Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-14
Is YEARS At IONA
Judge Buriingams Sentences 1aGAn
70 the Full kxEent.
EEAyS True CHARACTER REVEALED
Win Lswsrtsx kyss aad satanic mtsn
ns Frsfaasiy Voices HE eplsiss 81
shs vsrdiet-A ftsad Ciothea IN
Shs GoFb Of IaA0esaeA

The fnal word that ended the drama
of hfe aud death, the murder of Pat
rick j. OConnor, and the trial OF
William Eagan for the crime, has been
spoken Yesterday morning . crowd
Of men and women were at the super
Tor court room anxious to hear the sen
tence that would be imposed upon
Eagan for the crime Of which ne had
been convicted. At 10 O'Clock the
prisoner Was led into court. and soon
after. his aged mother, brothers and
sisters, suffused IN tears. entered and
sat down 10 witness the climax. Their
sobs were constant. but Eagan's appear
ance MAS the same - during the trial
A look of care, Of nervous suffering.
WAS upon the drawn features. He gave
his age IN quiet tone OF voice. a. "A
years. When asked by the court what
he had To say Why sentence should not
be imposed upon him, Nr. Aathewson,
his attorney, spoke IN MS behalf, ask
ing leniency of the court After try
ing wait OF few moments the court
called Eagan and IN tones solemn
and Impressive proceeded as follows:
Gaiity In the judges Mind
"You have been tried before . jury
in this court for the crime of murder,
and have been found guilty of man
slaughter, so that, instead OF my being
obliged by the law TO sentence you Tor
life, am compelled under the law TO
sentence YOU tor = period not exceed
ing fifteen years. And while below
that period l have all discretion, above
II have none. Ii your own story is
true, TO my mind you are guilty OF
manslaughter, without question, and
that, too, without regard TO who struck
the first blow. For, from your own
evidence, after you were struck by the
deceased, he passing the first blow,
afterward you struck him while on his
feet and on his guard, but two blows,
the last OF which you say knocked him
down; and that after that he made no
resistance. That after that you dropped
down upon him and implanted two
blows only, and with your fists only.
That after that he ceased To groan or
move. and then you put him yourself up
against the bank, where you afterward
found him dead, and then and there
left the deal body weltering IN Its own
. blood ali night alone and unprotected,
and until discovered IN the morning by
his friends.
weakness OF Eagan's story.
Snow, in the face of the verdict Of
the jury that you are only guilty OF
granddaughter beyond reasonable
doubt. can not GO. But the story that
You stood face to face with the deceased
when alive, and he with the advantage
cf the first blow; that you with your
bare fists, and while both were on your
feet, and with but two blows of your
fists after ne was down, which latter
blows you swear were not with your
full force, and were not, as you swear,
IN quick succession, ever left the body
of Pat OConnor with the cheek from
ear TO neck pounded to a jelly; with
one eye prOtrudlng from its socket,
with the lip cut through both horizon
tally and vertically; the teeth loOsened
from the gums; the brain concussed,
and membrane covering the brain con-
gestive, and that such . state and con-
dItlon was produced by four blows OF
your fist. under the circumstances just
mentioned, do not believe.
Fifteen Years IT Hard Labor.
"And while by your rash act you
have forever deprived his friends and
family of the comfort of his presence
and the advantage of his aid, you who
have done all this come before me now
To receive what | may deem an ade-
auste punishment under the verdict of
the Jury. And | snail endeavor to do
my duty IN such manner as shall pro-
tect individuals against a similar Illus
tration of your passions, and the public
against the repetition of offenses of this
kind. The sentence of this court is
that you be confined at hard labor at
Iouia for the period of fifteen years.
Sobs and tears from Eagsn's relatives
followed tire sentence, which came as a
surprise to all IN the room. Eagan's
face assumed a look like the ferocIty of
chained beast, look devilish and re-
pulsive. A few minutes later when
asked II he was surprised by bis sem
tence he said. Not very Cd muchw
IL showed his character "a different
from what a sympathetic onlooker at
the trial would ever have guessed. The
law Is satisfied, but whether meet pun
ishment hss been imposed will I've a
subject for long. continued di.cussion.
Doe LINE MEETING.