Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1889 — DEFENDING SUSPECTS. [ARTICLE]

DEFENDING SUSPECTS.

TRYING TO PROVE ALIBIS FOR THE CRONIN PRISONERS. Testimony to the Effect that O'Sullivan Spent the Evening of May 4 at His Home and that Burke Was in a Saloon at the Time Dr. Cronin Is Said to Have Been Murdered. [Chicago telegram.] The defense in the Cronin case is mainly in the line of proving an alibi for the defendants, and that Beggs did not ap, oint a secret committee of investigation, as charged by the State. James Hyland, a laborer of 332 East Ohio street, testified that he and his cousin, Jeremiah Hyland, called at O’Sullivan’e house about 7 o’clock Sunday night, May 5. They had supper and witness and his cousin, accompanied by O’Sullivan, left the O’Sullivan house about 10 o’clock and went west on Ashland avenue. •‘We went down,” he said, “to the second saloon and went in and had three glasses of wine—sherry wine—together and O’Sullivan paid for it Then we had another glass of wine apiecs and I paid for it Then we had cigars.” On cross-examination Hyland said he didn’t know Dan Coughlin, had never spoken to him, and, indeed, he had not spoken to O’Sullivan until the night of May 5, though he had seen him at church in Wisconsin. “What did you say you had to drink at the saloon-” “Sherry.” “Did your cousin call for the same?” “He said he’d like to have a glass of cider, but the man hadn’t any.” “How did you all stand at the bar?” “We all stood together.” “Talk much?” “No, we didn’t talk a great deal.” It will be remembered that Nieman was positive that O’Sullivan and Coughlin stood apart from Kunze at the saloon and that they talked together earnestly for as much as twenty minutes; that Kunze stood apart and first ordered beer, but when O’Sullivan said: “Take something good,” he drank sherry with the rest. Further, that it was nearly 11 d’clock instead of being shortly after 9 o’clock, because the saloon keeper closed up immediately after these men left, and yet again that Nieman is positive that it was Saturday night, May 4, instead of Sunday, May 5. Again, it is by no means certain that the saloon Hyland reters to is Nieman’s place. Jeremiah Hyland, the cousin who is to take Kunze’s place as the blonde stranger who was with O’Suilivan in Neiman’s place, was next brought in, sworn, and stood ud before the jury. He brought his hat, too. It was a silk hat and the rain hadn’t helped its looks a particle. He is smaller than James, but is still big enough to make two Kunzes out of him. On the stand be substantiated his cousin’s story. Michael Whelan, an ex-Dolice officer,took the stand and told all about where Dan Coughlin was on the night of May 4. Whelan at thnt time was a detective at the East Chicago Avenue station. He was suspended from the force May 25 and discharged Aug. 31. On Saturday, May 4, Whelan attended the funeral of an old friend. In the evening he was at the Chicago Avenue station from 7:30 o’clock until after 10. He met Dan Coughlin at the station that night about 7:45. From 9 o’clock until 10 Coughlin wasn’t out of Whelan’s sight Whelan is nositive about the date because that was the day Lieut. Brennan was promoted to private secretary and he and Coughlin discussed the matter. About 9:30 o’clock that night Sergt. Stift invited Whelan and Coughlin over to Gleason’s to have a drink. After leaving the saloon Wnelanand Coughlin stood in front of the station until 10 o’clock. Whelan then went inside and he did not know where Coughlin went. Officer John Stiff was called upon to corroborate Mike Whelan, but he didn’t corroborate worth a cent. He said that on Saturday night May 4, he met Dan Coughlin and Mike Whelan in front of the East Chicago avenue station. It was about 9:30 o’clock and he asked them over to Gleason’s saloon. He was positive about the night and the hour. Judge Longnecker, asked the witness why he was so positive it was Saturday night, May 4, and he said because the next morning at 6 o’clock he found an order on the spindle about Cronin’s disappearance, and he notified the day officers to inquire at the livery-stable and see if they could learn who had a white horse out on Saturday night He was consummately cock-sure that the night he saw Dan Coughlin and Mike Whelan was the night before he saw this order on the spindle. “Are you sure it was Sunday morning, May 5, that you found this order on the spindle?” asked Mr. Forrest. “Why, of course lam sure of it. I know it.” That settles Dan Coughlin’s attempt to prove an. alibi. Dr. Cronin’s disappearance was not reported until Sunday noon by Mr. Conklin. It was Monday morning that he found the order, and it was the night before that he saw Coughlin and Whalen in front of the police station. Coughlin’s alibi was knocked into a cocked hat. Mr. Forrest hadn’t a word to say, but his face wore a sad expression. The next witness was Redmond McDonald, a policeman of the East Chicago avenue station. McDonald testified that he went to Casey’s funeral on the afternoon of May 4 in a buggy with Officer Richard McCormick. He said that he went on duty as a patrolman at 7 o’clock that evening. He remained on duty till 4 o’clock in the morning. “Did you see Dan Coughlin that night?” asked Mr. Forrest “1 did.” “Where did you see him?” “I saw him go into the station.” ‘ ‘At what time?’ ’ “Abcu 8:45 or 9 o’clock. ” Then a section of the defense of O’Sullivan was introduced. William Mulcahey, one of the iceman’s employes, was called to the stan 1Mulcaney testified that he went to work for O’Sullivan about April 2. About a week or so after a man, whom O’ Sullivan said was Detective Coughlin, came to the O’Sullivan house and spoke to O’Sullivan in the hearing of the witness. The stranger asked O’Sullivan if he was well acquainted in Lake View. O’Sullivan replied that he was. Then the stranger asked him if he knew John Kunze. O’Sullivan replied that he did. “Well,” said the man, “if you see him

teh him to call me up at the Chicago Avenue station —that I want to see him. Mulcahuy testified that O’Sullivan had told him to go see Dr. Cronin about a sore on his leg, as he, O’Sullivan, had a contract with the doctor to treat his employes. Coming down to May 4, Mulcahey swore that he was with O’Sullivan peddling ice till late in the evening. Then he had supper and O’Sullivan was at the table. About 9 o’clock O’Sullivan went upstairs to bed, and soon afterward Mulcahey 1 olio wed him. Some time later, about 10 o’clock, witness thought, he was awakened by hearing some of the workmen returning. O’Sullivan went down stairs to let them in. Later yet, Mrs. Whalen and her sister came into the room where O’Sullivan and witness slept to get a cot which was in that room. There was a light in the room. Mrs. Whalen spoke to O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan remained in the room all night. “Do you rememoer getting any cards of O’Sullivan’s in the last of April?” “I did; I got about 100 and distributed them around the stores and saloons.” “Do you remember seeing O’Sullivan talking to old man Carlson?” “I do.” “What was said?” “Old man Carlson asked O’Sullivan if he knew any of those parties that had rented the cottage, and O’Sullivan replied that he did not know any of them.” On the cross-examination Mulcahey said that he had known O’Sullivan’s brother in lowa, and had a letter of introduction from this brother to the Lake View man. Mulcahey’s memory was defective. He could not remember where he stopped when he came to Chicago, except that it was “near the Washington street tunnel.” He could not remember whether he registered his name at the hotel or not. Although Mulcahey occupied the same bed with O’Sullivan he could not tell what color the underwear was, nor what time he went to bed, nor what time he got up, nor what was done by O’Sullivan from the time they all had supper till they went to bed. In fact, except on the main points of the matter, the witness' memory was sadly defective. Mulcahey was corroborated by Thomas Whelan, first cousin of O’Sullivan, and Robert Boynton, James Knight and James Minnehan, employes of O’Sullivan. The last witness said that he went to O’Sullivan’s house last Sunday evening at the request of Attorney Donahue. They talked the case over among themselves and each man heard what the other was going to testify to. The Hylands were there and rehearsed their stories. Patrick Brenan, another employe of P. O’Sullivan, said that on May 4 they had supper between 7 and 8 o’clock. The witness was not out of the house all the evening. He saw O’Sullivan and Mulcahey go to bed about 9 o’clock. Cross-examination by Mr. Hynes: “Where you at O’Sullivan's house last Sunday evening?” “Yes, sir.” “Whom did you see there?” “Mr. Donahoe and Mr. Forrest.” “Did you know that they were going to be there ” “No, sir.” “You were surprised to find them there, were you not?” “Yes.” “Who did you go there with?” “James Minnehan.” The witness said that he went to Minne* han’s room on Desplaines street last Sunday evening, and from there they went to O’Sullivan’s. Nothing was said about the Cronin case on the way out. They were surprisdd to find the lawyers at O’Sullivan’s house upon their arrival. Each witness told his story in the presence of the other. Miss McCormick and Mrs. Whalen also testified to O’Sullivan’s presence at his house during all of the evening of May 4. Matt Danahy, a saloonkeeper at Chicago avenue and North Clark street, the man who is supposed to have sent the money to Winnipeg for Burke’s defense, and also to have furnished the meals to Burke after he was pla ed in the jail in Chicago, was the next witness. “I was in my saloon on the night of May 4,” he said, “having come there between 6 and 7 o’clock that evening. I know Martin Burke, and he was there at that time. I relieved my bartender, a man named Gleason, and was in the saloon all the evening. Burke remained in my place until between 9 and 10 o’clock, when he went out The evening of May 5 Burke was again in my saloon. P. H. Nolan, Pat Cooney and a man named Finley were also in my saloon that night.” On cross-examination Danahy denied having sent money to Winnipeg for Burke’s defense; admitted that he ordered a restaurant to furnish Burke meals in jail, and denied he ever called Cronin a spy, accompanied with a vile epithet. Finally Mr. Hynes asked: “You knew that Rurke was openly charged with being an occupant of the Carlson cottage. Why didn’t you publish the fact that Burke was in your saloon the night of May 4, therefore guiltless of the murder?” “I did not want newspaper notoriety, because it would injure my business.” ‘ ‘That fact then causes you to let your best friend suffer under this charge of a terrible crime, and you would not show his innocence because it would cost you a small sum of money?” • “Yes.” “Have you not expended a large sum paying for Burke’s meals?” “Yes.” “Who will repay the moneys'” “No one. ’’ Danahy was corroborated by William F. Coughlin and Francis P. Gleason, both members of Camp 20.