The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-11
HNAClING THE TRAGEDY
How the MeLaren Jury Proved
the Murderer's Story The
Prisoners Narrow Es-
cape from the
Gallows.

Thomas McLaren, convicted in thei
Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday
of murdersin the second degree for the
killing of Jennie Knittle, was feelings
much brighter this morning than he
has for weeks past.as
He was seen in the County Jail this
morning and spoke quite freely to the
reporters. When asked if he was
satisfied with the verdict. he said Il
didn't expect the verdict to be any
higher than manslaughter, if it was that
but 1 can't say that L am entirely dis-l
satisfied
did you expect an acquittal?" was.
asked.
'I didn't know he answered. Ny
counsel made a strong defense l have
nothing to complain of in that respect.
am satisfied with what Mr.. Hoffman
did for me. He worked hard and am
satisfied that no one could have done
any more. I want to thank him for
his efforts and 1 must also give credit
to MIR. Winfield. He certainly presented
a strong case. His oratorial work was.
beautiful. l want to give credit where
it is DUE
TO BE SENTENCED MAY 20.
Mr.. Winfield at the trial contended
that the burnt shirt produced as evi-
dence by the defense had not been worn
after it left the laundry. This was one
of the strongest points against Nc
Laren. When asked about the shirt
AIcLaren said:-''If L knew l were going
to die this moment, 1 would swear that
it was the same shirt wore. There was
a lot of lying against me in the trial.
but now 1T is over l won't say much
about it,"
Judge Lippincott announced this morn
ing that he will sentence McLaren on
May 20
Funny things happened in the jury
the murderer of Jennie Knittle. Me-
Larens defence was that the woman
was shot in a struggle for the posses
weapon exploded. 1t was contended by
the prosecution that had the struggie
a physical impossibility for the. revolver
to have become so pointed as to infiict
the fatal wound. The wound was in
let's taking backward course it passed
diagonally downward passed through
the walls of the stomach and landed near
ENACTING THE TRAGEDY.
To determine the truth of McLaren'S S
story, the jurymen decided to enact the the
seTbed 0f in 'eS the sagg eaeny sAaaS one @ #
iurymen was selected to, impersonate
Jennie Knittle. He donned her corsets
and gown, the ones worn at the time
of the tragedy. Another took the part
of McLaren, while the other ten gath-
cred about to see the tragedy. A pis-
tol, the most important of the proper-
ties necessary in this impromptu drama
was not to be had. The actors were in
a cuandary at first, ut finally a bright
juryman came to the rescue with a
meerschaum pipe. 1t made an excellent
substitute At the call o. one of the
Witnesses the principals took their. post
tions just as McLaren and Jennie did
oa July last III Mrs. Aulysplfe 81 isstf1
ler. The word was given and the Jen-
ME Knittle in the cast arose and whipped
out the pipe. .McLaren," who was Sit
! ting at the other side of the room, made
| a dash for it. They struggled and sway
| ed backwards and forwards for several
| minutes, "McLaren' trying all the while
| to turn the stem of the pipe, which
was directed at him, towards the bullet
| hole in the wrapper Finally he sue
| ceeded in doing it, and with a .'bangr'
| uttered with all the force he could mus
| ter in his exhausted condtion-for it
| was hot day and a not struggle--to de-
| note that the last scene had been en-
acted, the farce ended. If the .sMc,
| Laren' in the little play had not sue
| ceeded in turning the pipe it might have
| been all day with the real sMcLaren. .