Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-03
CORCORAN JURY
SAYS NOT GUILTY
Verdict Is Reached in Circuit
Court After Seven Hours
of Deliberation.
STILL HELD A PRISONER
Will Be Tried on Other Charges
Growing Out of Alleged Assaults
on Young Girls.

mot guilty was the verdict brought
dence in the Frank Corcoran case
when it reported to Judge E. C. Graves
in the circuit court this morning at
O'Clock.
The case was given into the hands
of the jury yesterday afternoon at 2:3O
and the jurymen argued among them
selves from that time until 1915 at
night at which time they had agreed
on their verdict.
After accepting the verdict, Judge
Graves ordered that the prisoner be
remanded to the county Jail to await
trial on the other charges which are
lodged against him. There is still
one count of crime against children,
two of sodomy and two of rape for
him to face before he is declared
free man again.
state In Disappointed.
Assistant States Attorney H. NJ.
Schriver was in the court room at the
time the verdict was announced, and
he expressed considerable surprise. Il
don't believe he said. that another
jury of II men could be found any
where in the county who would acQuit
the man in the face of the evidence
brought against him. | familiarized
myself thoroughly with every detail
in the whole nefarious affair. and | am
convinced beyond doubt that the man
is guilty, and it is the intention of the
state TO punish him for his crimes if
such thing is possible. If / am con-
suited. he will be tried on every one
of the charges against him before be-
ing allowed 10 go free
we will fight to the bitter end" de-
clared Mrs. Minnie Barker, who was
instrumental in having the charges
against Corcoran filed. Il am satisfied
that the man is guilty. and he must
suffer for his misdeeds. Later Mrs.
Barker became very bitter at the jury,
and said she was about ready to start
petition for the release of Marion
Booker. as there was no reason why he
should suffer when COrcor2n was al
lowed TO go free.
On TrIHg Two Weeks.
COrcoran has been on trial for the
last two weeks The charge against
him was crime against children. and
the complaining witnesses were two
1O-year-old girls. Marie Smith and
Caroline Rind. Corcoran has been
foreman and manager of the Fremont
Butter Tub factory in the west end of
the city. 1t was alleged that last Jan
uary he entiCed the Two little girls into
his Office in that building, and on two
different occasions assaulted them.
Attorney c. E Sturtz of Henry coun-
ty conducted the defense, and it is
thought that his impassioned appeal 10
the jury in his closing arguments had
considerable TO do with determining
the verdict.
Statement by Mrs. Smith.
Rock Island. H.. Dec editor Ar
gus: VIII you kindly rectify a mis-
take III your issue of Wednesday. Nov.
80, in which it was said that Mrs Wv
ian Steiner. sister of Marie Smith. tes-
titled that Marie had been tied TO a
chair to punish her for giving evidence
against Frank COrcoran. The fact is
that | had her tied to chair to punish
her for running away from home. and
staying at the neighbors' homes against
my wishes. Mother of Marie Smith.
Other Cases Continued.
Upon motion of c. E. Sturtz. attorney
for the defendant, the other five cases !
against COrCoran have been continued
until the January term of the circuit
court. Mr. Sturtz is the states attor-
ney in Henry county, aud he has a
criminal trial list coming up shortly
which will require his attention and
for that reason he did not desire to
commence at once the hearing of the
other charges which are to be brought
against his client.