in the Indictment, ane fix
his punishment at Imprisonment liz the
penitentiary for term of three years.
1--WE, the jury, find the defendants,
Daniel COughlin, Patrick O'SuEivan
and Martin Burke, guilty of murder in
the manner and form as charged liz the
indictment, and fix the penalty Il. inn
prisonment in the penitentiary fUc the
term of their natural lives"
Mr.. Forrest of the defense at once
requested that the jury be polled and
this was ordered by the court.
To each of the jurors the question
was put 10y the clerk of the court:
''Was this, and is this now, your ver
dictl" Foreman Clarke was the first
man to rise and answer firmly liz the
affirmative. The eleven men followed
in turn and gave the same answer.
Simultaneous with the announce
ment of the verdict Coughlin, O,Sulli-
van 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.
Beggs' face vas luminous with joy,
and crossing to the jury he thanked
them and shook hands with them
As he shook hands with the jurors
each man bowed his head in acknowl-
edgment of the grateful words of the
liberated man. The only sound that
broke the stiffness was the deep sobS of
the little German, KunZe. lie burst
out with:
81 am innocent God knows Z am
innocent. God kEowS that never was
out to Lakeview that night. Longe-
necker bought two witnesses, / ana sure
of that, they went out and beught
farms with the money. Him and
Schuettler did il"
O'Suliivan was the only one OF the
other three prisoners who found refuge
in tears. For moment they tr;eklel
down his cheeks, but moment Eater
his black eyes flashed with defiance or
revival of courage, and dashing his
hand across his brow he bracea up and
cast a long glance around the court
room. The only evidence of terror to
he perceived in Coughlin WAS
the increased pallcr that over
spread his face as he fully
realized the significance of sentence
to life imprisonment, and his lips
twitched nervously during The coiIoquy
that followed between the attorneys
and the court relative to the motion
for new trial.
Martin Burke was unquestionably
the least affected of all the prisoners
1t was not until the afternoon that
the jury finally came to a verdict, and
then il was that the juror Culver, who
had been voting for acquittal for all
the defendants since the jury went
out. consented to a compromise. The
other jurors were for hanging Burke.
Coughlin and O'Sullivan, while lie was
for letting them all off.
LiberaIity in Brazil.
LISBON, Dec. 1.-THE Brazilian
Consul here has received a telegram
from Rio de Janeiro announcing that
a decree has been promulgated declar-
ing all foreigners residing in Brazil
citizens of the Republic from the date
on which the Republic was proclaimed
and that all foreigners in future shall
be considered Brazilian subjects and
enjoy all civil and political rights, eX-
cept the right of becoming chief of
state, after a residence of two years.