Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-12-26

The Jury Renders Verdict Of Life Imprison
ment for Burke, coughlin and 0'Sullivan
and Three Years for Kunxe. While
beggs 10 Acquitted.

CHICAGO, Dec. 16.-Ons of the most
memorable trials i'm the criminal his
tory of America closed this afternoon
when the jury empaneIed three months
ago rendered its verdict in the Cronin
case. That the return of this jury il
a verdict and not a disagreement is a
source of much congratuIation in the
public mind, and although there 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 feeling
engendered by the two factions into
which the Irish people have been di-
vided in the case. it cannot fail to be
"a source of cOngratulatiOn to Judge
Mcconnell that his impartial conduct
as presiding Judge has been such AS to
win for him not only the applause of
both the opposing factions, but the
approval alike OF leading jurists of the
land upon the validity of his rulings.
The court convened at 2 p. m. and
there was n momentary silence as the
vast audience breathlessly v awaited the
first words of Judge Mcconnell as he
mounted the bench. "'hc jury is pre-
pared to make "A return in this case"
said his honor, "but ! observe that
Mr.. DOnOhue, counsel for OSullivan
| and kunze, is absent" 81 have been
requested to represent Mr.. DonOhue,'
said Nh Forrest. The court announced
his satisfaction with the arrangement
and moment later the door leading
from the Jail opened and the five de-
PENDANTS marched in to receive the
announcement OF their fate. Hardly
II sound was heard as every eye in the
audience turned toward John +. Beggs
who led the procession. The face OF
the senior guardian OF Camp 20 was
pale and anxious looking, but he faced
he stare of the audience boldly.
Daniel Couehlin affected his usual in
difference, but his restless, furtive eye
denoted the terrible mental suspense
the ex-detective experienced as he
awaited the dreadful announcement.
Hardly person in the court room
rick O'Sullivan. His looks were
directed to the floor, and whatever
emotion he may have felt at this criti-
cal moment was not shown. Burke's
face flushed for "A moment as he ap-
preached his seat, but Immediately
after his features regained their nat
tural expression, and with affected
nOnchalence he resumed his chewing
OF gum. as has been his wont during
the course of the trial. For the first
time since his arrest the lit lie German,
John kunze, seemed to appreciate the
gravity OF his situation, and his usual
air of jauntiness was absent. As the
audience were cOp'.amplating he pris-
oners and .elr
was again heard without, and a mo-
ment later the twelve men in whose
Judgment reposed the lives OF the
defendants, entered the room, headed
by Foreman Clark. Every prisoner
stimuli, turned his eye upon
the Jurors as If to read i'm their inn
pressive features the secret of the
verdict, but there was no sign to give
them hope or fear. The clerk will
cdll the roll of jurors" Every person
IN the audience started as the sound
of the Judges voice broke the silence
only to add deeper to the solemnty
OF the occasion. Slowly the jurors
answered to their names and the
twelve men were announced to be
present. "Gsntlemen," said the court,
II understand you have reached a
conclusion in this case" With "a bow,
Foreman Clarke took from his pocket
a large envelope and handed it to
the Judge who in turn handed it to the
clsrk. ''The clerk will read the verdict" "
said the court. Instantly there was
hush so profound that as the clerk
tore open the envelope the sound fell
discordantly upon the anxious ears,
and n moment later this anxiety
became painful in it's intensity as the
sonorous voice OF the clerk began
reading the verdict.
I'VE, the jury, find defendant John
Beggs not guilty. We, the jury, find
defendant kunze guilty OF manslaugh
ter, as charged in the Indictment, and
iiX his punishment at imprisonment
IN the penitentiary for the term of
three years. We, the Jury, find de-
PENDANTS Daniel Couehlin, Patrick
O'Sullivan and Martin Bourke guilty
OF murder in the manner and form as
charged in he Indictment, and fix the
penalty at imprisonment in the peni-
Tertiary for the term OF their natural
lives" At the request of the defense
the jury was then polled and reaf-
iirmed the verdict. Simultaneous with
the announcement OF the verdict Cough
lin, O'Sullivan and Bourke turned
deathly pale, while Kunze started sud
denly from his seat and a moment
later dropped his head upon his breast
and burst into tears. Beg.s' face was
luminous with joy, and, Immediately
after the polling OF the jury, arose
from amid the prisoners and walked
over to the jury box, and during the
Dreathless lull that followed shook
Foreman Clarke's hand heartily.
"Gentlemen, ! thank you. trust the
future will confirm your judgment
upon me, and that you will never re-
gret that you found me not guilty OF
this terrible charge" The only sound
that broke the stiffness following this
was the deep sobs OF little kunze. lie
burst out with God knows am in
nocent. Never was in Lake View that
night. On, God knows | am innocent,
gentlemen."' O'Sullivan was the only
one of the other three prisoners who
found refuge in tears. For moment
they trickled down his cheeks, but "a
moment later his black eyes flashed
with defiance or a revival OF courage.
and da>hing his hand across hi, brow
be braced up in the seat and east n
longing glance around the court room.
The only evidence OF terror to he per-
eiyed i'm touuhlln WAS he incr.asel
pallor that overspread his face as he
fully realized the significance of the
sentence to life Imprisonment, and his
lips twitched nervously during the col
loquy that followed bet ween the at