New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-14
THE CRONIN JURY RETlRES.
,upeE MCCONNELL INTERPRETING The LAW
As TO CONSPIRACY.
srArr- ATTORNEY LoNGENEoKER MAKES 1hN
CLOSING SPEECH FOR THE PROSECUTION
INTERESTED CROWDS AROUND THE
.rapRT.HoUsE N OHIONO0,
rIsRAPH TO THE TRiBUSEl
sbo4 hQyi

TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiSUNEl
Chicago. Dec. 13.-lf all 'ne cio"s' NJ.
Oo'eO' .,~~.rod the entrance of Judge Nc
conneI's branch of the Criminal COURT making
q almost impossible TO gain Ambulance 10 'ic
- .,o,o odded together they would hardly equal
- - those who clamored and fought for
.,,.r nlace near the doors OF the courtroom tlis
morninr At least 1000 people gathered on Vilc
go, around the Criminal Court building while
,ho courtroom holds at most 200 persons. by
9 o'clock this morning a line had been formed
r.acbing from the entrance of the Dcarborn-st.
corridors toward the river as far as Mchlgan-st
This line was formed of men, women and chill
dren standing three or four abreast. Half an hour
later the line had turned the corner and ran half
block down Michigan-st. The little crowd about
the door of people who would not take their turn
in the line had swollen into mob, and the main
entrance TO the Criminal Court building was
blookaded so that many Of the clerks had 10 climb
into their offices through the windows. Judge
Mcconnell tried to pass by the bailiffs, but was
unable TO do so. Finally he went behind the
building and entered the jai-yard got the assist
ance of the jaicr and passed into his courtroom
by way OF the jail.
The closing argument for the prosecution and
the charge Of Judge Mcconnell TO the jury occu-
pied the entire day When the jury retired late
in the afternoon, it was with the understanding
than the court would be called again at p. IN.
The Judge returned at s:27, and again at 10
o'clock, but nothing was heard from the jury
room. At IL o'clock the court was adjourned
until tomorrow.
State Attorney Loneenecllcr made the closing
argument in behalf of the State owing to the
illness of Mr.. Mills, TO whom that task had been
assigned. lie concluded his speech follows:
Now gentlemen, l am through. If you are
settled 10 turn these men loose, you will do 1t.
If you believe that this evidence is not sufficient
TO convict them. of course you viii acquit them.
But want 10 call your attention TO the respon-
sibility This. gentlemen, is a serious matter. 1t
has got down 10 business. You have been sitting
here week in and week out hearing this evidence,
undisDuted evidence evidence that must lead your
minds TO the conclusion list Dr. Cronin
murdered evidence that must lead your minds
10 the conclusion that il was done by
spiracy; evidence that must lead your minds TO
the belief that il was cOld-bloOded murder that il
was planned in secret; that il done with
coolness You must have come TO the conclusion
that if there murder case in which
the extreme penalty of the law demanded al your
hands verdict of the kind this is oDe. Remem-
ber that you are not here TO convict Innocent men.
Remember that we here insisting that this
evidence is so overwhelming that you. as honest
men, under your oath, cannot resist this volume of
proof that must convince you as sensible men, be-
yond reasonable doubt, that all five of these
men are guilty OF this crime
Judge Mcconnell then delivered his charge to
the Jury Aside from the merely legal definitions
and techncalities, it follows:
The jury are the judges OF the law as well
as the facts in this case and If they can say
upon their oaths they know the law better than
the court itself, they have the right TO do so;
but before assuming so solemn a responsibility,
they should be sure that they are not acting
from caprice or prejudice that they are not con-
troIled .by their will or wishes, but from deep
and confident conviction that the court is wrong
and they are right.
" The manner or cause Of death which is
alleged in tine indictment is an essential element
Of the charge against the defendants and the
law requires the prosecution TO establish that
syerment 10 your satisfaction beyond reasonable
doubt it Is laid III the Indictment before a
conviction OF the defendants. or either of them,
can be lawfully had. But whether not the
manner or cause of death lald in the
Indictment may be established by circumstantjal
evidence just az any other fact essential to
conviction may he Circumstantial evidence i'll
circumstances connected with,
rounding the comm Ssion Of the crime
charged as tends to show the
guilt or innocence of the party charged, and If
these facts and circumstances are sufficient TO
satisfy the jury of the guilt of the defendants
beyond reasonable doubt, then such evidence is
sufficient 10 authorize the jury in finding the
defendants guilty. 1t is the duty of the jury 10
enter upon the consideration of each circumstance
proven having in their minds the presumption that
the defendants, and each of them, are innocent
II such fact or circumstance. when considered in
connection with all the evidence in the case. can
Be explained consistently with the innocence OF
the accused, il il their duty so To explain IT. In
order 10 justify the inference of legal guilt from
crcumstantlal evidence the existence Of the in
eulpatory facts must he absolutely incompatible
with the innocence of the accused and Incapable
Oh expianation upon any other reasonable by
pothesis than that of their guilt
IL you can reconcile the facts in this case
upon any reasonable theory consistent with the
innocence ol the defendants. it is your
duty 10 DO so and TO find the defendants not
guiity' IL Is not sufficient for the jury 10 find
that resolution was adopted for the appointmcnt
OF secret committee in Camp No % on Feb
ruary 3, 1889, but IL must further appear TO
your satisfaction, beyond all reasonable doubt. |
hat such committee was IN tact annointed bv |
'he defendant Beggs, and that such an annoint |
ment in pursuance, in furtherance of a |
conspiracy TO commit the crime set out in tho !
Indictment, and you must be further satisfied.
beyond al reasonable doubt, that the onten0.,n'
beggs had knowledge Of the purpose for which |
sad committee was asked, or If appointed a. |
schted 10 It's purpose subsequently. or Won vii |
not be justified il finding participation IN s"rL |
SSohspEsey Oh the part Of the defendant Bego, |
- teassn Of the 1aets herein stated. And as |
% sneie no evidence IN this case that any over |
act was done by defendant Beggs N the com |
nIsSph Of the alleged murder in the indictment |
az ILis ea'e, therefore unless IL IS established thai
conS piracy was entered into TO commit the muir |
spiracv tbe ala n s9id Indictment TO winch con
be acquitted
s,d testimony Of verbal admissions, statements