Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1889 — Page 2

VERDICT NOW IN SIGHT.

THE PROSECUTION IN THE CRONIN CASE ENDED. The Sensational Story of Mrs. Hoerbel— What She Heard at the Cronin Cottage on the Night of the Murder —Other Damaging Evidence. [Chicago telegram.] In the Cronin trial, Itenry nuchholez, a saloonkeeper at 2800 Cottage Grove avenue, testified that Kunze boarded at his place under the name of Kaiser. “When did he come there:'” “April 14.” “How long did he stay with you?” “Till he was arrested.” Gus Klahre, the tinsmith, testified that one Monday morning in the early part of May Martin Burke and an expressman came to his father’s tin-shop at 88 North Clark street. “Burke had a galvanized iron-box about 14x26 inches in size, and he wanted the top soldered on it. This Cronin case was in the papers that morning, and I said something about it. Burke said he was ‘a British spy and ought to be killed.’ ” “What else did he say?” “I said it was queer about Cronin’s disappearance, and Burke said: ‘Cronin was a (using a vile epithet), and ought to be killed. ’ ” “What did you do with the box?” “I tried to lift the cover of the box but he pushed my hand away and said: ‘For God’s sake, don’t open that,’ or something like that.” “How was the box fastened?” “It was tied with a clothes-line.” “He wouldn’t let you open it?” “No. I told him I’d have to take off the cord before I could make a job of- it. He said it didn’t make any difference how it was done —no matter how rough it might be. So I put a band around the box without taking off the cord. ” “How near did Burke stay to you while you were fixing the box?” “He staid right close to me all the time.”

Joseph O’Byrne hau a conversation with John F. Beggs on Clark street, near the Chicago opera house block, on Tuesday, May 7. Maurice Morris and Dennis Ward were also present. The disappearance of Dr. Cronin was discussed, and Beggs said that he thought he would turn up all right. Ward then interjected that Cronin had skipped out with a woman and would return in a few days after his spree. O’Byrne asserted that the doctor had been murdered. At that Beggs turned to the witness and said: “You don’t know what you are talking about, because you don’t /belong to the inner circle. We (referring to himself and Ward) are posted.” Dr. John F. Williams, of No. 427 Center street, testified that he had known Patrick O’Sullivan several years; had treated him professionally three or four years; his doctor bill didn’t amount to more than $5 for the whole period. There were several physicians practicing in the immediate vicinity of O’Sullivan’s house Michael Gilbert, a sewer-cleaner, was working on Evanston avenue flushing the sewers. He was assisted by Michael Reese and Frederick Meyer, “What did you find near the corrier of Buena and Evanston avenues?” “I went to the manhole and raised the lid and found the hole half full of water. I'then went to the next manhole and raised the lid there too, and saw what looked like a lot of old rags. The flow in the sewer there is from uorth to south.” “What did you do?” “I called on Michael Reese to go down into the manhole and pull out the old sachel. I had tried to pull it up, but it was so rotten that it fell to pieces. I handed Reese a bucket and he got it under the things, and in that way we got them out We got up a box. It was about eighteen inches long. At first I thought it was a block of wood, but after we got it out I saw it was a. box. ’ ’ “Well, what did you do?” “I lifted it onto the street. Then the small sachel with both ends off was brought out. ’ ’ “What did you do then?” “All the things, including the hat and the clothes, were put in a bunch together. ” “What happened then?” “I told one of the men to go for a patrol wagon. The things got out on the manhole were all put on a stretcher just as they were taken out of the manhole and put in the patrol wagon. I did not help to put it in, but I saw it put in when the patrol drove up.”

Michael Reese, one of the sewer cleaners who found the clothes and other articles, was then called to the stand and corroborated the testimony of the previous witness. At this stage the articles found in the sewer were brought into court, ana their entrance created a little sensation. The prisoner Beggs did dot seem to pay any attention to them. Coughlin and Kunze craned their necks to see them. Burke got very red in the face, but sat motionless in his chair except that he worked his jaws vigorously, as if chewing a large quia of tobacco. Those immediately behind him said his whole frame shuddered at the first glimpse he got of the articles, but such a motion was not apparent from the reporters’ t table. The production of the articles was* evidently a surprise to the jury, and they looked at them with manifest interest as they were handled by the officers. “Is that the box?” asked the State’s attorney of the witness as soon as the things were arranged as he wished them. “Yes, sir, that is the box and the splint that was in it I got a hold of the sachel and the box and sent them up out of the manhole, and as soon as they were moved the water went with a rush. There was a hat found. It was put with the rest of the things.” Frederick Meyer was the next witness called and corroborated the testimony of the previous two witnesses. The next witness called was Mrs. Conklin. On taking the stand she was directed by the State’s Attorney to examine the hat in the pile of clothes. After doing that she said: “That bat is the one worn by Dr. Cronin when he left my house on the "evening of May 4.” > “Did you ever see that overcoat?” “Yes; that overcoat is Dr. Crouin’s. ” “When did you last see it?” “The last time before seeing it in your office was on May 4. Dr. Cronin wore it that evening when he left my house. ” “Did you ever see that box before.” “I did in Dr. Cronin's possession. That -a, .

is the splint box he took with him the evening of May 4.” ‘Did you ever see that sachel before?” “Yes. That is the leather hand sachel he carried his surgical instruments in. He took it out with him on the 4th of May. ’ * “Did you ever see that pocket case before?” “Yes, often. I described it before it was found. It was Dr. Cronin’s.” “Did you ever see that book of surgical and medical references?” “Yes. It was Dr. Cronin’s.” Are you able to identify that coat:” “Yes, it is the dress coat Dr. Cronin wore the evening he left my house. He wore in the button-hole of it a badge of the Royal Arcanum just like the one produced.” “Do you recognize that cuff-botton?” “Yes, it was Dr. Cronin’s.” The prosecution then offered all the ar tides identified as evidence in the case. Clerk J. P. Hatfield, of Revell & Co.’s store was called to identify the framework of the sachel found in the Lake View sewer containing the clothes The sensation of the morning was furnished by Mrs. Paulina Hoerbel, a German woman »who lives near the Carlson cottage. “I was passing the Carlson cottage on the night of May 4, some time between 7 and 8 o’clock, when I saw two men in a buggy drive up to the cottage. One of the men got out and went up the steps. He knocked. Some one came to the door and the man went in.” “What kind of looking man was he?” “Big and broad-shouldered.” “Did he have anything in his hand?” “Yes, be carried something like a sachel. It looked as though it might be a surgeon’s case.” “What kind of a horse was it that drew the buggy?” “It was white.” There was a buzz of excitement at this, for any one in the court room could not but remember the color of the horse which on May 4 Dan Coughlin hired “for his friend Smith.” The witness stopped in front of the cottage and h ard the sounds of the death struggle. When the tall man entered the house some one immediately closed the door. Then there was the noise of a great struggle. She heard sounds as though heavy blows were being dealt some one. Then she heard some one cry out: “Oh, my God!” “There were a few more noises as of some one struggling.” said the witness, “and then all was still.” “After tne man went into the cottage,” continued the witness, “the man who was yet in the buggy turned a,way and drove south on Ashland avenue.” “Did you not hear the word ‘Jesus’ ?” “I did. I heard some one cry out, ‘O God! O Jesus!* and then there was the sound as of some one crying or moaning, and the sound of blows. Then it sounded as though some one fell, and there were more blows, and I heard something sound like something breaking. Then I heard more cries and moans, and then the sounds seemed to die away and all was still. ” “What did the noise sound like?” “It sounded as if some people were fighting in there, and then after the blows all was still.”

The witness seemed to be an unsophisticated German woman, and the evidence she was giving was so plainly a truthful statement of facts that it impressed every one as being the last link in the chain of circumstantial evidence which the State promised to weld around the accused. The appearance of Burke and Coughlin’s faces during the recital of the actual murder of Dr. Cronin was more grave than at any time during the trial. Each man seemed completely paralyzed by the evidence. Mr. Forrest nad always maintained that Dr. Cronin could not be traced to the cottage on that night. While Mrs. Hoertel did not positively identify Dr. Cronin her description of him. the circumstances of the white horse, the instrument case the men took from the buggy, and every incident shows as clearly that the doctor was in that cottage on May 4, at 8 o’clock, as though a photograph of the men was exhibited to the jury. A look of’ blank despair seemed to cover Coughlin’s face, and the first expression of real anxiety which Burke has shown since the beginning of the trial came over his countenance. Kunze did not appear affected by the witness’ story, and O’Sullivan was as stolid as ever.

The attorney for the defense took the witness all over her route Irom her own house to the time she heard the noises in the Carlson cottage, after seeing the white horse. She repeated without deviation the answers given in her direct examination as to the streets she traveled before reaching the cottage. Judge Wing drew from the witness the statement that the night of May 4 was a bright, star-lit night, and that there was no damp-post nearer the Carlson cottage than a block distant and that she was not nearer the white horse than the “distance across the court room. ’ ’ There was not a new fact developed on the cross-examina-tion. On the re-cross-examination Judge Wing questioned the witness as to her whereabouts and occupation e?.ch day from May 1 to May 10, and Mrs. Hoertel knew every event occurring in this period. Henry Polanski, restaurant and hotel keener, was the next witness called. In reply to his question he said: “I was employed last May in Mr. Bacharach’s shirt store, 28 North Clark street. I was there Sunday May 5, and sold some shirts there that day.” Witness then told of a man coming in between 9 and 9:15 in the morning and asking for a shirt. In order to insure a fit witness asked him to remove his coat that he might be measured, which the man with an oath declined to do. He bought a shirt and two collars. He then went out and across the street where witness saw him talking to his partner, who then came in and also bought a shirt. The second man was much smaller than the first The little fellow wore a woolen shirt and the big fellow wore a white shirt. Both ha I their coats buttoned to their throats and the collars up about their uecks. The larger man he had seen since that time; he was now in court; was the second man in the row of prisoners. [Pointing to Martin Burke.] Witness was shown a picture of Cooney which he identified as one, of the small man Chief Hubbard was Afidn recalled and gave testimony regarding his conversation with Dan Coughlin after the recovery of the body of Dr. Cronin. This practically closed the case for the State, and the defense were granted two days in which to prepare the evidence ir favor of the defendants.

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.

DEDICATED AT WASHINGTON IN A RAINSTORM. The Impressive Services Marred by Unfavorable Weather—Tlie President and His Cabinet Officers Honor the Gathering by Their Presence—Secretary Blaine’s Address. The dedication of the Catholic University of America, at Washington, like the laying of the corner-stone of the building, took place in pouring rain. The ceremonies began at 10:30 o’clock with a short address by Cardinal Gibbons. This was followed by the chanting of the “Veni Creator Spiritu” by 250 students of St. Mary’s seminary and St. Charles’ college, of Baltimore. The building was then blessed by Cardinal Gibbons, while the choir chanted “Miserere.” At 11 o’clock pontifical mass of the Holy Ghost was celebrated in the university chapel by Most Rev. Mgr. Satolli, archbishop. The music of the mass was sung by a picked choir of male voices. Right Rev. R. Gilmore, bishop of Cleveland, preached the sermon. The President, Vice-President and all the meinbe-s of the Cabinet, except Secretary Wanamaker, attended the dedication exercises. The President was received with great applause on entering. Mr. Blaine, who responded to the toast, “Our Country and Her President,” said he responded as a representative of the United States, not in a political sense and much less a partisan one. He did not come as the representative of any sect, but to speak for the principles of religious freedom gran'ed to ail by the government of the United States. He had spoken of this in Protestant assemblies and was proud to do so now in a Catholic assembly. Without speaking eulogistically he coul 1 say that his chief, the President, stood as the embodiment of the- rights and liberties of all classes of people. He was glad to hear of the endowment of every college, no matter of what denomination, for colleges mean culture for the people. It is not long since we heard the criticism of an Englishman on America, that while it had the most intelligent people m the world they were the least highly cultured. With the establishment of more colleges these criticisms will cease, and the people of the United States will attain as great excellence in this direction as the'y have in sustaining the government under Which all people are equal and all churches and denominations assured of their rights. The dedicatory ceremonies closed with an address by Bishop O’Farrell and a Latin oration by Mgr. Schroder. A reception was given at night to visiting clergymen and laymen.

END OF A NOTABLE TRIP.

The Pan-American Delegates Arrive at the Capital in Good Shape. Washington dispatch: .Just forty-two days after the morning of Oct. 3, when the special train bearing the International American excursion party pulled out of Washington, the same train, headed by the locomotive which had drawn it nearly 6,000 miles, rolled triumphantly into the Capital city and drew up at the station, having successfully completed the most in-, teresting and, from a railroad standpoint, the most extensive trip ever undertaken by one train. It was planned that instead of taking the more direct southern route from Philadelphia to Washington, the train should run down by way of Harrisburg, so that the delegates might see the beautiful Susquehanna valley and the rich farming lands of that part of Pennsylvania. The plan was followed, but unfortunately the country was not seen at its best, as the lowering skies and the heavy, driving rains confined the landscape within narrow bounds. The big locomotive, weighing 95,000 pounds, drew the entire train over every foot of the 5,825 miles, and came to a full stop in the station as fresh and as powerful as when it steamed out the morning of Oct. 3 No record for speed was made or broken but a record for continuous prograss has been established by the locomotive which is unequaled in railroad history. It is the general rule of railroad management that no passenger locomotive drawing a first-class train shall run a greater distance than 100 or 150 miles without being changed. Yet this locomotive has on several occasions covered 300 .miles in good schedule time, and on the run from Omaha to St. Louis it performed the unexcelled feat of making 4.67 miles in eighteen hours.

THREATENING DOCTOR AMES.

The Minneapolis Politician Receives Another Vengeful Getter. A Minneapolis (Minn.) dispatch says: Dr.

Ames, who has been the recipient of several anonymous letters since his recent utterances concerning the Irish, has just received another. Beneath the signature is a skull and crossbones smeared with blood, while each of the* characters i s qhaded with the same fluid. The doctor

claims to have been followed by two unknown men. These letters are causing him considerable annoyance. Following is tLe letter. “Your recent attack on the Irish clergy has sounded the death-knell of your political career. But you have insulted a noble race, which offense places your life in jeopardy. There are many young Irishmen in this city who feel like giving you a kick every time you pass them by, and it is doubtful if you will go far down the stream of time ere you form subject matter for a startling sensation in this here Minneapolis. We boys of a powerful organization ordain things at will and by Switzerland you will soon have an occasion to visit Denmark in spirit The very hour is present to my mind and no new moon shall ever brighten your path. - “Clan-na-gael. ” The National Fraternal Congress met at Boston, the twenty-four societies represented embracing a membership of 900,000. D. H. Shields of Missouri, was elected president. The liabilities of the leather house of William F. Johnson & Co., of Boston, will reach *>,000,000.

DR. A. A. AMES.

DR. CRONIN’S CLOTHES.

THEY ARE FOUND IN A SEWER MANHOLE. Deposited with His Instrument Case, Not . Far from Where the Bloody Trunk Was Dropped by the Assassins —A Gruesome Mass of Evidence. Dr. Cronin’s clothing and surgical instruments have been found. They were discovered in a sewer in Lake View. Mrs. T. T. Conklin and others have fully identified them. Lieut Koch, of the Sheffield avenue police station, notified Chief of Police Hubbard that some clothing and surgical instruments had been found in his district Supt. Hubbard ordered the articles to be brought to his office. Within an hour the Lake View patrol wagon arrived at the City Hall, and tho mass of slimy clothing and surgical cases were carried into Chief Hubbard’s private office. Mrs. Conkling had been sent for in the meantime, and she reached the office shortly after the clothing was brought in. It was almost impossible to identify any article of clothing. They were covered with slime from lying so long in the sewer, and a sickening stench arose from the mass- But there was no mistaking the surgical case. A small leather pocket-case filled with instruments was the first article Mrs. Conklin identified. This inscription is on it:

: Wm. Bagnell : : to : : Dr. P. Harry Cronin. : Mrs. Conklin had seen the case hundreds of times, but even if she had never seen it the inscription showed that it belonged to the dead doctor. Better evidence than that could not be obtained. Two prescription blanks found among the clothing were filled out, and the writing, though somewhat obliterated, could be read without any difficulty. Both of the prescriptions were signed “Cronin.” Mrs. Conklin recognized the doctor’s signature. One of the prescriptions was to have been filled at Cowan’s drug store, No. 4 f >s North Clark street, and the other at F. B. Schneider’s, No. 311 North avenue. A silver hypodermic case, filled with needles, was in as good a state of preservation as nn May 4. It was fully identified as Dr. Cronin’s. A black yalise, containing surgical instruments, was covered with mud and Mrs. Conklin was unable to say whether it belonged to the doctor or not. But there is no doubt of it. She identified a small box, however, containing copper splints. The box is finished in cherry and is about 12 inches long by 8 inches in depth. A handle is on the lid, but the hinges had become detached, and when opened the lid came off. There was an assortment of splints in the box, of various sizes; also a dictionary containing English, German, French and Italian medical terms. A black sloutch hat, which Mrs. Conklin fully identified as Dr. Cronin’s, was about the only article of clothing she could positively say belonged to him. The coat, trousers, shirt, collar and underwear were all found intact, but they were in a state almost beyond recognition, owing to the filth upon them. There is no doubt, however, but that every article belonged to the dead doctor and was taken from his body, and probably at the Carlson cottage. Nobody will question that. The mass of stuff was found with the frame of a large sachel around it, and it looks as if the articles had been inclosed in a cheap valise and that the sides of it had rotted away. In this connection it will be remembered that J. B. Simonds, the man who bought the furniture at Revell’s asked Salesman Hatfield for ‘‘a large, cheap valise. ’ ’ The valise was sent over to the Clark street flat, and from there it was taken to the Carlson cottage by Martenson, the expressman.

It was shown by Mr. Hatfield that the valise was a cheap pasteboard affair. Only the frame of it was found clinging to the clothes and instruments, and part of the slime on the clothing is undoubtedly its sides which had rotted away. After a partial examination of the clothing and instruments the outfit was taken to the State’s attorney’s office. At the State’s attorney’s office Mrs. Conklin examined the clothing more carefully, and although she could not positively identify the coat or trousers, she was satisfied in her own mind that they belonged to the late Dr. Cronin. One significant fact about the discovery of the clothing is that the shoes or stockings were not found The finding of Dr. Cronin’s clothes and surgical instruments was an accident, and not the result of a deliberate search. This was the case in the finding of the body. Asa sanitary measure two men were put at work some days ago flushing the Laee View sewers. All went well for some time, until the water began to rise in one of the manholes on Evanston avenne. aoout a quarter oi a mile soutn ot where the trunk was found the day after the murder. An examination of the manhole was made by Michael Reese and Mr. Gilbert, the two men employed» nearest to it The result was that the articles described above were discovered and turned over to the, police. The workmen naturally enough came to the conclusion that they bad found Dr. Cronin’s clothing and instruments, and upon investigation this turne<T| out to be true.. Later in the day Joseph Turner, another workmen for the city, found Dr. Cronin’s socks and a tin box of plasters further down the sewer near the lake. It is believed that the shoes have} been flooded out into the lake. Among: the clothing found is a pair of blue en- ! amaled sleeve buttons which Mrs. Conkling also identified. The articles found will be used in the< trial. Most of the garments, especially 1 the trousers, are cut open, showing that' 1 they were hurriedly cut from the bleeding l body of the slain doctor. Upon second: examination, and after the filth was removed, it was apparent that they were soaked in human blood. The next day the police, on search, discovered a piece of carpet which has been! identified by Salesman Hatfield as identical with that he sold to the man “ Simonds ** tor the Clark street flat The man -who keeps an exact cash) account of his daily expenses generally: earns an expert bookkeeper’s salary in. trying to remember where the money went, • __ >

MRS. FOSTER’S DISCIPLES

lOWA W. C. T. U. DELEGATES LEAVE THE CONVENTION. Their Differences with the Main LadySuch as to Preclude Possibility of Staying in the Old Organization—Convention Proceedings Detailed. Chicago dispatch: The sixteenth annual convention or the W. C. T. U. came to a close after a day of most exciting debate and action. The breeze was started by the introduction of the following resolution: “Its object shall be to institute a unity of Christian women of this nation in nonsectanan ana non-partisan temperance work for the reformation of the intemperate and the education of the public sentiment in behalf of total abstihence and the prohibition of alcoholic liquor, the development of social purity, the suppression of vice, and the education of the masses in the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. ’ ’ The discussion was hot and Was led by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and Mrs. Aldrich of lowa, who urged the adoption of the proposed amendment, while a score spokeagainst it. The proposed amendment was finally voted down With a view to ascertain what sort of women were present in the convention Miss Willard asked all that had been school teachers at any time to rise. Of the 467 delegates present 379 rose. All who had been Sabbath school teacherswere asked to rise. Every delegate in the convention rose. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk was invited to the platform and made a few remarks. Mra. T. B. Carse read a report concerning the National Temperance temple, which is to be erected in Chicago at a cost of $1,100,000. Stock amounting to $542,000 has already been, subscribed for. Mrs. L. D. Carhart, of lowa,, read the report on “Ethical Culture” and Miss Mary Allen West on ‘ ‘The School of Methods. ” J. B. Hobbs was introduced. He formally presented the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union the lot at Lake Bluff on which the Palmetto cottage stanks. A resolution of thanks was adopted. Mrs. Caroline B. Buell, of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance union, wished to deny the statement that the total membership of the organization has decreased in a year. She said that on the contrary it had increased about 5,000 members during the last twelve months. This she learned by consulting the treasurer’s report and reckoning from the amount received on dues. At the evening session of the convention the report of the executive committee’s afternoon meeting was received. The executive committee considered the charges preferred against the national officers by Dr. Weeks Burnett, of the temperance hospital, and returned a resolution declaring that the national offieets were altogether wirhont blame in the matter. The lowa delegation bolted from the convention as the session was about to close. Mrs. J. Ellen Eoster, chairman of the delegation, rose and read a very long protest in which she reviewed the fight the lowa delegation has waged against the body of the convention on the non-parti-san issue. She stated that the lowa delegation had been met by rebuffs and insults until forebearance was no longer a virtue. The other members of the delegation, with the exception of Mrs. Carhart, rose and went out of the hall with Mrs. Foster. On motion of Mrs. Lathrop of Michigan, the convention authorized the executive committee to immediately take steps to reorganize the union in lowa. At Miss Willard’s suggestion Mrs. Carhart and other lowa ladies in sympathy with the sentiments of the convention stepped forward and occupied the seats that had been vacated by Mrs. Foster and her friends. The convention adopted a resolution censuring Vice-President Morton for allowing liquor to be sold in his hotel, the Shoreham house, in Washington. The convention adopted a resolution discountenancing the union of church and state, recommending the establishment of an educational test for citizenship, declaring in favor of full franchise for women and rejoicing in the efforts that are being made for the enforcement of the Sunday law.

BLOWN TO ETERNITY.

Fatality and Havoc Wrought by an Explosion of Fli<sh Powder. By an explosion of flash powder at the chemical manufacturing establishment of Wiley & Wallace, at Philadelphia, three men were instantly killed and one fatally and another seriously injured. A large bottle of flash powder had been, standing on a shelf for a long time and Joseph Wiley, a member of the firm, determined to get rid of it on account of its dangerous nature. Betook the bottle to a sink in the rear of the basement, and calling to his assistance Charles R. Rhinedoller, a chemist, and Rudolph Lippmann, an employe, proceeded to pour the stuff down the sink. Rhinedoller held a hose and poured water on the compound as it ran from the bottle, and Lippman assisted Mr. Wiley. William Kidd, another employe, stood by and watched the proceedings. Jnst exactly how the explosion occurred is not. known, but it is believed that the powder, on account of its age, was slow in running from the bottle, and that Mr. Wiley must have struck it against the sink to loosen it. Immediately there was a terrific explosion, accompanied by a deafening report. the force of which shook the houses injthe neighborhood. Wiley, Lippman and Rhinedoller were instantly killed, their bodies being dashed against the walls of the basement and. literally torn to pieces. Kidd was frightfully injured and can not live. Alfred Moffett, the engineer, is very badly hurt, but his injuries are not believed to be fatal. Thirteen girls and a. number of men were employed on the upper floors, and they were panic-stricken by the shock. The girls attempted tojump from the windows, and some of them fainted, thus, adding to the excitement. The building and stock were badly damaged, all the windows and bottles being smashed, the lower floors torn up, and the walls damaged. Mr. Wiley, who was 38 years old, was the senior member of the firm, and leaves a wife* and several children. A good liver is oft-times sadly in need of a good liver. t