The Washington herald., 1909-05-28
THRILLING ADJUDGED
GUILTY Or MURDER
Jury Returns SecOnd-degree
Verdict Against Him.
KILLED wIFE's GRANDMOTHER
Testimony of AIienists Believed Re
spOnsibIe for LenieEt Decision.
Condemned Man Breaks DOvn-As-
ISOLATED Charities Agent Rebuked
by Defendants MOther-in-Iav.

John P. Triiling. former mechanic. was
yesterday found guilty OF murder IN
the second degree for the killing Of
Lucretia Corliss, his wife's grandmother.
at her home at 6i2 L street southwest,
on the night OF January 20
/ The verdict, handed down IN Criminal
Court No. 1, before Justice Gould. came
after an argument on the part OF the
/ jury OF two hours and half, which had
told visibly on the composure Of the
members CT the panel. The room vas
nearly filed with spectators. in spite of
the late hour. and the question as 10
I the verdict was addressed 10 the fore
man OF the jury, Frank D. Payne, By
Clerk Samuel Hawken, amid intense ST
ience.
Trilling. himself who has preserved
throughout the trial an attitude Of bitter
stolidity. allowed his nervousness to get
/ the better Of him. HIS form was visibly
shaken by his deep intakes OF breath
Behind him. at some distance. sat Mrs.
I Veal. daughter OF the slain woman.
and mother OF Mrs TrIling. Mrs. Trfl-
ing. over whom the trouble arose that
+ led 10 the tragedy, did not come into the
court room 10 hear the Jurys report
She sat in an anteroom. where the news
was brought 70 her.
Charity Worker Upbrafded.
Immediately after the order was given
for the clearing Of the room. Mrs. Veal
upbraided P Durham. Of the Associated
Charities. for certain testimony he had
given as a government witness. regard
I ing a statement he said TrIIling had
made as 10 his wife's conduct. Turning
angrily or the charity worker, Mrs.
Veal exclaimed:
You didp't have 10 say that. any
way"
As Trllling was being LED out OF the
room 70 be taken back 20 the fail, he
seemed suddenly 70 think he ought 10
thank the jury Tor giving him the lesser
verdict At the top Of the stairs he
turned and salUted with his hat the mea
fling out OF the box His gesture passed
unnotioed
The penalty for murder IN the second
degree IS from twenty years 70 life in
prisonmsnt Il IS believed the minimum
penalty VIII not be given to Triulng. II
view OF the strociJy OF the manner in
which he murdered Mrs Corliss. and It
Is possible he VII be confined for life.
He used short-handled Ak. literally
cutting Mrs. CoFliss' head 20 pieces, ard
striking no other part OF her body ex-
oept her hands, which she had raised %
protect herself from the rain OF blows
Seventeen gashes were inflicted, and she
81 -
Hospital
Justice Gould. in charging the fury.
gave them two alternatives: II they be-
iieved Triiiing's mind was IN a condition
20 reason and deliberate, and had fos-
tered deliberate intent. they were in
structed to bring IN a verdict Of first
degree murder II they believed his rea-
son had been so unseated that delibeTa-
ton was impossible, but nevertheless
malice existed. they were 20 find the
defendant guilty il the second degree.
On motion Of Assistant United States
District Attorney Turner. who handled
the case for the government with the
aid OF Assistant United States District
Attorney Given. Justice Gould ordered
that Trilling be remandsd 70 Jail.
Alienists Testify.
IN the hearing yesterday the govern
ment placed a number OF noted alienists
on the strrd 20 combat the defense Of
insanity offered By Attorneys Thomas
c. Taylor and Mark Stearman- The de-
fense scored heavily, however, n the
cross-examinatiOn OF DIT. D. X Shute,
who admitted he saw TriIllng the day
after the crime, and that in his opinion
the man was unable 70 deliberate or pre-
mediate.
Dr.. Shute's testimony undoubtedly had
much 20 DO with the verdict. Dr. z. NJ
Brush. OF Maryland. said that on the day
following the tragedy Trilling seemed
to him to be Of sound mind. The same
opinion was expressed by Supt link
han. OF the District workhouse. where
Trilling had done tine" on several oc-
casions. Dr William A. White. super
intendent Of the Government Hospital
for the Insane. examined the defendant
last Monday. and declared on the stand
be had discovered absolutely TO signs Of
insanity.
The only time Trilling showed senti-
me1t, OF even interest. came when testi-
mony was being offered by the defense in
regard 20 his love for his children. Mrs.
Mary Die'egmann, his sister, told the
jury that when he was liberated from the
woTkhouse he saved the only coin he had
by walking, and used IL 70 buy. apples for
his children. who had been placed IN St
AIMS Asylum. in Twenty-fOurth street.
When Mrs. DtEelmaun said Trilling