Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1889 — THE CRONIN VERDICT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE CRONIN VERDICT.

NONE or THE ACCirsED TO BE HANGED. Coughlin. Burke, and O'Sullivan Sentenced to Liie-linpri-onmont, Kunxe to Three Yearn, and Senior Guardian Hoggs I* Acquitted—The Verdict a Disappointment to Chicago. The jury in the Cronin murder trial at Chicago, after being out nearly seventy hours, compiomised on tho following verdict: “We, the jury, find the defendant John F. Beggs not guilty. * He, the jury, and the defendant John Kun?e guilty of manslaughter as charg d, aud fix the punishment at imprisonment for three years in tbe penitentiary. “We, the jury, find the defendants Daniel Coughlin, Patrick O’Sullivan, and Martin Burke guilty of murder iu the manner and form as charged in the indictment, and fix the penalty at imprison-

meat in the penitentiary for their natural lives.” As soon as tbe jury had been polled Mr. Forrest, on lehalf of the four convicted prisoners, made a motion for a new trial, which was set for hearing Jan. 13. When the verdict was about to be announced the five prisoners, sitting in a row behind their lawyers, nerved themselves for the ordeal. It was plain to a close observer that none of them had the slightest idea of what was coming. They were hopeful that a disagreement had been reached, but the expressions on the faces of the jurymen, and the general temper of the large audience convinced them that a verdict of some sort was looked for. Beggs took his sent on the extreme left of the row and clasped his chin with his left hand, while his right hand

supported it at his left elbow. His eyes were downcast and his teeth were clinched. Beside him was big Dan Coughlin, who stared into vacancy, motionless end unconcerned. Next to him sat O’Sullivan, the picture of despair. On his left sat Burke, who could not disguise his fears. His mouth twitched and he gazed about the couit-room in an excited manner. Eunze looked hopeful, with a face wreathed in smiling expectation. » Burke tapped Attorney Forrest on the shoulder and reached over for a whisper u to what he was to expect. Eunze

leaned forward also, but the lawyer vaved them both back positively *>td -old himself iu readiness for action. It was quite plain that Forrest did not know what the verdict was to be. It was some seconds before Kuuze, who sat at the other end of the dock, realized his fate. When he did he filled up like a whipped child, and at once commanded tho sympathy of the large assemblage, including court, jury and lawyers. He could not long restrain the sobs that rolled up from his bleeding heart, and qnickly gave vent to his grief in cries and complaints. Kunze has been tho huppy-go-lucky, playful occupant of the dock all througn tho trial. By his attitude he convinced all that he expected to be discharged, and when he buried his in his hnnds and cried bitterly over his three years’ senteuoo, tho people responded with smothered expressions of compassion. With the other three it was vastly different. They were unconcerned until they heard the verdiot read, and then they, one and all, gave a sigh of relief,

and their faces were at once mantled in smiles of satisfaction. They had no doubt expected the death sentence, but, on not hearing it read, felt themselves in unexpected luck. In short, Burke, O’Sullivan, Coughlin were happily disappointed. None of the members of the prisoners’ families were in the court-room at the time. Hence there were no affecting scenes such as when the verdict in the anarchist cases was pronounced. Everything save the cries of poor Kunze was quiet and defiant. The three condemned men took their “medioine” indifferently and smiled sarcastically when Attorney Forrest entered his motion for a new trial. The verdict of the Cronin jury has sent a

thrill of disappointment throughout Chicago. It had been hoped that at least three of the men on trial who were shown by the evidence to have been directly connected with the conspiracy to take the life of Dr. Cronin would have been brought face to face with the death penalty. Had this been the outcome of the trial, with more moderate sentences or even the entire acquittal of the other two men involved, the public would have been better satisfied. At least, this is the verdict of the Chicago public. The result of the jury’s labors is a compromise.

THE FIVE DEFENDANTS

THE TWELVE JURORS.