The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-12-09
THORN FOUND GUILTY.
yerdic! Of Murder in the First Degree
in the Guldensuppe Murder Case
ACONFESSIoN AFTER CONVICTION

The Jury In the Sensational Murder Trial
Mt Long Island City Returned Ver-
dict After Three Hours Dcliberation
The Little Barber Displayed No
Emotion When He Was Convicted.
New YORK CITT Especially Thorn
was declared by the verdict OF jury in
Long Island City. mt 535 p. M, tuesday, to
be guilty OF murder in the first degree for
tho killing OF William GuidenSuppe at
Woodside, L. l.. June 25. 1897. The ver-
dict follows long series OF horrors ana
SURPRISES. including the confession C, Mrs.
Mack. the accomplice, and the adjourn
ment OF the first trial owing to the illness
OF Juror Larsen, which began on tho day
following the murder, when o fragment OF
a human body was accidentlv found float
ing in the East River ac Eleventh street,
this city.
The verdict was followed BY another sur
prise when Thorn, after leaving the court
room, apparently strong, cheerful. ana
hopeful. suddenly broke down, confessed
his guilt. and declared that sMrs. Mack had
told the truth
The proceedings Of the day in court were
characterized by businesslike celeritv. The
evidence having been ended the evening be-
fore. the Jury visited the scene OF the trag-
edv. heard the arguments for the people
aud the defense, and gave its verdict after
three hours OF consideration and balloting.
and dispersed. The fate OF Mrs. Augusta
Mack. Jointly indicted with Thorn, remains
in doubt.
Justice Maddox ended his charge to the
inrv at 2.35 o'clock p. m. The jurors were
nm 'diately dismissed to consider their
" er lict, and recess was ordered. SO IN
tense was the interest in the outcome OF
the trial that weary as was the wait. not a
single individual left the court. The hands
of the clock were pointing to the half hour
after 1--WE when a stir was noticed at the
door of the room to which the jury had re-
tired. 1t was signalled from the inside that
tho Jurors had agreed. Justice MADDOX
was summoned from his room.
Thorn. who had already been summoned,
was stolid to the last. During the three
long hours that the jury spent In delibera-
ton he was kept in his cell downstairs
two flights below the Supreme Court room
in the Queens County Court House. Out
warily he showed no trace Of worry, and
his calm was in decided contrast to the
evident nervousness Of others who had
taken part in the trial, and whose interest
was less direct in the result.
When Police Captain Methven went to
get him at about half-past FIVE o'clock and
told him that the jury had agreed, Thorn
expressed pleasure at the news, and said
he hoped the result was either conviction
Of murder or au acQuital.
He put his right hand forward to receive
the shackle: around mis- wrist and then he
hurried up stairs, through the jostling,
curious persons who stare at him every time
he passes and who make comments that
cannot fail to reach his ears. There were
women who cast languishing glances, tit
tered and giggled, while men who usually
haunt the cosey corners Of barrooms NUT
tered vile epithets and imprecations.
Thorn reached the court room at almost
the same instant that the Jurors entered
by another door.
"Gentlemen Of the jury" said the clerk,
ssstand up and face the prisoner. Pris-
oner, face the jury"
The jurymen rose to their feet, their
ewes still on the floor. Thorn, too, arose,
but he did not faos tho men who held his
life in their hands. he looked straight
ahead at the wall. :,
"Have you arrived at q verdict!" called
the clerk.
There was no answer. Not word came
from the jury box. The suspense was
painful, but still Thorn looked straight
ahead, with not muscle twitching.
'sWhat say your" called the clerk again
Guilty" was the answer In choking
voice. 1--WE find the defendant guilty as
charged In the indictment"
It was Thomas Moore. the foreman, who
spoke. and he was trembling With emotion
A murmur went through the courtroom.
but still Thorn stood fmpassiye.
'.Call the roll" said the Court, and one
by one the Clerk read of the nanes
Guilty" guilty" guilty" they said
zone after another. and rs they said II
lThorn's eyes fell hard upon them
Through and through each man he seemed
to look rs each answered to his name.
District Attorney Young then asked that
= day be fxed for passing sentence Of
death. Mr.. Howe, counsel for the defense,
asked that a day be sc. on which he might
argue motion for new trial. The Jus.
tice told him it would be useless, and then
and there denied the motion.
Thorn, when he was taken back to jail
told his guard, Captain Methven, that he
was glad 1t vas over and that he expected
the verdict.
'I killed Guldensuppe, he said. "and ]
cut up the body. Every word Mr.. Mack
said on the witness stand was right"
His lawyer, William +. Howe, said that
he would fight the ease and carry it up tt
the highest court.
When Mrs. Mack heard OF the verdict she
said she was glad she had told the truth
and that she was ready to die. The genera
opinion is that plea OF manslaughter viii
be accepted from her. District Attorney
Youpg5 said he had not yet decided what
disposition would bs made OF Mrs. Naci's
casa.