Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1889 — CRONIN’S CORPSE FOUND. [ARTICLE]

CRONIN’S CORPSE FOUND.

The Distinguished Irish-American M«rdered and Thrown Into a Sewer. The disappearance about three weeks ago of Dr. Cronin, the well-known Irish agitator, of Chicago, created a wide sensation, and various reasons were given for bis disappearance. One report claimed he went away with a woman not his wife. Another that he was seen in Canada several times, and eVen alleged interviews were given. The mystery of his disappearance was cleared up the latter part of last week by the finding of his body, stark naked, in one of the sewer traps in a suburb of Chicago, where it had been thrown many days previous. There were marks of violence upon his head and face, but a post mortend examination showed that neither the skull, nor none of the bones were fraukured, and the means employed in his murder is almost as much of a, mystery as was his strange disappearance. All of the physicians who examined him, however, were of opinion that he might have been killed by the blow at the outer corner of his left' eye. The entire Chicago detective force are working on the case, trying to trace the murderers. It is known that the body of Dr. Cronin was conveyed to the sewer trap in a trunk,and thibrnhy lead to the capture of the murderers. Although hope of an early solving of the mystery is expressed it may be said that nothing is known to the press or public further dhan the fact of the trunk being found upon which the hope can be founded. Later particulars are to the effect that the police are jealously guarding a vacant house in Lakeview, which was vacated previous to Dr. (. ronins’ murder and has been vacant since. The house contains many evidences of a crime having been committed within its walls. Blood stains were discovered in almost every part of the house. There are other evidences of the murder, including, it is said, bloody clothing, but the police are silent on this point. A key was found in the house that fitted the blood-stained trunk.

A Chicago paper publishes a story which implicates a member of the Chicago police force, Detective Daniel Coughlin, in the murder of Dr. Cronin. The story that on the morning of the day on which Cronin disappeared Coughlin engaged ata livery stable not far from where Dr. Cronin lived a horse and buggy, which, he said, a friend of his would call for that evening; that the man did call and was given a white horse, similar to the one attached to the buggy in which Cronin was decoyed away; that the time of going, and the description of the man corresponded minutely both with the time when the man came for Dr. Cronin and with the appearance of the man himself; that Coughlin subsequently cautioned the livery-stable keeper to say nothing about the matter. Coughlin was a member of one or more societies of which Cronin was a member, and they are said to have been enemies. Dr. Cronin’s funeral wks held Sunday and was attended by 7,000 persons. The Mayor and Chief Hubbard, accompanied by Attorney Hynes, who is assisting in the pursuit of the assassins of Dr. Cronin, went to the Chicago avenue station, Saturday night, and held a long conference with Captain Schaack regarding Dan Coughlin’s connection with the case. In discussing the ease, the point was made in favor of Coughlin that had he wanted this rig for any improper purpose he would not have said “any rig will do,” but would have been very particular as to the kind to be used for such purpose. On the other hand the point was made against Coughlin that his story given in explanation was ridiculous. The Mayor and the Chief held that he might a B well have given the name of “John Doe,” or any one else, as “Thomas Smith.” In summing it all up they decided to hold Coughlin as a witness. After the consultation it is understood that detective Whelan was promptly suspended to await further investigation. Whelen eaid, Monday, that aiter Coughlin and himself were detailed on the Cronin case, to fathom the “whitehorse” episode, they wandered about the streets for two without meeting the man from Michigan, and were about to report their failure, when Schaack told them of his interview with Mrs. Conklin. Whelan and Goughian were then ordered to drop the C.onin case altogether, and to report for general , work. A day or two after that while they were strolling down Clark street in the vicinity of Illinois, Cougnlin met a man who appeared to know him. “I didn’t pay any attention to the fellow,” said Whelan, “because he appeared to be a friend of Dan’s. Dan didn’t offer to introduce me, so I strolled along a little way north and waited for Dan to getthrough. When he got through he came over to where I was standing and we walked north about a block. Then he told me that the man he met was his friend from Michigan who had driven Dinan’s horse. I turned around to see if I could see the fellow, but he was too faraway. If I had known at the time who he was I would have taken him to the station to see the Captain. But as we were not on the case then I soon forgot the incident.” The following sensational story was published at Chicago Monday: The police have been put in possession of facts which, if true, are far more startling than was ever expected concerning Dr. Cronin’s murdet—_lL. has been clearly shown by the dead man’s friends that his removal was ordered by a committee in some way representing the Clan-Na-Gael Society. Charges of traitorous conduct were preferred against him ata meeting of a Claa-Na-Gael camp, he was found guilty and his removal was ordered. The charge was based in the statement of the British spy Le Caron, that there were four more spies in America. When Le Caron made that statement on the stand before the Parnell Commission he was ordered to state the name of the spies. He said he dared not do it, because if they were known they would be murdered. Presiding Justice Hannen then took him into a closed anteroom, and in the presence of Mr. Richard Webster, the Attorney General, who is conducting the pros ecution, and Sir Charles Russell, ParDell’s attorney, Le Caron stated their names Within forty-eight hours after; this news was cabled across from Europe nearly every Clan-NaGael camp in America had met and passed resolutions declaring in favor of a rigid hunt for the four spies. The finger of suspicion, justly,or unjustly, was pointed, among others, at Cronin. A committee was appointed ts try aim. z He was convicted without being given a chance to

brought here from outside point# to carry but the mandate of the Committee The latter was chosen by secret billot It is claimedLthat the murder conspiracy would not have ended with Dr. Cronin had not his body been found so opportunely in the Evanston avenue manhole. There were other Irishmen on the executioner’s list, and they would have all shared Cronin’s fate had the chance to dispose of them safely offered. It is known that an attempt to decoy Dr. Cronin to a very lonely spot was made a short time before the doctor’s mrn-der. The story of the attempted but unsuccessful effort to get Dr. Cronin to a lonely neighborhood to see an imaginary sick man is interwoven with other incidents that lead back to the Carlson cottage. Oae night about 11:30 o’clock, shortly after the cottage was leased to two strange men, a telephone message was sent to the doctor, asking him to call at Butterfield and Fortieth streets, on the South Side, where it was said a man was badly hurt. The person who telephoned gave explicit instructions as to the locality and urged the doctor to make all possible haste. Dr. Cronin was absent from his home at the time, and did not return till nearly morning. After it was light he went to the place where ir was said he was wanted in such haste. The spot was a vaunt lot. He made careful and exhaustive inquiries in the neighborhood, going from house to house. After spending several hours in the search he found that no one had been injured in that vicinity. The message was a decoy. There is little doubt that bad he gone there during the night he would have been assassinated.