The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-14
JURY FINDS
HIM GUILTY
OF ARSON
Suggests Leniency in Case
Of Nicholas O'ConneIl, Who
Grins When Identified.


1t took jury just three minutes in
the Court of Quarter Sessions today
to convict Nicholas O'ConnelI, the fire.
bug caught, according to witnesses, in
the act of setting fire to the building
at the southwest corner of Broad and
Market streets June 4 last To the
verdict of guilty of arson the jury,
however, tackled a recommendation of
mercy.
O'Connell acted as his own counsel
when arraigned for trial before Judge
Ten Eyck, and promptly started the
proceedings with most unique mo-
ton.
'Your honor" said O'Connell after
he had taken deep draught of water,
sitting in the prisoners chair. II de-
sire. in the first place, to move dis
missal OF the case on the ground of
insufficient evidence"
The motion, made in the most mat
ter -of-fact way, secured a most mat
ter-of-fact response. Your motion is
overruled," was the forceful way in
which the court put it, and o'Connell
resumed his attitude of q most inter-
ested defendant.
Elmer w. Bantha the first witness,
who Is the manager of the United
Cigars Company, lessees of the build
ing, told how he had found the prem
ises when he arrived there that day.
1t was in a place where carpenters
had been making repairs, he said.
"Wel1," commented O'Connell as this
testimony was given, How could you
see shavings here at eight o'clock when
/ was arrested at three o'clock?"
Andrew zazalli, fruit dealer at the
-Four Corners" who caught o'Connell
and turned him over to Policeman
Douglass, of the First Precinct, told
of the capture. He said that he was
at his place of business at 2:4O a. m.
on the date in question and saw man
rip up a lot of newspapers and shove
them under the door of the store.
"Then he lit a MATCH" said this wit
ness, 'and started to run away. i
went after him and caught him. He
struck me before could turn him over
to the policeman"
"Is this the MANI" demanded Assist
ant Prosecutor Wilbur A. Mott, point
ing to the prisoner.
O'Connell grinned as the fruit-dealer
positively said 1t was.
'What condition was 1 IMP he demanded
of this witness.
"yery intoxicated" was Zazallrs reply.
Wasn't there two cars, one going east
and the other west, on the street at the
time?" O'Connell continued in his cross
examination.
mo SIR" replied the man Of fruit.
O'Connell put more questions along the
same line and got as much satisfaction
SpecIal officer George Snyder then told
how he had seen the alleged firebug strike
his captor in the face, and Policeman
Douglass told him he first put out the
blaze and then put the man under arrest.
When the prisoner himself put himself
ON the witness stand he said that he left
Clinton avenue and Bergen street at >
O'Clock that night, and somebody gave
himself some money, and he took car
TINT landed him at the Market street sta
tion Of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
'I didn't know anything after that" he
confessed.
Have you ever been convicted of
crime?'' asked Mr.. Mott.
mo. SIR" was the prompt answer. but
i've been convicted OF walking into brick
wall"
Then he admitted that he tore down the
foundation Of q building and that he had
been drunk Ave years, more or less"