Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-24
F0UuDGU|LTY.
Jury Agrees in the Storm
Drain Conspiracy
Case.
VERDICT THIS AFTERNOON.
Schnell, Looney and Nevin
Fined $4,000 Each,
Kelly $500.
DR0ST Is ASSESSED $500.
Lahif and Cox Receive a
Penalty of $50 and
Mulhern ST..
JUDGES INSTRUCTIONS.
The Closing Argument of
the States Attorney.
Lahif and Cox Receive a
Penalty of $50 and
Mulhern ST..
JUDGES INSTRUCTIONS.
The Closing Argument OF
the States Attorney.

Inc STORM oraln Jury agreed on D
verdict at 4 O'Clock.
The Jury promptly reported to the
court to that effect. Judge Gest,
however. declined to receive the YER
dict until all the defendants
were In court. Sheriff Hemenway
Immediately dispatched emissaries
about town for the different defend.
ants. All were on hand except Loo.
ney. Schnell, and Mulhern. In the
the word had got about
town that the jury had agreed. and
people were soon Fastening toward
the court house. The court room
Was soon filed. while all were ab.
sorted with eager expectancy and
suppressed excitement.
At 5:lO the jury returned its YER
dict to Judge Gest, finding
all the defendants guilty Of
conspiracy rs charged in the in
dictment. and fixed the penalties at
fines - follows: Schnell, Looney
and Nevin. $4,000 each; Kelly. 81, 500;
Drost, 1900; Cox and Lshiff, $50
each, and Murherp, 81.
The case Was submitted at IL 80 this
morning ct the conclusion Of Judge
Gest's instructions.
IL Was au eager, sympathetic audi
euce that listened to the closing
speech BY c. J. Searle. state . attor-
ney. In the storm drain conspiracy
case yesterday afternoon. For four
weeks. tomorrow, the case has occu-
pied the courts attention, being the
longest case within the memory Of
anyone that has been tried in shis
county. The interest OF the public,
famed to fever heat by the later
developments OF the evidence. culmi.
mated In an attendance that crowded
the court room from bar 10 doors.
all the available space in the aisles
being filed. Within tho bar were
she defendants and their counsel.
aldermen and city officials, and Q fair
sprinkling Of attorneys, all intent
upon hearing the final presentation
Of the states claim in the case. The
defendants. Schnell and Mulhern.
alone were absent; honest old John
because she proceedings we're no
longer Of moment to him, his con-
nection with the storm drain being
simply nominal and his innocence Of
any guilt being conceded; Schnell by
reason Of sickness, due in . great
measure to the severe mental strain
to which he has been subject the
past four weeks. Under such cir.
cumstances and with such surround.
ings much wss expected Of Mr..
Searle. and he amply fulfilled these ex'
pectations. He began by com ment ing
upon the plea Of Kenworthy for Loon y
and Kelly. aspiring young lawyers il
the beginning Of their career, end sale
he cou d talk Of sympathy and could
urge the Jury 1, consider the poor
whose burden II taxation. especially
In the past few years. had been al
most beyond their ability to bear
and plead for them agains the FRAUD
OF those who would attempt to ado
further load to their burden without
adding any corresp 'ndipg benefit
Bat waving sny sch plea, which b
stated % NOT within the provirc, o
IN advocate. he proceeded to GROUP
the facts 10 ohro sological order,
she wing their co. nec:ion and rels
ton one 10 the other, each fact form
ing 0 link In the chair
skich resched. hs said, from
the c'args OF guilt made By
the ind ctment 10 . conviction O
guilt sstsblishe' BY the evidt nee
His speech as Gle z and co ciss {; Il
was . p ain presentation Of the facts
and a srraignment Of the defend
ats upon the evidence. He claimed
and asked for . verdict Of guilty % &c
oil Of them except Aulhern. He spok'
about an hour and thrse-quarters
sad Was Uttered 10 throughout ~itl
close a'tentiou.
AZ the close Of the closing argu
ment. there being large number o
Instructions requested BY the partie
not Pssssd On b. the court. the judg'