The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-17

"What do you think OF the verdict,
Judge?h asked the Associated Press
representative Of Judge Mcconnell, after
the adjournment Of Court for the day,
"JudiCially, OF course, l can pass no
opinion upon the verdict. As an in.
dlyidual, however, aud without being
cognizant Of all the proceedings in the
Jury room, might say that ! think the
verdict is the result OF probable Objec-
ton Of some OF the Jurors TO the death
penalty on Circumstantial evidence
"Mr, Culver, probablyP
mo, not Mr., Culver, necessarily,
understand he was In favor Of acquittal
from the start. II was only after long
aud harrasalng deliheEation that he
finally agreed with the rest upon this
verdict. You will probably find that
Mr., Culver was not the only man upon
the Jury who was opposed 10 the bang
Ing Of the three principal defendants"
"But the jurors all swore, In being
examined as 10 their competency, that
they had no conscientious scruples
against capital punishment on clrcum-
stantial evidence"
"That Ia all true, But behind all that
each man probably had amental reser.
vation, that the evidence must be con.
VinCing beyond reasonable doubt,
Now, II some OF these men should think
there was the fainteBt shadow OF a doubt
as TO the guilt Of these three men, do you
not see how natural itwonld be for them
10 mentally reserve to compromise the
matter with their consclences, no mat
ter how conclusive their judgment might
be, by favoring lifeimprlsonment In lieu
OF the death penalty-all because the
case was one oil Circumstantial evidence" "
MEN ARE HUMAN,
"Then you think that innate Scruples
against clrcumstanclal evidence proba,
bly, controlled the yerdictH'
~ do not say that. I say that n juror
might almost nnconsCiOusly have IN oh,
lection 10 circumstantial evidence, and
yet never be fully aware u It until II
great case like this, involving human
life, caused him TO pauss nh,llnully TO
guard against the possibility Ot error,
favor life Imprisonment In lieu of the
death penalty. The law may ba inilrxi.
ble, but men are human. YOuknOw the
objection 10 GircumsLantial evidence has
become so strong In Michigan, and pos.
sibly other States, that there they lave
a statute precludlng the imposition OF
the death penalty"
~ suppose you feel relieved that there
has not been disagreenlentY
II do, most aasutedly. Although, II
the Jury had disigretd and il lad be-
come necessary TO try the CASE again, |
should not have llinChed from presiding
over the case again; in fact, | think |
should rather have preferred TO In view
OF all tile CircumstaIlcesn
THE PRISONERS INTERVIEWED.
A little before 8 O'Clock the Associated
Press representative visited tie Ill aud
found the four convicted defendants uut
In the corridor with the other inmates
taking the usual exercise before supper,
Coughlin and o'sullivan were together,
while Burke was alone on the other side
OF the corridor. The little German
seemed TO hold himself alooi from the
other prisoners, still refusing to be COM
forted in bis misfortune. His confident,
fippant demeanor had given away TO a
heavy gloom, as he bemoaned his fate
and denounced the States Attorney and
Jury. Coughlin and 0'SulliVan were at
The entrance OF the cage discussing the
case with couple OF members oil Camp
20, who had called to offer their sympa.
thy, or congratulation. Attle approach
Of the press representative they quickly
lapsed into silence, and tue visitors de-
parted.
Coughlin and his companion requesting
an interview, and they finally approach.
ed the stage.
~ am sorry 10 disappoint yon, said
Mr., Coughlin, very confteously, "but l
do not desire TO be interviewed"
what is your opinion ot the YER
II am afraid / shall have to refer you
to Mr.. Forrest, my attorney, for an an
aver to that question"
care you disappointed at The YER
dict2" pgi'.
swell, I suppose no man conceived n
verdict Of life imprisonment with any
particular enthusiasm" said the ex.de'
tectiye, Erimly. "But, really, gentle
men, / must decline TO be interviewed.
am sorry cannot oblige you, but i
think It improper that should do .so."
With this sentence Coughlin retired,
pleasantly bowing good evening as he
went. II was evident 10. all that the
prisoner was In q mood very nearly ap'
proaching elation, and To Dan Coughlin
at least the verdict was q source Of sell
conRratulation. In the boys depart
ment, Martin Burke was found walking
up and down smoking cigar, with tho
admiring gaze oi several young prisoners
hxed on him. Burke seemed entirely
composed and good natnred as he greet
ed the Associated Press reporters. /.
"Well, Burke, what do you think
iOh, / AMI not saying q word, said the
young Irishman Ia his brogue. "The
Chicago papers have had enough 10 say
about me already, and l don't want 10
give them any excuse for any more"
''But don't include US IN your general
damnation.p
Ti'm not damning the papers, said
Burke. " aay nothing against them !
but ! guess they can get along without
All efforts TO extract any comments
from Burke on the verdict were In vain,
| He expressed himself % being delighted
10 converse on what he called Social
topics, but on this other business, as
he palledit, with q jerk oil his head 10.
ward the court room, he was 80 dumb aS
an oystefi As fat BS can be judged from
his general appearance and compensation,
| Il can lbe safely surmised that Mt. Burke
has frequently shaken hands with him.
peli since $3.50 p. M, at which hour che
iafy hxOd bic punlshmenta at life imprlS'
onment, and not " death, As was gener-
ally expected,
TltE JURY.
While getting their pay Certificates
the twelve jurors were surrounded by
reporters, who beSleged them for inior.
nation about what had transplred 10 The
| fury room, and the cause Of the long do.
lay. "1tis no ouBe," said Juror Marler.
awe agreed not to say anything. Our