The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-21


resolute in sticking TO the heaviest
penalties, had 1t not been for the tre'
mendous strain on Mr.. Culver, who
suffered terribly during his term OF
service, and the strain both on his
physical and nervous systems has
been tremendous. He shows IL in every
look and action. 1t is said TO have been
Through fear that the extreme tension
would cause illness Of so serious nature
that it might result in a mistrial that the
other Jurors abandoned their first inten-
ton of sticking out for the death pen
atty and Beggs' conviction.
Judge Mcconnell was asked Tor his
views regarding the verdict. Said he:
".JudIcially, of course can pass no opinion
upon the verdict As an individual, however,
md without being cognizant OF all the proceed
ings In the Jury room ! might say that thlnS
the verdict Is the result OF probable Objection
OF some OF the jurors TO the death penalty on
circumstantial evidence
"But the Jurors all swore in being examined
as to their competence that they had no con
scientious scruples against capital punishment
on circumstantial evidence.
'.rhat IS all true. But behind all that each
must be convinced beyond reasonable
doubt A Juror might almost uncon'
scously have an objection TO cir
cumstantial evidence, and yet never
be fully aware OF II until great case like TINS,
involving human life, caused him to pause, and
finally TO guard against the possibility OF error
favor life imprisonment in lieu OF the death
penalty The law may be infexible, but men
are human"
Mr.. Foster, who defended Beggs, was
a happy man. $50 far as Beggs is con-
cerned the verdict is just what | ex-
pected,". said he. "Of the other pris'
oners / do not care to speak my
own opinion. / have felt satisfied
from the first that my client would
be acquitted, and lost little
sleep, can assure you, over the matter
after the case went to the jury. There
was no evidence against Beggs that
would warrant his conviction, and my
only wonder was that he should have to
face trial at all"
Mr. Forrest, the attorney for the de.
fonse, says the verdict was unfair and
that no will secure new trial for his
clients. He fully expected an acquittal,
he said. Judge Wing was also apparent
ly dissatisfied with the verdict.
The acauittal OF all the prisoners was,
he thought, what it should have been.
After the jury had left the courtroom
Bepgs held an agreeable levee with the
newspaper men of bis acquaintance. To
the surprise OF all of them he said he did
not expect the verdict as rendered. He
looked for disagreement. He said he
could make no explanations OF his rea-
sons now further than to say that he
was possessed of information which led
him to believe that the jury would d.
vide on the question of guilt, and that
he would explain further some time in
the future.
Beggs was asked why he did not take
the witness stand in his own behalf. He
hesitated, but finally said that such a
step on mis- part would have put the
other prisoners in bad position.
All efforts to procure from the con-
victed men their opinions of the verdict
proved fruitless.
Mr. Longenecker said Monday even
ing: "Inasmuch as that jury fixing did not
Interfere with verdict in the Cronin
case, We will probably forego our de-
termination to at once 60 ahead with
the trial of the jury bribers under in
dictment. We need rest think the
cases will 90 over to the January term,
Then We will take them up and push
them with all the vigor that we can
command"
The verdict is viewed through differ
ont eyes in different ways, but the pre-
vailing impression is that the finding OF
the Jury is unfortunate for the best in
terssts of law and order Confessions
can scarcely be looked for now, as there
are no lives in danger. While there Is
life there is hope, runs an old adage,
and it is more than probable that the
friends OF the three condemned men will
not find it difficult to buoy them up in
the hope of future pardon and keep
their mouths closed forever, or until IT
is too late to bring the instigators OF the
conspiracy to justice.
The anti-trianglers Of the city are
much disappointed by the verdict, and
movement is on foot to call public meet.
ing in order that the verdict may be
denounced, and that enthusiasm for the
running to earth and prosecuting of the
other conspirators may DO aroused. The
failure to secure a death sentence Is
looked upon as additional testimony OF
the power of the triangle. This power,
they say, must be destroyed.
Chief Hubbard has begun war upon
the friends of tho triangle connected
with the police force. Detective John
Stiff and Patrolman Redmund McDon-
aid, both of whom gave testimony tend
ing to establish an alibi for Coughlin,
have been discharged from the force,
and it is said that Barney Flynn,
the officer VINO arrested Coughlin and
forgot to say any thing about the
two pocket-knives found on his person
until almost too late, Detective Grove
and Detective Palmer are also slated fol-
removal. These changes would have
been made sooner had it not been that
Chief Hubbard thought it unwise to do
any thing that would allow Coughlin'a
lawyer to charge the department with
intimidating the witnesses, in his
speech to the jury.
PRESS COMMENT.