The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-03
MURDER IN 1HE FIRST DEGREES
L. the Verdict Of the Jury In tho Thorn.
Guld~nsuppe Case-Thorn COnf-sses Hi.
Guilt

Guld~nsuppe ~C.se-ThornC onf~.ses hi
Guilt
New York, November 3o.-Martir
/ Thorn was today convicted OF murde,
in the first degree. in killing William
| G~uldensuppe. his predecessor in the af-
fections OF Mrs. Augusta Mack, a,
Woodside, L. l., on June 25rh. At the
request of Thorn's counse the passage
of the death sentence was deferred un-
til next Friday morning.
Thor heard the juryrnen polled on
their verdict, and listened TO each of
them sealing his fate with a ~nervously
uttered yes" He gazed at each one
OF them and appeared to be less i'm
pressed with the solemnity of the oc-
casion than IN 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 pom full
OF spectators with well-feigned stoi-
cism.
Mrs. Nack's testimony during the
mistrial made it compulsory forThorn's
lawyers to change their line Of defense
in the second trial and they immediate
ly adopted h only plausible defense
that could be conceived under such try
ing circumstances. They made a di-
rect charge against Mrs. Mack and in
sisted that her alleged confession was
a lie and that she herself was the in
tigator and perpetrator Of the murder,
Thorn being 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 substan-
t1ated all the assertions made by his
lawyers as to the mid-wife's guilt. His
story, II anything, was more dramati-
cally told than that of Mrs. Mack, but
as the verdict Shows, it did not have
the desired effect upon the jurymen.
When court opened this morning
Lawyer Howe began a summing up in
behalf Of Thorn. He made an earnest,
thoughtful and impressive appeal to
the jury for his client and it was
thought by many who heard him that
his efforts would leave a great impress
sion on the jurors. Mr.. Youngs follow
ed and held the attention of the jurors
throughout his speech, which lasted al
most an hour. Judge MaddOx's charge
was carefully prepared and we'll de-
livered. 1t was acknowledged by the
lawyers for the prisoner to be extreme
ly lucid, fair and impartial.
The jury remained in elaboration
three hours, when they sent word to
the judge that they were ready to rem
der a verdict. The fact of their re-
naming out so long gave hope to the
defense, but as each of the jurors took
his seat in the box his facial express
sion told very distinctly the result Of
the throo hnr,rc' onnfaronno
Guilty of the charge preferred"
were the ominous words which fell
from the lips of the foreman, and al
though this verdict was not an unex-
pected one, it hit the defendants coun-
sci very hard, as they had built up hope
for 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.
Just what will become Of Mrs. Mack
has not been made known by the
Queens county authorities, but it IS
generally thought that the people will
accept a plea from her which will not
call for capital punishment.
When Martin Thorn had been led
back to his cell after the conviction he
admitted that the verdict was just and
that he, and not Mrs. Mack. killed
Guldensuppe. This acknowledgment of
guilt took place while Thorn's cell in
the Jail was being prepared for him.
| During the trial Thorn has been under
charge Of Police Captain Methven. of
Flushing. Captain Methven 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 captain. He said:
Il am glad it is over and the verdict
given. I am convicted and I am con-
tented. 1t was 1 who killed Gulden-
suppe and 1 cut up his body. Every
word that Mrs. Mack aid upon the
stand was substantially correct. Wher
l was on the stand 1 lied when telling
he story as 1 did, but I lied to clear
myself. 1t is no use carrying 1t any
further. I am guilty and am convicted
1t Is what I expected and what I sup
pose people think I deserve. and per
haps I do"
The Herald will tomorrow print Mar
tin Thorn's denial Of the report that b,
had confessed.