Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-26
INDIGNATION At
HICKEY VERDICT
Judge TOO Shocked to Speak
by Second Degree Find
ing of Jury.

Buffalo. Dec. 22.-John Frank Hickey
was yesterday afternoon found guilty of
murder in the second degree in the slay-
ing of scven-year-old Joseph Joseph of
Lackd wanna October 10, 1911. II took n
jury that had read IIickcy's confession of
that crime. of the murder of 12-ycar- old
Michael Kruck in Central Park, New
York, and of the killing in a drug store
In Lowell. Mass. of Edward Morey, %
hours to reach verdict that will not
send the slayer to the death chair. In
court and among the people of tho city
and county the verdict was received with
astonishment and anger
Il am too shocked and surprised to say
anything at this time fear | might
not do the subject ustice hut | shall
speak my mind plainly in court on Mon
| day when | pronounce sentence on the
| prisoner" said Judge Charles s. Brown
who presided at the trial. when asked for
an expression of opinion last night.
To the jury, when it reported. Judge
! Brown said: 1T is extremely to be re-
| GREETED that justice could not be done to
/ this defendant. The pubic and the court
! do not feel satisfied with the result For
| thos" Of YOU who have earnestly cndcav-
/ ored to procure a different result. the
court extends its most apprcciative and
sincere thanks.
Public Indignation ut the outcome of tho
trial Is so intense that among the county
authorities there is talk of the possibility
of having Hickey tried in New York for
the murder Of the Kruck boy
THIRTEEN BALLOTS TAKEN.
Thirteen ballots We're taken to decide
llickey's fate Twelve stood. according
to the jurors, nine for conviction, three
for not guilty on the insanity plea
Tho 18th ballot was taken at $3.50 yes
tcrday afternoon, after the jury had re-
ported to the court in the morning that
it could not agree. Justice Brown a,
that time declined to discharge tn,
Jurors. and directed them to return to
The jury room in further effort to ar
rive at verdict.
Before the 18th ballot. when the jury
asked for further instructions. Judge
Brown practically ordered "a verdict OF
first degree murder He said
AS tn re are no fac,s hostile to each
and that cannot be rcconcilcd. | do not
feel justified in dischargine you
Ordinarily when Il jury has been out fol
% hours it is entitled to a d barge
Don't YOU think that if you can strip your.
selves of any undue excitement and con
slider thi case without feeling YOU car
render a verdict?
1T is time that this terrible situation
was remcdicd. 1t would be too distress
ing thing to have this case now go t.
the people Of Erie county without a Yer
dict of one Kind or another am COINS
10 send vou back with the admonition I,
rea son If out not try TO fight If out. an,
think Won can return a verdict.
eft is too distressing to 20 out to tn,
world that 4 iurv Of Erie, county coul,
NOT agree in q case of this kind. Go 4
vour task in q reasonable way and rea
son IL ont. and am sure that Won vii
thon arrive ot = vordic, that will satisf,
. tine nuhlic and render irstice"
A. t1icEav,s roouost the imnosltior -
eo,torc. wac deferred until Nond =,
,,or,ir,, rho no,ol,, &c NOT lose than .
,.o,rs AZ hard i,hor in state nrisor
ttc,,o, is vou pleased win tho n,it
CANA 81 ,hi,,,, EMO vnraic, is an right
to s,id 81 don, thirl, mat should nav
l.,..,, ,a,,,,,, ,,,,ir,.. j., ,ro ors, d..ro.. fn
,,.,. mat ,..no,si,le"
..,.,,.
= d''' Hr'N wa
u Tho crime for which Hickey was con
, victed was one OF the most reVoltln% II
tho criminal annals of Erie county Il
Luying young Joseph candy Hickey in
gratiated himself In the boys favor, an
enticed him to a deserted building hac
Of a saloon in Inckawanna stransled hii
u and hurled his body into a cesspool elgh
% feet deep \ countrywide search Of NOR