Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-09
SENTENCED TO HANG.
The Lives of the Hungarians Con-
victed of Killing Michael Quinn
DECLARED FORFEIT TO THE LAW.
Judge Stowe in Refusing a New Trial Hands
Down an Opinion.
A VERY AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT

The lives of three men were yesterday de-
clared forfeit to the law in satisfaction for
the murder of Michael Quinn at Braddock
on the 1st Of the year. Andrew Todt,
Michael Sabol and George Rusnok, who
were convicted of the murder in the first
degree, had sentence of death pronounced
upon them by Judge Stowe.
1t was shortly after 10 o'clock when the
Judge entered Criminal Court No. l, fol-
lowed bv District Attorney Johnston and
Colonel Blakeley. The court was packed
by an interested crowd of spectators who
had assembled to hear the fate await
ing the convicted men, who were
led into court and placed at the
bar. The nervous glances the three Huns
cast about them, and the added sullenness of
their faces, due to dread of what was to
follow, drew more than one glance of pity
toward them. They knew nothing OF what
was transpiring around them, and were but
dimly sensible that their lives were at stake.
Pronouncing the Judgment of Death.
Andrew Todt was called before the bar for
judgment. Through the interpreter the Judge
asked him if he had anything to say. He re-
piled that he was innocent. Judge Stowe then
pronounced the sentence of death upon him in
the usual manner. everyone present rising and
preserving the most intense silence as the SOL
emn words of judgment fell from the lips of the
Judge. The interpreter repeated the
words in the Slavish tongue to
the condemned man, who raised his hands
and face toward heaven and with choked utter
ance and streaming eyes protested his inno-
cence of any participation in the deed with
which he was charged. The scene was i'm
pressive and affected many of the spectators
present. Podt was led aside and Sabol was
then called up.
The second of the men seemed calmer than
the first and answered the usual question in
firm voice. He likewise protested his inno-
cence. When the sentence was interpreted to
him he looked as if stricken with a palsy and
staggering into chair beside Todt fell to SOB
bling like child.
Rusnok is the youngest and most intelligent
looking of the trio. He declared that he was
innocent of the crime, because he was not at
the mill on the day of its occurrence. Rusnok
words from the interpreter telling him the SEN
tence pronounced upon him by the Judge fell
upon his ear, when he broke down and wept
very bitterly. The three men were then car
ried rather than led back to Jail amid the SYM
pathy of good many spectators.
Reasons for Refusing New Trial.
In his opinion refusing new trial Judge
Stowe reviewed at length the evidence concern
ing the riot and the part taken in it by Todt,
Sabol and Rusnok, and the manner in which
Quinn met his death. It was clearly shown, he
said. that Todt had beaten Quinn with a dam
gerous weapon or club. and that the facts
strongly indicated that the particular blow
struck by him was the primary cause of death.
It was also shown that Sabol and Rusnok were
present and also committed violent as
sault on Quinn, striking him and
beating him. Continuing he reviewed
the law defining murder of the first and second
degrees, and repeating portions of his charge
to the jury on that point. In conclusion he
said: "The evidence showed violent attack
made by all three defendants. One blow was
first struck by Todt which the jury believed
was intended to kill, and afterward the old
man, when disabled and. as it would seem,
stricken so that he would likely die was caught
by the two other defendants, held by Rusnok,
while the other Sabol. beat him, and after this,
while he was on his knees. he was again beaten
by Rusnok.
"If the facts do not justify the jury in be-
lieving that there was q deadly intent in the
minds of the defendants, am al a loss to know
what amount of proof the law requires to
justify verdict OF murder in the first degree"
The motion for a new trial was refused
The Clerk of Courts yesterday received from
District Attorney Johnston the record in the
case of Alex killen. sentenced to death for
the murder of Mrs. Rudent at Tarentum. 1t
will be forwarded to the Governor this week
for the issuing of the death warrant.