Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1889 — THE CRONIN MURDER. [ARTICLE]

THE CRONIN MURDER.

Mart in Burke has been arrested at Winnipeg as an accomplice in the Cronin murder. The police pretend to believe they have important evidence against Burke, principally that “Burke was frequently beard to say that Cronin ought to be removed.” The sensational incident of the Cronin Grand Jury Tuesday morning was the refusal of Wm. E. Bell, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, to obey an order of the jury to produce messages passing between Alexander Sullivan, Dan Coughlin, P. O’Sullivan, John J. Maroney and G. W. Mellville. Mr. Bell maintained that it was against the rules of the company to produce such messages and that the statutes of the State of Illinois imposed a fine of $5,000 upon a telegraph company for disclosing the contents of any peisonal or business messages pjissing over its lines. After all attempts to induce the witness to obey had failed, the jury, headed by State’s Attorney Longenecker, repaired to Judge Shephard’s room and appealed to his Honor to issue an order directing the witness to answer under pain of contempt and' commitment. The Judge fully sustained the State’s attorney, and an order was spread upon the record airecting the witness, under pain of contempt and commitment to jail, to produce any and all messages, cablegrams or copies thereof in the Chicago office, passing between Alexlanaer Sullivan, Dau Coughlin, P. O'Sullivan, John J. Maroney, G. W. Melville and Chas. McDonald either under their true names or any alias, or between either of these men and any other person since first of March last. The witness then complied. Martisen, the Chicago emressman who carted the goods to the ‘Carleson cottage, arrived at Winnipeg, Friday, and Friday night identified Burke as the one who engaged him to move the goods. The identification was complete. Fitty-two persons were gathered inthe jail yard, among them being Burke and several citizens in plain clothes. They were placed in 1 ine and “toed off.” Martisen walked slowly up and down the line. Burke stood with his hands in his pockets and with his eyes averted from the Chicago man. After a consult ation with the authorities Burke’s number was taken down, and it was openly stated by counsel for the prosecution that there was no necessity for further identification. Martisen is accompanied by Chicago detective. Burke has employed additional counsel and will fight against extradition to the very last. Although having only S6O when arrested, it is said that he will not lacs for funds for his defense.