Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1889 — DR. CRONIN'S CALL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DR. CRONIN'S CALL.

the man that took him to the FATAL COTTAGE. The State Puts Mr*. Conklin on the Ftarnl to Tell the Story of the Fatal Summon* —Hard Clan-na-Gael Witnesses. [Chicago telegram.! In the Cronin murder trial at Chicago, after the State had presented its evidence showing the identity of the body found in the catch-basin, Mrs. T. T. Conklin was called to the stand. Mrs. Conklin detailed the summoning of the doctor by the emissary of the assassins. Her story was that at 7:30 o’clock Dr. Cronin was in his private office treating a Miss McNerney. A sister of Miss McNerney was waiting for the patient in the outer office and a gentleman was waiting in the parlor. “A man stopped at the door. I answered his ring. He said he wanted to see Dr. Cronin. I told him, ‘You will have to come in if you want to see the doctor, because he is engaged.’ The man hesitated, and I told him again he would have to come inside. He finally did so, and he sat on the edge of a chair and 6eemed very nervous. He held his hat in front of it and was nervous. “I rapped on Dr. Cronin’s private door and told him some one wanted to see him quickly. He came out of the private office

and the man, who had been sitting on the edge of the chair, arose and advanced to meet the doctor. The man said: ‘Doctor, a man is hurt and you are wanted to attend him. He is one of O’Sullivan’s |men. O’Sullivan is I out of town and he said neffiad a contract with you to attend any of his men.' At

the same time he drew from his coat pocket a card which he handed to Dr. Cronin. When Mrs. Conklin described the man drawing the card from his pocket she drew one from her pocket and held it out. “Is that the card?” asked Mr. Forrest. “It looks exactly like it.” The card was shown to the counsel for defense and then offered in evidence by the State. It was, in fact, the identical card handed to Dr. Cronin. On the face was the red picture of an ice wagon, and the card announced that the P. O’Sullivan Ice company would supply families with ice. On the back of the card, near one end* were written in lead pencil the words “Lane Park” in an angular hand. Mrs. Conklin continued her testimony: “Dr. Cronin went into his private office and gathered up some cotton batting which be took in his arms, and taking his case of instruments started away with the man. The man had said that he had a horse and buggy outside, and would take the doctor right away.” “What did you do then?” “I went into the bay window in our parlor and looked out nt the horse and buggy. It was a white horse. The horse had a very peculiar motion. It was very restless and its knees seemed to be very large. It had a strange motiou with its forelegs. “Did you see all this plainly. ’* “As plainly as I see all you gentlemen now. The evening was not yet dark and the electric light was lit.” “That is the last time you saw Dr. Cronin?” “That is the last time I saw him alive.” “Describe the man who called for Dr. Cronin.” “He was of medium height and seemed well-built and wiry. His face was dirtylooking, as it had not been shaved for some time. He had dark, straight hair and such bad eyes. His eyes were the most villainous I ever saw. Mrs. Conklin then related Her meeting with O’Sullivan on the next day in her own house, whether he had come in response to a call which she and her husband had made to his office early on Sunday morning O’Sullivan was not at home this time, but afterward came to Conklin’s.

Frank Scanlan was recalled to tell of his last conversation with Dr. Cronin, just as he was getting into the buggy that parried him away from the Conklins, that fatal night. Mr. Scanlan said: “As the doctor got into the buggy the man had the lines and appeared to be ready to drive away. I said, ‘Hello, Doctor, where are you going?’ He said: *1 am going to attend to an accident at an ice house out north. ’ I said: ‘You know there is to be a meeting of the CeltoAmericans in your office to-night.’ The doctor nodded, as much as tosay, ‘yes, ’ and said: ‘lt is very fortunate you came now; you can take the keys. He reached his hand in the pocket to get the keys, and they were cramped for room in the buggy and he got his hand into the other pocket and got the keys out on a ring and handed them to me. I then said to him: ‘When will you be back?’ I intended to tell them down at the meeting he would be there. He replied: ‘God knows; I do not know how long this thing will take. ’ The man started up and Dr. Cronin said: ‘You will find some papers down there for the men to sign.’ I followed him up three or four.steps, because I thought he said‘for the stockholders to sign,’ so I followed him up three or four steps further to get up for a still further talk. The man started the horse, however, aud I could not hear or quite catch what he meant; except there were some papers for certain parties to sign. ’ ’ “John F. O’Connor!” called out the State’s Attorney, and a smooth-shaven young man came in and took a seat in the witness chair. He is a tinsmith, and acknowledged having been a member of

the United Brotherhood, or the Clan-na-Gael, as it is commonly called; that the lodges are called camps; be Delonged to Camp 20, also known as the Columbia club. It. had previously been J known as N 0.96. The’ number was supposed to be secret. “We object to all

this testimony,” put in Forrest. , “I desire to say that there is no objection to this on behalf of the defendant Beggs,” said Foster. Mr. O’Connor went on to tell that Camp 20 met in Turner Hall and described the officiary of the lodge. He was known as Ho. 156 and held the office of recording

secretary. John F Beggs was elected senior guardian as the last meeting in January. ~ Beggs’ number was 256. Michael J. Kelly was at the same time chosen junior warden and Thomas Murphy treasurer. Witness’ dpties were to keen a record of the proceedings. Witness further stated that Martin Burke, Dan Coughlin, Patrick Cooney and Patrick O’SuJivan were members of th* same camp. He remembered the meeting of Feb 3. Capt. O’Connor was present and made some remarks. “What did be say?” “He as <eJ if a report had been read in our camp criticising the triangle. He was told no Then he said that was strange. He had been in another camp,

and had heard a report read criticising the triangle. He said he could give the name of the camp and the man that read it. I understood the man to be Dr. Cronin.” “Is this the record of that night’s meeting?” asked the State’s attorney, handing the witness a book with speckled covers. “It is.” Mr. O’Connor read the minutes. It appeared that the regular meeting of camp 20 was held on Feb. 8, at North-Side Turner hall, Senior John F. Beggs in the chair. The names of three James Walsh, Hugh Gleason, and Mr. Cavanaugh—were proposed and investigating* committees were appointed. Then motions were made, seconded and carried as follows: To make an imperative demand on the executive body for the report of the committee that tried the triangle; to call the attention of the district officer to the reports that were floating around about the report being sent out regarding the trial of the triangle, and that a secret committee be appointed by the senior guardian to investigate these same rumors.

“What gave rise to the introduction of these resolutions?” asked Judge Longenecker. “The remarks made by Capt. O’Connor that the report of the committee that tried the triangle had been read in another camp.” The point of the cross-examination was that the motion to appoint a secret committee practically became inoperative by Beggs’ decision that no one camp could investigate another, but that the district officer must act. and that in consequence the motion to refer to the district member or officer was put and carried. This theory would obviate the necessity of appointing such a committee. The theory

of the State that this order of making the motions was the reverse of the fact that the motion to appoint the secret committee came last, would tend to show that camp 20 proposed to act on the matter independent of the district officer. Mr. O’Connor testified on redirect examination that he bad seen a man at some meetings of Camp 20 who, he afterward learned, was Patrick O'Sullivan. At the afternoon session Andrew Foy was called to the stand. He is the stonemason and bricklayer living at No. 235 Sedgwick street It was like pulling teeth to get a straight answer from the witness. He is a member of Camp 20. Mr. Foy said that he had been a member of the old camp. No. 06, for seven or eight years,

but that he originally belonged to Camp 16. His number was 69. At the meeting of Feb. 8 he was present and heard “a few remarks made.” He said a few words himself. “What was said about spies?” “I said if there were any spies in the camp they should be expelled.” “Did Capt O’Connor say that he had heard the report of the trial committee read in another camp?” “I believe so.” “Was a committee appointed to investigate the charges made by Capt O’Connor?” He had no recollection. His memory was bad on that point. “Have you ever seen Martin Burke, Patrick Cooney, Patrick O’Sullivan and Dan Coughlin at camp 20?” After a long hesitation he said he had Michael J. Kelley, who is no longer a Clan-na-Gael, was next examined. Mr. Kelley at one time was a member of camp 20, but resigned after the trouble arose over the death of Dr. Cronin. He was at the meeting of Feb. 8 and heard some re-

marks made. He heard Mr. Foy ask tor for a report of the trial committee. He could not remember hearing John F. Beggs, the senior guardian, say anything about Le Caron, or that there were any other spies in the order. He recollected hearing Capt. O’Connor say that he heard the report of the trial committee read by Dr. Cronin in the doctor’s camp. He said that the ex-executive body had swindled the order out of funds, but didn’t remember having heard him say that the triangle was responsible for men in British prisons. Patrick J. Ford, testified that he had been a member of Camp '2O ten or twelve years. He was senior guardian of the

camp four consecutive years. At present he was the past guardian of the camp. He was present at the meetings Feb. 8 and 22. The latter meeting was known as reunion night On that evening he heard speeches made by Patrick McGarry and Richard Powers. Their remarks were j confined to the report of the trial com- j mittee. Beggs in reply defended Alexander Sullivan. He couldn’t recall his exact words, but knew he said there must be peace in the order or there would be war. “Did he say war or blood?” “I can’t say.” “Was Beggs excited. " “Well, we were all more or less heated, I sup Dose.” Stephen Colloran was the next witness called to the stand. Strictly speaking, Colloran was not a “splendid witness” for the State. He stammered, hesitated, flushed, fumbled his hat nervously, and came very nearly going all to pieces. Colloran had known Martin Burke two or three years and Dan Coughlin and John F. Eeggs about the same time. Didn’t remember of ever having seen Patrick O’Sullivan before. Had been a member of Camp 20 over four years. The witness said that he and Martin Burke worked together at one time in the city water department. He was present at a meeting of Camp 20 on Feb. 8. Martin Burke, Dan Coughlin and Patrick Cooney sat on the opposite side of the room from him at that meeting. He had known Cooney five years. John F. Beggs was in the senior guardian’s chair. There was a little wrangle that evening over something; a discussion over some report. Capt. O’Connor made some remarks about the report ot some committee. He asked if the report had been brought before camp 20. and someone answered ‘No.’ He said he had heard the report read elsewhere, but did not say who he heard read it. Witness did not hear Andrew Fov or Dan Coughlin make any remarks at that meeting. “Was there a motion proposed by some member to appoint a committee to investigate?’ ’ “The motion was overruled by Beggs.” * The witness said that he had frequently seen Burke and Coughlin together; the last time was election day in April. He was present at the meeting of Camp 20 on Feb. 22, and thought Burke, Coughlin, and Cooney were there. Dennis O’Connor testified that he is a builder, and had belonged to the Clan-na-Gael for twenty-one years. He was at a meeting of Camp 20 at the North Side Turner hall Feb. 8. “Did you hear Andrew Foy make a speech there?” “He made a few remarks. No Clan-na-Gael man made speeches; only remarks.” “Did Capt. O’Connor make a speech?” “He said he had been in Dr. Cronin’s camp and heard read the minority report of the trial committee.” “What trial committee?” “As I understood it it was the trial of the executive body.” “Did you know who the executive were who were on trial?” “I did not.” “Did you hear the names of any of those members of the ex-executive alluded to that night?” “I did not. Ido not remember having heard them.” “What was done aftor Capt. O’Connor’s speech?” “Some one moved that a committee be appointed to investigate this matter alluded to bv Capt. O’Connor.” “Was the motion carried?” “Yes.” “Was tne committee appointed?” “Idon’t know.” “What kind of a committee was it to be?” “A secret committee.” “Who was to appoint it?” “The senior guardian, I presume.” “Why do you presume?” “Because he always appoints committees ordered by resolution.” “Who comprised the committee?” “I don’t know. I did not hear any names announced. ’ ’

MRS. T. T. CONKLIN.

JOHN F. O’CONNOR.

THE TWELVE JURORS.

THE FIVE DEFENDANTS