The Crime of the Century Part 29

"The prime matter which will come before you will be the murder of the late Dr. Cronin. This appalling murder demands a most rigorous investigation. Dr. Cronin, an American citizen, has been struck down and killed under circ.u.mstances so horribly indicative of conspiracy, premeditated design and malice, as to warrant the most searching inquiry. Fortunately the power of a grand jury is fully equal to the emergency.

"Men who can tell of facts and circ.u.mstances that will lead you to the discovery of the guilty parties can be made to tell. It is just as much perjury to falsely deny knowledge of a fact as to affirm its existence. Nothing short of a refusal to testify before you on the ground that his testimony will tend to criminate himself will excuse any witness, and he cannot falsely employ that personal privilege as a protection for another without subjecting himself to the pains and penalties of perjury.

"It is not the policy of the law that it is better that one or any number of guilty men should escape rather than that an innocent person should suffer; the law has no policy in such matters except that every guilty man shall be punished. With all the information already in the possession of the law officers of the county at hand, it will be a blot on the commonwealth, a severe blow to the administration of justice, and a frightful menace to the safety of the individual citizen, if every man engaged in this shocking crime, or having guilty knowledge of it, shall not be discovered.

"The whole power of the county is at your disposal. Employ your resources, use the power invested in you without fear or favor, and the result cannot be uncertain. You will now retire to the jury room and make your own arrangements for the transaction of the business for which you have been called together."

At the conclusion of this address the grand jury retired, in charge of Bailiff Hamilton. An organization was quickly effected, and soon the twenty-three men were at work, with the a.s.sistance of State's Attorney Longenecker and his a.s.sistant, Jampolis. Acting Captain Schuettler was also called in, and from these officials the body received an outline of the case, very much from the same material which came before the coroner's jury, with the exception that the State's Attorney had prepared a connected narrative that, step by step, was to be corroborated by witnesses. At each of the stairways leading to the floor where the grand jury quarters were located bailiffs were stationed, and none but grand jurors and witnesses were permitted to pa.s.s.

THE GRAND JURY'S INQUIRY.

Beginning with the testimony of Mrs. Conklin, the liveryman Dinan, the furniture salesmen, and the agents of the Clark street flat, the Grand Jury traced the movements of the murderers, step by step. Daniel Brown, the police officer attached to the Stanton avenue station, and who had preferred the charges of treason against Dr. Cronin in a camp of the Clan-na-gael, was subjected to an exhaustive examination. He was kept on the stand for nearly two hours, and was not permitted to refuse to answer questions, or to avoid answering by saying that he did not recollect, or that he had forgotten. He was closely questioned concerning his connection with the order and his reasons for preferring the charge against the physician.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OFFICER BROWN.]

Another witness was Thomas G. Windes, the law partner of Alexander Sullivan, and at that time a Master in Chancery of the Circuit Court. He told the jury that he knew absolutely nothing about the check for $99,000, drawn in favor of Windes & Co., and which had been deposited in the Traders' Bank to the credit of Alexander Sullivan. In fact he had never even seen the check. When questioned by the State's Attorney, he said without hesitation, that he had seen Detective Coughlin at the office of Alexander Sullivan at least six or seven times at different periods preceding the murder, and that they seemed to be quite intimate.

Corroborative testimony was given by Henry Brown, a clerk in Sullivan's office. On the fifth day of the investigation an indictment was found against Martin Burke, in order that the record upon which his extradition from Winnipeg was sought should be complete. The speculations of Alexander Sullivan on the Board of Trade, his relations with the Clan-na-gael, and the alleged misappropriation of funds, were investigated at length. Incidentally, Frank B. Johnson, confidential clerk of John T. Lester & Co., told of a speculation which he had engineered for Sullivan in 1882. In that year Sullivan, upon a "tip"

from Johnson, purchased 200 shares of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad stock, putting up several thousand dollars as margin. The transaction lasted for some time, and in the end Sullivan's gains amounted to $50,000, out of which he made Johnson a present of $5,000.

This, while interesting, was not material to the purpose of the investigation. Rev. Father Dorney was another witness, but, although closely questioned, he told nothing of importance. The indictment against Burke was returned into Judge Shepherd's court, on June 19th.

There were two counts, one charging him with the murder of Dr. Cronin by means and weapons to the jury unknown, and abetted and aided by persons unknown, while the other charged him, under the name of Burke, otherwise known as Martin Delaney, otherwise known as Frank Williams, with conspiring with certain other unknown persons to murder the physician.

The names of fifty witnesses were on the back of the indictment.

Mortimer F. Scanlan told a lengthy story regarding the enmity toward Dr.

Cronin that existed in Chicago, and which was fomented by a faction of the camp to which Coughlin belonged. He also said that the physician carried important papers regarding the alleged embezzlement of Clan-na-gael funds, either in his inside pocket or in his instrument case, about the time of his death.

PAT c.o.o.nEY UNDER SUSPICION.

Just about this time the police began an active search for a man named Pat c.o.o.ney, better known to his a.s.sociates by the sobriquet of "the Fox," and who answered in every particular to the description given of the man Simonds, who had purchased the furniture from the Revells and had rented the flat on Clark street. He was a bricklayer by trade, and had come from the west of Ireland, somewhere in the same region from which Burke hailed. Some time prior to the murder he had been a boon friend and companion of Coughlin and Burke, and had been frequently heard to denounce Dr. Cronin as a British spy. He commenced to drink steadily during the week following the physician's disappearance, and although not working, had an abundance of money. The police authorities were satisfied that c.o.o.ney was the man they wanted, but a thorough search of the city resulted in the discovery that he had left for parts unknown. Detectives were sent to several points where men answering to his description had been shadowed by the authorities, but their labors were without result. A man supposed to be "The Fox" was arrested at Frankfort, Indiana, on June 23d, but proved to be an entirely different individual. The search was continued for months, and finally it was concluded that c.o.o.ney had left the country.

THE TRIAL IN CAMP 20.

Startling information was brought to the attention of the Grand Jury, at its session on June 24th, which established to the satisfaction of the prosecuting officials, that there was an "inner circle" in the notorious Camp Number 20 of the Clan-na-gael, and that a trial of Dr. Cronin was ordered by this inner circle within two months of his death. For a year or more the physician had been denounced in this camp as a British spy, by Coughlin, O'Sullivan, c.o.o.ney, Burke and others of that ilk. Members of other camps, who were friendly to the "triangle," helped to spread the story in some quarters by innuendo, and in others by direct a.s.sertion, testifying before the Parnell commission, in London, in the spring of 1889. Le Caron had said that there were in the United States three other spies like unto himself, but at the instance of the Court their names were suppressed. Hardly, however, had this evidence been cabled across the water, than it began to be hinted about in Chicago that Dr. Cronin was one of the three referred to. It was also falsely a.s.serted that Le Caron had testified that Dr. Cronin was his friend, and a man eminent in his profession. This, for the purposes of the "inner circle," was proof positive that Cronin was a British spy. Le Caron's testimony was given during the first week in February. About the third week of that month it was alleged that Alexander Sullivan had received advices from abroad, to be re-directed to Patrick Egan, at Lincoln, Nebraska, setting at rest all doubt as to the fact that there was at least one spy in the United States. The rumor that these advices existed had its effect. Charges, so it was claimed, were preferred against Dr.

Cronin for giving secrets to the enemy, for seeking to obtain information prejudicial to the cause in order to sell it to England, and for general betrayal of the secrets of the order. In accordance with the rules of the organization, these charges should have been lodged with a member of the executive. A member friendly to the inner circle was induced to order a trial. This trial was directed to be held in Camp 20, because the person preferring the charges belonged to that camp. Under the rules of the order this process was irregular, as the charges should have been heard in Cronin's own camp. His enemies, however cared nothing for law. What they wanted was vengeance. John F. Beggs, a well-known lawyer, and president of the Irish-American Club, was Senior Guardian of Camp 20. He selected a trial committee. It held several meetings, the last about the middle of February. At this meeting the death of the physician must have been decreed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JOHN F. BEGGS.]

This was the story in outline as it reached the State's Attorney. Lawyer Beggs, who had already been several times summoned before the Grand Jury, was again recalled. His answers were evasive and unsatisfactory, although he denied that any committee had been appointed, that any secret trial had taken place, or that, so far as his knowledge went, Dr.

Cronin had been condemned to death as the result of any action of that particular camp. Many admissions, were wrung from him when he was confronted with the facts, but his entire demeanor was so uncertain, and he made so many contradictory and inconsistent statements, that the members of the Grand Jury were convinced that he possessed a guilty knowledge of the murder, or of the circ.u.mstances which resulted in the perpetration of the crime. The result was that, at the conclusion of his examination, he was placed under arrest and incarcerated with the other suspects in the county jail.

SEVEN SUSPECTS INDICTED.

Enough testimony had now been heard to enable the Grand Jury to act intelligently, and the inquiry was closed. One entire day was devoted to the sifting of the evidence as it related to each individual who had been mentioned in connection with the crime, and at five o'clock of the afternoon of Sat.u.r.day, June 29th, seventeen days from the inauguration of the inquiry, the jurors again filed into Judge Shepherd's court.

"Have you any report to make Mr. Foreman?" asked the Judge.

"We have, your honor," promptly answered Mr. John H. Clough, and stepping forward he handed a bulky doc.u.ment to Clerk Lee, who, in turn, handed it to Judge Shepherd. The Court glanced over the contents and then inquired:

"Have you any further business to transact, gentlemen?"

"I think we have finished what we had to do," answered Mr. Clough.

"Then," said the Court, "you may be excused from further service."

And thus was dismissed one of the most important Grand Juries ever empaneled in Cook County or in the State of Illinois. For three weeks it had been constantly engaged in probing into the mystery, and in that period it had examined over 200 witnesses, a number unprecedented in a criminal case. That its labors had been attended with good results, and that it had performed its duty with fidelity and faithfulness, was demonstrated by the doc.u.ment that had been entrusted to the Court. It was an indictment charging the following persons with the murder of Dr.

P. H. Cronin:

JOHN F. BEGGS, Lawyer and Senior Guardian of Camp No. 20.

DANIEL COUGHLIN, Ex-detective.

PATRICK O'SULLIVAN, Iceman.

MARTIN BURKE, Laborer.

F. J. WOODRUFF, alias Black, the horse thief.

JOHN KUNZE, Laborer.

PATRICK c.o.o.nEY, alias "The Fox."

The full text of the indictment was as follows:

The grand jurors aforesaid, chosen, selected, and sworn, in and for the County of Cook in the State of Illinois, in the name and by the authority of the people of the State of Illinois, upon their oaths aforesaid, do present that one Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, one John F. Beggs, one Daniel Coughlin, one Patrick O'Sullivan, one Frank J.

Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J. Black, one Patrick c.o.o.ney, one John Kunze, and divers other persons, a more particular description of which is to the said jurors unknown, late of the County of Cook, March 1, in the year of our Lord 1889, in said County of Cook in the State of Illinois aforesaid, did unlawfully, feloniously, fraudulently, and deceitfully conspire and agree together with the fraudulent and malicious intent then and there, feloniously, wrongfully, and wickedly, and with malice aforethought, to kill and murder one Patrick Henry Cronin, in the peace of the people of the State of Illinois then and there being, and the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid do further present that the said Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, said John F. Beggs, said Daniel Coughlin, said Patrick O'Sullivan, said Frank J. Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J.

Black, said Patrick c.o.o.ney, said John Kunze, and the said divers persons whose names are to the said jurors unknown, in execution of the said last mentioned premises and in pursuance of the said conspiracy, combination, and agreement between and amongst them as aforesaid, afterwards--to wit: May 4, in the year of our Lord 1889, in said County of Cook, in the State of Illinois aforesaid, in and upon the said Patrick Henry Cronin, in the peace of the people of the said State of Illinois, then and there being unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, did make an a.s.sault, and that they, the said Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, said John F.

Beggs, said Daniel Coughlin, said Patrick O'Sullivan, said Frank J.

Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J. Black, said Patrick c.o.o.ney, said John Kunze, and said divers other persons, with certain means, weapons, and instruments, a more particular description of which is to the said jurors unknown, unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, did strike, penetrate, and wound the body, limbs, head, and face of him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, with the means, weapons, and instruments aforesaid, and upon divers parts of the head, face, limbs, and body of him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, did inflict divers mortal wounds, bruises, lacerations, and contusions, of which said mortal wounds, bruises, lacerations, and contusions he, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, then and there instantly died.

CHARGED WITH MURDER.

And so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths aforesaid, do say that the said Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, said John F. Beggs, said Daniel Coughlin, said Patrick O'Sullivan, said Frank J. Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J. Black, said Patrick c.o.o.ney, said John Kunze, and said divers other persons, him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, then and there in manner and form aforesaid, unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, did kill and murder, contrary to the statute and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the State of Illinois.

The grand jurors aforesaid chosen, selected, and sworn in in the name of and by the authority of the State of Illinois, and through the County of Cook in the State of Illinois, upon their oaths aforesaid, do further present that one Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, one John F.

Beggs, one Daniel Coughlin, one Patrick O'Sullivan, one Frank J.

Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J. Black, one Patrick c.o.o.ney, and one John Kunze, late of the County of Cook, May 4, in the year of our Lord 1889, in said County of Cook, in the State of Illinois aforesaid, in and upon one Patrick Henry Cronin, in the peace of the people of the State of Illinois then and there being, unlawfully, willfully, feloniously and of their malice aforethought, did make an a.s.sault, and that they, the said Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, said John F. Beggs, said Daniel Coughlin, said Patrick O'Sullivan, said Frank J. Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J.

Black, said Patrick c.o.o.ney, said John Kunze, with certain means, instruments, and weapons, a more particular description of which is to the said jurors unknown, unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, did then and there strike, penetrate, and wound the body, limbs, head, and face of him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, then and there giving to him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, with the means, weapons and instruments, aforesaid in and upon divers parts of the head, face, limbs and body of him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, divers mortal wounds, bruises, lacerations, and contusions, of which said mortal wounds, bruises, lacerations, and contusions he, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, then and there instantly died. And so the jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the said Martin Burke, otherwise called Martin Delaney, otherwise called Frank Williams, said John F.

Beggs, said Daniel Coughlin, said Patrick O'Sullivan, said Frank J.

Woodruff, otherwise called Frank J. Black, said Patrick c.o.o.ney, and said John Kunze, him, the said Patrick Henry Cronin, then and there, in manner and form aforesaid, unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, did kill and murder, contrary to the statute and against the peace and dignity of the same people of the State of Illinois.