Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-01-18
OVER THE ROAD"

Cronins Murderers for New Trial,
Passes Sentence Upon Them, and They
Are Mt Once Taken TO Prison - Kunza
Has Better Luck, and Is Granted n Re-
hearing, with Strong Prospect of Lib.
crty.
CHICAGO, Jan. 15.-Yesterday after
noon Judge Mcconnell over-ruled the
motion of Daniel Coughlin, Patrick
OSullivan and Martin Burke, convicted
of the murder of Dr. Cronin, for new
trial, and sentenced them to lifelong
penal servitude. The motion of John
p. Kunze for a new trial was granted.
The three murderers were taken to
Joliet at 0 o'clock.
Judge Wing and Attorney Donahoe
made arguments for new trial
before Judge Mcconnell yesterday.
The States Attorney did not re-
ply to them. Judge Mcconnell in
a brief speech reviewed the reasons ad-
vanced by counsel for the defense in
support of the motion for new
trial. His honor said he could see no
cause in the grounds set forth by the
counsel why he should interfere with
the finding of the jury. He thought
the trial had been fair, and, upon re-
viewing his rulings, he could discover
no material error. He then formally
overruled the motion for n new trial.
States Attorney Longenecker asked
that sentence be Immediately pro-
nounced on the four convicts Counsel
for the defense entered the customary
motion in arrest of judgment, which
Judge Mcconnell overruled.
A,,l l.,s,l 4
trial, the voices of the prisoners were
heard in their own behalf. 'Does the
defendant Daniel Coughlin desire to say
any thing or give any reason why sent
ence should not be pronounced on him?"
asked the court.
A silence that was deathlilse in its in
tensity followed this question of the
court and every eye was fixed on tho
prisoner Coughlin as he rose to his feet
and grasping the back of his lawyers
chair said:
Your Honor. am innocent. 1 have been
convicted by perjury"
Before the full meaning of the brief
speech had been grasped the Judge had
addressed the prisoner O'Sullivan, and
had asked if he wished to say any thing.
w NuCduI DldCb DtJWctH
Messrs Forrest and Wing. the convict
OSullivan steadied himself by leaning
on the table and began to address the
court. He said:
'lf your honor please / have not got much to
say, but what have to say is this. / have to
protest my innocence before God and man, and
think the day is not far distant when / shall
be acquitted of this crime. 1 was con-
victed by prejudice, by perjury, by
newspaper report and by popular
camor l want it understood that am not
pleading for mercy neither do plead for sym
pathy. 1 am pleading for justice, and justice
1 have not had. If l am guilty man, the
State has not had justice, and II am innocent
have not had justice That is all l have to
say"
Before the audience had time to COM
ment on the extraordinary speech by
OSullivan, which appeared in greater
contrast by reason of its superiority of
logical argument over any thing that
had been said for him by his counsel,
Martin Burke had risen to his feet and
was addressing the court. Said he:
Il am innocent, your honor. / always knew
that in England they put periured witnesses on
the stand, but 1 never thought it was done in
america
Judge Mcconnell ordered the four
prisoners to arise. They did so, and the
court then pronounced sentence on them
in accordance with the verdict of the
jury. Patrick O'Sullivan, Daniel Cough
lin and Martin Burke were sent to inn
prisonment during the term of their nat
ural lives. Kunze was granted a new
trial.
Mr.. Forrest took an exception to the
courts action in deciding the motion
for new trial without giving the time
asked for in which to prepare his argu-
ments. The prisoners attorneys gave
notice that an appeal to the Supreme
Court would be taken, and the court al
lowed them time in which to file their
bill of exceptions.
The prisoners were taken back to Jail,
but minute later Kunze was brought
back at the request of his counsel, Mr.
Donohoe, who wanted to make motion
to admit him to bail. Judge Longe-
necker opposed it, and then wanted the
bail put at $50, 600, but Judge Mcconnell
fixed it at So, 600. He would have dis
charged him, he said, if there were no
new evidence against him, but the States
Attorney had informed him there was
some. Judge Longenecker intimated
that if they let Kunze stay in Jail few
days he might conclude not to bring
him to trial at all, but let him go. He
promised to let the court and counsel
know this week and accordingly no eff
fort will be made to get Kunze out on
bail in the meantime.
The proper papers were made out, and
the prisoners were taken to Joliet at
o'clock p. m.
JOLIET, ILL.,, Jan. 15.-The train that
carried Martin Burke, Dan Coughlin
and Patrick O'Sullivan to Joliet drew
up at the prison station at 10:30 o'clock
Tuesday night. The prisoners were
taken at once to the warden's office, and
Sheriff Matson formally delivered them
to that official. just as the party
Warden Berggren hustled out like the
busy manager of big mercantile es-