Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-30
FLANAGAN MUST HANG.
FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN
THE FIRST DEGREE.

His Crime on the GaIlows The Verdict
Causes Great Surprise.
New HAVEN, April 30.-The jury in
the case of Patrick Flanagan, charged
with the murder of Michael McDermott,
in Waterbury, May 2, 1890, after being
out less than two hours, at II: 52 o'clock
to-day returned verdict of guilty of
murder in the first degree. Judge Fem
will pass the sentence of death to-mor-
row. Sc
The jury returned to the court room
at lies and stated that they could not
agree. Judge Fem read from the
forty ninth Connecticut reports the
duties of jurymen as stated by the SUI
preme court ard the jury retired
again.
At 11s52 knock was heard at the
door and the jury filed in to their
seats. In answer to the clerks question
Foreman John futile announced that
they had reached a verdict, finding the
prisoner guilty of murder in the first
degree.
be deferred and Judge Fem announced
that he would pronounce sentence at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning.
While Foreman futile was making
his statement Flanagan sat as unmoved
as stone. Indeed, all during the trial
he has apparently been the most uncon-
cerned man in the court room. When
led down the stairs after the trial he
walked with quick nervous step.
Either he does not realize the enormity
of his crime, or else he is lacking in
brain power, for while he sat unmoved
during the reading of the verdict, every
body else in the room was greatly ex-
cited.
Attorney O'Neil was greatly surprised
by the verdict. The most he had expected
prison or insane asylum. He says
that but for the judges charge such a
verdict would never have been rem
dered as there were members of the jury
who swore they would never convict
Flanagan of murder in the first degree.
JUDGE FENN's CHARGE.
Judge Fem began his charge to the
jury late yesterday afternoon, carefully
reviewing the evidence and explaining
the law. When he had concluded it was
so late that an adjournment was taken
until to-day. This morning the Judge
again addressed the jury and his charge
was decidedly against the prisoner, W HON
he scored numerically. The judge said
he had no doubt that the crime, was the
result of drunken freak. He instruct
ed the jury to bring in verdict in &C
cordance with the evidence, and at 0:2O
they retired.
THE MURDERER'S STORY.
When Flanagan was placed ON the
stand yesterday afternoon his ewes
wandered restlessly between the Judge
and jury. He said:
Il am thirty-nine years old and came
to this country three years ago l was
acquainted with McDermott for about
three months before the shooting. |
had no coppanionship with him what
ever. used to meet him occasionally.
We used to drink together once in a
while. / have been without any liquor
for weeks. stopped work at the shop
about two weeks before the shooting.
l don't know where l was from that
time until shot McDermott. 1 remem
Der of taking my brothers revolver and
a box of ammunition and was going out
into a patch of woods to shoot. [ went
into Russelfs saloon and McDermott
and two others We're there and ordered
ale all around. We had three ales each
This was between 10 and II O'Clock in
the morning. l had a few minutes con-
versation with McDermott and told him
l was going to get some more cartridges
I then went into another saloon.
I "McDermOtt and l never had an
angry word between us, and | SAID So
before we went into Lally's saloon and
whiskey and some ale. l don't remcm.
Der how much. six or seven rounds
think. This was between IL and l
O'Clock. 1 don't know where | went
after that. don't remember anything
mOre-don't remember of going to Rus.
sells or of shooting this man. It's all a
blank.
1.-THE mex. 1 remember was when ]
was in the lookup and a man named
Russell came to me. The shooting was
on Friday and this was on Monday OF
, Tuesday when l saw Russell in the lock
up. Everything for two or three days
was a blank"
THE CRIME.
/ The murder for which Flanagan must
die was committed on May End of last
J year. On that day Flanagan and Michae
} McDermott had been drinking in Rus
. sells saloon on Bishop street, when
/ without warning or cause, Flanagan
drew a revolver and fired six bullet.
into McDermott's neck and body
The victim staggered into the street
and fell exhausted on a doorstep. HI
was taken to the Office of Drs North anC
Axtelle, where he died within an hour
The murderer coolly walked down NORTH
Main street and when placed under arrest
, by Officer Blakeley went without a strug
!, gle to the station house. That night ht
acted as though insane, singing anC
lyUhistIin in his cell He had hoo,, d,.;,,I L