The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-12-03
THORN FOUNDCUTLT
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.

whose trial for the murder of William
Guldensuppe has excited 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 a nervously
uttered Yes" Thorn gazed at each
one of them and appeared to be less
impressed with the solemnty 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 to the illness of a juror
it had to be abandoned, after three
days. a second trial opened a 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 to
rend
Mrs. Nacks evidence during the mis-
trial made it 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 Whey made direct
charge against Mrs. Mack and insisted
that her alleged confession was a lie
and that she herself was the instigator
and perpetrator of the murder and that
Thorn was ignorant of the killing until
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
midwifes guilt. His story If anything,
was more dramatically told than that
of Mrs. Mack; but. as the verdict shows,
it did not have the desired effect upon
the iurymen.
yer Howe who is one of the Oldest, if
not the ablest, criminal attorneys in
this country, began a summing up in
behalf of Thorn. He made a most ear
nest, thoughtful and impressive appeal
to the jury for his client and it was
thought by many who had the privilege
of hearing him that his efforts would
leave a very great impression on the
jurors.
Mr.. Youngs followed the veteran law
yer, and while his eloquence was not
as forceful as that of Mr.. Howe the
district attorney seemed to hold the at
tention of the jurors throughout his
speech, which lasted almost an hour.
Judge Maddox's charge was carefully
prepared and well delivered. 1t was ac-
knowledged by the lawyers for the pris-
oner to be extremely lucid, fair and inn
partial.
The jury remained in deliberation just
three hours, when they sent word to the
judge that they We're ready to render
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 charge
preferred" were the ominous words
which fell from the lips of the foreman
of the jury, and, although this verdict
was not an unexpected one, It hit the
defendants counsel very hard, as they
had built up hope of a disagreement or
a verdict in the minor degree.
Thorn's lawyers moved for a new
trial on the ground that the verdict was
not in accordance with the weight OF
evidence. But the motion was over
ruled.
After Thorn is sentenced next Fri.
day there is scarcely any doubt that his
lawyers will appeal. and the infiction of
the death penalty in the electric chair
at Sing Sing will probably be delayed
for long time and possibly be pre-
vented altogether.
Just what viii become of Mrs. Mack
has not been made known by Queens
county authorities. for it is generally
thought that the people will accept
plea from her which will not call for
capital punishment.
When Thorn cad been led back to his
cell after the conviction, he admitted
hat the verdict was just and that he
and not Mrs Mack killed Guldensuppe
This acknowledgment of guilt took
place while TLo.ns cell in the Jail was
being prepared for him. During the
trial Thorn has been under charge OF
Police Captain Methven of Flushing
Captain Methvcn had him under his
watchful eye when the Jail officials
searched the cell Thorn is to occupy for
a day or two While this was being
done Thorn talked with the police cap
tain. He said:
Il am glad it is over and the verdict
given. I am convicted, and l am con-
tented. 1t was I who killed Gulden-
suppe. and | cut up his body Every
word that Mrs. Mack said upon the
stand was substantially correct. When
was on the stand, lied when telling
the story as | did but | lied to clear
myself. 1t is no use carrying il any
further l am guilty and am convicted.
1t is what l expected and what l sup
pose people think / deserve, and per-
haps do"