The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-12-01
MARTIN THORN IS GUILTY
JURY RENDERS VERDICT FOR MUIR
DER IN FIRST DEGREE.


Hours--Thorn Less Impressed With the
Solemnity cf the Occasion Than Any One
Jury Box-Motion for New Trial Over
ruled--Thorn Confesses All.
New York, Nov. 30.--Martin Thorn,
whose trial for the murder Of William
Guldensuppe has excited a great deal
Of interest during the last three weeks,
was to-day found guilty of murder in
the first degree by Queens county jury
in the Long Island court house. At
the request of his counsel. Lawyers
Howe and Moss, the passing of the
death sentence was deferred until next
Friday morning.
Thorn heard the jurymen polfed on
their verdict, listened to each of them
sealing his fate with a nervously utter
cd "yes," gazed at each one of them
and appeared to be less impressed with
the solemnity of the occasion than any
one in the jury box. His face never
changed color during the trying ordeal
but with lips firmly compressed and
jaws hard set he faced the judge, jury
and court room full of spectators with
the fell feigned stoicism Of the egotist
which he surely is.
District Attorney Youngs of Queens
county was assisted in the preparation
of the case by District Attorney Olcott
of New York, and these, with corps
of assistant lawyers, wove web of
guilt around Mrs. Mack and Thorn
which the most astute criminal lawyers
in New York tried to rend.
Mrs Nack's evidence during the mis-
trial compelled Thorn's lawyers to
change their line of defence in the sec
ond trial. The woman's confession was
an awful setback to Messrs. Howe and
Moss, and they adopted the only plau
sible defence that could be conceived
under such circumstances. They in
sisted that Mrs Nack's alleged confess
sion 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 substantiated all the asser
tions made by his lawyers as to the
midwife's guilt His story, if anything,
was more dramatically told than that
of Mrs Mack, but it did not have the
desired effect upon the jurymen. When
court convened this morning Lawyer
Howe began summing up in behalf of
Thorn. He made most earnest,
thoughtful and impressive appeal to the
jury for his client Mr.. Youngs follow
ed, and whilc his eloquence was not as
forceful as that of Mr.. Howe, he seemed
to hold the attention of the Jurors
throughout his speech.
Judge Maddox's charge was carefully
prepared and well delivered. 1t was ac-
knowledged by the lawyers for the pris
oner to be lucid, fair and impartial.
The jury remained in deliberation just
three hours, when they sent word to
the judge that they were ready to rem
der a verdict. The fact of their remain
ing out so long gave hope to the de-
fence, but as each one of them took his
seat in the jury box his facial express
sion 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 unex-
pected one, it hit the defendants coun-
sci very hard, as they had built hope of
a disagreement or a verdict in the mi
nor degree. Thorn's lawyers moved for
a new trial OIL the ground that the ver-
diet was not in accordance with the
weight of evidence. But the motion
was overruled.
After Thorn is sentenced next Friday
there Is scarcely any doubt that his
lawyers will appeal and the infliction of
the death penalty in the electric chair
at Sing Sing will probably be delayed
for long time and possibly be prevent
ed altogether. Just what will become
Of Mrs. Mack has not been made known
by The Queens county authorities, for
it Is generally thought that the people
will accept a plea from her which will
not call for capital punishment.
When Thorn had been led back to his
cell after the conviction he admitted
that the verdict was just and that he
ana not Mrs Mack killed Guldensuppe.
Talking with Police Captain Methven,
Thorn said: "I am glad it is over and
the verdict given. / am convicted and I
am contented. 1t was / who killed Gull
flcnsuppe and cut up his body. Every
word that Mrs. Mack said upon the
stand was substantially correct. When
I was on the stand I lied when telling
the story ;,s I did, but / lied to clear
rayse9t. il is no use carrying it any
further I am guilty and am convicted.
1t IL what I expected and what I sup
rose people think deserve, and perhaps
/ do"