Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-04
CL00NAN SHED TEARS
While He Told His Tragic, Story of
the Murder of His Wife.
THE DEFENSE PLEADS INSANITY.
Judge Over Is Dissatisfied With the Samuel
SimcOx Will.
THE NEWS OF THE COUNTY COURTS

The trial of Dennis Cloonan for the mur
der of his wife was continued before Judge
Slagle yesterday when the defense pre-
sented their case. The opening was made
bv Thomas Marshall. Sr., who claimed that
the homicide was the elimination of rage
which was the outgrowth of delusion and
that the crime could be no greater than
murder in the second degree.
Mrs. McMorrow and Mrs McGovern, two
neighbors, testified to seeing the defendant
after the murder and he both looked and
acted strangely.
James Cloonan, a son of the prisoner,
testified that on the evening of March II
he got horne at o'clock and left home al
$50, passing his father as he came in. His
father was in his working clothes and did
not appear any different than at other times.
The witness next saw his father after the
killing on Webster avenue and asked him
to come with him, and he did so until an
officer arrived The prisoner had a blank
stare in his eyes when the witness met him,
but he was not drunk The witness said
his father drank a great deal and the drink
affected his head.
He sighed but said Nothing.
John Cloonan, the eldest son of the pris-
oner. testified that when his father came home
he appeared moody and sighed great deal
He did not wash himself as usual, but sat
around moaning.
Michael Cloonan corroborated the above.
Gilbert Cioonan, the youngest son, II years
old knew nothing Of the murder until his
return home from the convent, where lie
was preparing for confirmation. During
the testimony of the last witness the
prisoner broke down and cried
Dennis Cloonan, the prisoner, was next
placed on the stand. He did net sit down.
but stood with his hands raised appealingly
10 heaven and tears streaming down his
checks. lie said that when he went home
the night OF the murder, he went upstairs
and took drink of whisky; ter that his
senses left him and he knew nothing more
until after his arrest.
Offered Up Prayer 4 fter Murder.
1t developed during the morning that i'm
mediately after the killing the prisoner
went to the Cathedral. and, walking up to
the altar, knelt down and engaged in prayer.
The arguments for the defense were made
by Thomas NJ. Marshall, Sr. and Q. =. Scaife.
They argued that the murder was not pre-
meditat=d one but was the act of a momen-
tary impulse, and the verdict could not be
greater than that OF second degree.
District Attorney Burleigh made ringing
argument ior the Commonwealth. The
crime he argued was clearly premeditated
one and me was glad to say that it was with
out a parallel in either this county or State.
The murder was cowardlv, brutal and with
Out the least possible excuse. Mr.. Burleioh
argued that the prisoner showed that the
crime was premeGitated by waiting until all
his children had departed from the house
before committing it, and that it was as
clearlya first degree murder as ever had
been committed in the county.
Judge SlagleS charge to the jury was SIM
ply an explanation OF the law covering
murder of various kinds. The charge was
a very fair one, being clearly unbiased The
jury then retired and a recess was ordered
until O'Clock to receive the verdict, should
the jury arrive at a conclusion.
C!oonan Convicted of Murder.
At o'clock the jury brought in n verdict
Of murder in the first degree. There were
very few persons in the court room
when the night session opened, among
them being tnree sons OF the ac-
cu-ed. Their faces betrayed more con-
Germ than that of the father. The
Jury filed in and tnok their seats and
when the roll was called and the verdict
pronounced each spoke in a firm and con-
Vincin" tone of voice.
CloOnan had been led into the room by
Warden McAleese and Deputy Sheriff
James Z. Glasson. They also led him out
after the verdict was delivered, and during
the interim between coming in and going
ont the prisoner evidently was not i'm
pressed by the solemnity of the occasion, as,
ON his way back TO Jail over the
bridge lie asked the deputy what the yer-
dict was The question was the only occa.
sion in which he had anything to say.
Jude Sla"le, who received the verdict,
then adjourned the court until this morn
ing, the whole proceeding lasting but ten
attorneys said he would move Tor new
trial of the case.