The Jersey City news., 1892-06-04
MURDERBRS' DAY.
CreeCh and Mu1Vihi11 Sem
fenced to Twenty Years
Penal Servitude.
KERRIGAN SAYS NOT GUILTY
The Lamplighter's Slayer Much
Broken-Prosecutor Winfield's
Dissatisfaction.

InlS morning In the Court OIL oyer ana
Terminer, Patrick Mulvihill and George
Creech, who had been convicted OF
murder in the second degree, on separate
indictments for murder, were each sen.
fenced by Judge Werts to hard labor in
States Prison for term Of twenty years.
1t had been whispered about the Court
that the prisoners would be sentenced.
and number of lawyers and habitues of
the Courtroom clustered about. Lay
Judges Hoffman and Kenney sat on the
bench with Judge Werts.
Constables Wise and Zeller brought the
prisoners from the County Jail. Mulvi-
hill was in the custoay of Wise and Zeller
had charge OF Creech. Mulvihill was
ghastly pale. and il was evident that his
confinement at the County Jail had not
agreed with bim. He had q scared look
in his eye. In striking contrast to Mulvi-
hill was Creech. Creech's face was very
red and he gave no outward appearance
of emotion.
MULVIHILL FIRST.
II move now for sentence in the case of
Patrick Mulvihill," said Prosecutor Win
field. He has been convicted of murder
in the second degree"
Patrick Mulvihill, stand up" said
Judge Werts.
The prisoner did so. and stood with his
head bowed down and his eyes cast on the
floor.
I'm your case" said the Judge. ''she
Jury gave you the benefit Of every doubt.
Your assault on the poor old lamp-lighteH
was entirely uncalled for. It was en-
tirely without provocation and altogether
inexcusable. The sentence of the Court
is that you be imprisoned at hard labor
In State Prison for a term OF twenty
years."
CREECH'S TURN.
"In your case Creech," said the Court,
everything that has been said In Mulvi-
hills case applies with equal, IL not
stronger. force. You have been given
| the benefit of every possible doubt
Here Creech interrupted the Court;-'T
| have four Witnesses" said he, "ready to
swear that they heard Smith say that he
would shoot me and that he was lying in
wait for me-"
''The Court cannot take that into con-
sideration now." resumed Judge Werts.
From the evidence before the Court q
verdict Of murder in the first degree was
only escaped BY the jury giving the pris-
oner the benefit of every possible shadow
| of doubt. The Judgment of the Court
is that you be sentenced at hard labor in
| States Prison for a term of twenty years.
| In Mulvihill,s case the majority of the
Court favored the extreme penalty OF the
| law. Judge Kenney was IN the minority.
| The prisoners may be taken back to the
jail"
KERRIGAN TOO.
| The Prosecutor then sent for William
Kerrigan, and Kerrigan was brought
into court. Kerrigan, is an undersized
| fellow with reddish beard.
| "Kerrigan," said Che Prosecutor, ''the
Grand Jury has presented an Indictment
| against you for the murder of Margaret
A. Carson on May Ia. 1891. in SteuDen
| street. What is your plea. guilty or not
| guilty?
Not guilty" replied the prisoner.
Have you any counsel2' asked the
Court.
mo, SIR"
'The Court at the proper time then will
see that you are provided with counsel"
| and kerrigan was taken back to the
| County Jail.
The crime for which Kerrigan has been
| indicted was the result OF a drunken row
on May H. 1891, in a Steuben street tene-
ment. in which Mrs. Margaret A. Carson
was killed by a blow from a pitcher.
| After the fight Kerrigan fed and Carson
| was arrested. He was indicted for mur.
der and tried before Judge Knapp, but
the evidence was not sufficient to convict
him and he was discharged
| No trace was discovered of KerrfQau
until few days ago. when he was located
| in Lafayette and arrested. The Grand
Jury promptly indicted him.
Sheriff McPhillips is allowed fifteen
days by law TO take Mulvihill and Creech
l
sentence. With good behavior the
prisoners will be set free In about four
teen years. The costs of prosecution are
omitted in homicide cases, and the
prisoners will be relieved of this adj
ditional penalty.
| CREECH JURY CoNDEMNED.
Prosecutor Winfield expressed himself
this morning as being thoroughly dis
gusted with the verdict Of the jury In the
Creech trial.
'"The idea of jury convicting Mulvi-
hill. young man who had killed another
while skylarking, of murder in the second
degree" said the Prosecutor, land an
other jury bringing in the same verdict
against this man Creech, who. as the
testimony proved beyond the shadow of a
doubt, procured an axe and dealt Smith
his death-blow. There is no Justification
for the verdict. The jury should have
either brought in verdict of murder in
the first degree or of acquittal. There
was no room for verdict of murder in
tine second degree"
| Tough Murphy at LArn0.