Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-26
SENSATION At THORN TRIAL.
Police Captain Refuses to Tell All
Tint ThOrn Told Him.
(New York Herald.

Behold. n mystery!
, Police-Captain O'Brien, formerly Chic
OF the Detective Bureau. refused to tel
, from the witness chair all that Martin
Thorn told him at the time Of his arrest
HE told me some things In conf
dence." said O'Brien. II gave him my
word of honor not to repeat them. l vii
not break my word"
| This astounding statement was the
sensation of the afternoon session. The
situation is not simplified by the fact
that Judge Maddox sustained O'Brien in
his determined silence.
The incident confirms absolutely the
story printed exclusively in the Herald
after Thorn's arrest that he had admit
ted more to O'Brien than the Chief gave
out. The Herald's information was TO
the effect That Thorn had offered to
confess IL promised immunity or the OPP
portunity to plead guilty in modified
| degree. OBrien scoffed at the story,
| and insisted he had made public all of
! Thorn's admissions. But he was not
under oath then. Yesterday he was,
and was forced to substantiate the Her
AIDS exclusive news.
The sensational feature OF Captain
O'BrIen's investigation was brought out
in the cross-eXamination. Mr.. Howe
Hdu dShtu Il lew qutSlloIS
during the direct examination, and the
Captain was inclined to fence with him.
The lawyer did his best TO soothe him,
and used his most dulcet tones. Mrs.
Mack. said the witness, had denied the
murder at the time Of her arrest, but
had asserted that Guldensuppe had not
been treating her right" She told the
Chief Of the Detective Bureau that she
loved Thorn and would die for him.
An objection was made TO having Cap
tain O'Brien refer to the statements
made to him by Mrs. Mack. Mr.. Howe |
then declared that he contended that |
the woman had admitted while at police |
Headquarters that she had killed Gulden- |
suppe. This line OF questions was then |
dropped. but Mr.. Howe reserved the right
to recall OBrien tomorrow.
Have you told all that passed be-
tween you and THORN" inquired the
lawyer.
Captain O'Brien hesitated moment
before replying. There was something
else said. but passed my word of honor
not to reveal II, and l won't"
Mr.. Howe declared the Captain TO be
very chivalrous and did not press him
to break his word Surrogate Weller,
on the redirect, inquired what this secret
had been. and Mr.. Howe made an in
dignant protest. Judge Maddox inquired
If the statement had been made to the
Police Captain in his official capacity,
and upon receiving an affirmative reply
sustained the objection.
What had Thorn's secret been? What
was II that the official had given his
word of honor not to reveal? Everybody
n the courtroom was anxious for in
formation Captain O'Brien was of
course as reticent on the subject after
eaving the witness-stand as he had
,een while testfying. The explanation e
vas vouchsafed that Thorn had shown '
lis craven nature as soon as he was s
aught Mrs. Mack had professed her
owe for him and her willingness to die :
or him-a lofty sentiment that gradually =
hanged behind the prison bars until she q
yas ready TO sacrifice him for pros
ect of long years in Sing Sing instead q
( capital punishment. Thorn was ready r.
{ the outset, ii is now asserted. to have ;,
er die II he could save his own miser- >,
bic carcase. The secret was that he 81
lade an offer to confess his participa- IS
ion in the murder If he were guaranteed -
from the eleotric-chair. Af =,
MS version be correct, ii would tend | -
, bear out what Mr.. Friend said when | b.
[rs. Mack confessed-that there had -,
cen a question whether the man or the h
oman would be the first to tell the
istory of the murder on the trial OF the
her.