Evening journal., 1897-12-01
THORN FOUND GUILTY
Jury Bring In Verdict of Muir
der In First Degree.
SENTENCE DEFERRED TILL FRIDAY.
The Jury Was Out just Three Hours.
Lawyers Asked For New Trial.
Thorn Confessed His Guilt
TO Captain Methven.

~ &opNhfh thtAhftHt
NEW YORK. Dec. martin Thorn,
whose trial for the murder Of William
Guldensuppe has excited a great deal of
interest in this city during the last
three weeks. was found guilty Of muir
der in the first degree by Queens
county jury in the Long Island city
courthouse. At the request OF his coun-
sci. Lawyers Howe and Moss. the pass
Ing Of the death sentence was deferred
until next Friday morning.
Thorn heard the jurymen polled on
their verdict and listened TO each Of
them sealing his fate with q nervously
uttered Yes" Thorn gazed at each
one OF them and appeared 20 be less
Impressed with the soiemnlty Of the
occasion than any OF those IN the box
His face never changed color during the
trying ordeal. but with lips firmly COM
pressed and jaws hard set he faced
the judge, Jury and courtroom full OF
spectators with the well feigned stoi-
cism of the egotist which he surely is.
About three weeks ago Thorn's first
trial on the charge of murder was be-
gun, but owing 70 the illness Of O juror
IL had 70 be abandoned, after three
days. A second trial opened week
ago last Monday and counting out
three days on which the court did not
sit, the Queens county officials made
an excellent record Of completing such
an important murder trial in six work.
ing days.
District Attorney Youngs Of Queens
county was ably assisted in the prep
aration OF the case by District Attor-
ney Olcott OF New York, and these,
with a corps OF assistant lawyers wove
a web Of guilt around Mrs Mack and
Martin Thorn which the most astute
criminal lawyers in New York tried 90
rend.
Mrs. Naclx's evidence during the mis-
trial made II compulsory for Thorn's
lawyers TO change their line of defense
in the second trial The woman's con-
fession was an awful setback to Messrs.
Howe and Moss and they Immediately
adopted the only plausible defense that
could be conceived under such trying
circumstances. They made direct
charge against Mrs. Mack and insisted
that her alleged confession was q lie
and that she herself was the instigator
and perpetrator of the murder and that
Thorn was ignorant Of the killing untll
after Guldensuppe had been shot by
Mrs. Mack.
The woman was not produced during
the second trial. but Thorn went on the
stand and swore to all the asser-
tions made BY his lawyers as TO the
midwife's guilt. His story, II anything,
was more dramatically told than that
of Mrs. Mack; but, as the verdict shows,
IL did not have the desired effect upon
the jurymen.
When court opened yesterday, Law
yer Howe, who is one Of the oldest, If
not the ablest criminal attorneys In
this country, began Fl summing up IN
behalf OF Thorn. He made a most ear
nest thoughtful and impressive appeal
70 the jury for his client and il was
thought by many who had the privilege
of hearing him that his efforts would
leave q very great impression on the
Jurors.
Mr.. Youngs followed the veteran law
yer. and while his eloquenee was not
as forceful as that Of Mr.. Howe the
district attorney seemed to hold the at
tentlon of the jurors throughout his
speech, which lasted almost an hour.
Judge Maddox's charge was carefully
prepared and well delivered It was ac-
knowledged by the lawyers for the pris-
partial.
The jury remained in deliberation just
three hours, when they sent word To tho
Judge that they We're ready to render
a verdict. The fact OF their remaining
out SO long gave hope to the defense
but as each one Of them took his seat IN
the jury box his facial expression told
very distinctly the result of the three
hours conference. Guilty of the charg,
preferred were the ominous word!
which fell from the lips of the foreman
of the jury, and, although this verdic
was not an unexpected one. It hit tn,
defendants counsel very hard, as the,
had built up hope of disagreement O.
verdict in the minor degree.
Thorn's lawyers moved for a new
trial on the ground that the verdict wa.
not In accordance with the weight o
evidence. But the motion was over
ruled.
After Thorn is sentenced next Fri
day there Is scarcely any doubt that hi
lawyers win appeal, and the inniction o
the death penalty in the electric chai
at Sing Sing win probably be delaye,
for a long time and possibly be pre-
vented altogether
Just what will become OF Mrs. Nacl
has not been made known by Queen
county authorities, for II IS general.
thought that the people WIN accept
plea from her which VIII not call 70
capital punishment.
When Thorn had been led back 20 hi
cell after the conviction, he admittel
that the verdict was just and that h
and not Mrs. Mack killed Guldensuppt
This acknowledgment Of guilt too
place while Thorn's cell in the Jail wa
being prepared for him. During I'll
trial Thorn has been under charge @
Police Captain Methven Of Flushing
Captain Methven had him under hi
watchful eve when the Jail official
searched the cell Thorn is to occupy 70
a day or two While this was bein
Eone Thorn talked with the police cap
Tain. He said.
II am glad it IS over and the verdiC
given. I am convicted. and am con
tented. II was I who killed Gulden
suppe, and I cut up his body. Ever
word that Mrs. Mack said upon tn
stand was substantially correct. Whe
was on the stand, lied when tellin
the story as l did, but I lied to clea
myself 1t is no use carrying il an
u.