THE CORONER'S INQUEST OPENS--A MODEL JURY--VISITING THE SCENE OF THE
TRAGEDY--TAKING THE EVIDENCE--CAPTAIN SCHAACK'S COMPROMISING
ADMISSIONS--PROMINENT CLAN-NA-GAEL MEN PUT ON THE STAND--ALEXANDER
SULLIVAN'S THREATS--LUKE DILLON TELLS WHAT HE KNOWS--THE DOCUMENTS LEFT
BY THE MURDERED MAN READ BY THE CORONER--A SENSATIONAL INQUIRY.
The Coroner's investigation followed close on the action of the grand
jury. It was probably one of the most sensational inquests on record in
this country. It occupied eight days, and the spacious court room in the
county building, which was placed at the disposal of Coroner Henry L.
Hertz, was crowded to suffocation at every session. Six men, all
well-known citizens, and of a high grade of intelligence, were sworn in
on May 28 to determine as to the cause of the physician's death. Their
names were: R. S. Critchell, Victor U. Sutter, Justus Killian, John H.
Van Husen, H. H. Haughan and Rudolph Seifert. On the first day, May 28,
the jurors visited the Carlson cottage, the catch-basin, and the spot
where the trunk was discovered. They also examined the furniture left in
the cottage, the trunk, cotton batting, and other links in the chain of
circumstantial evidence. Several adjournments were then taken at the
instance of State's Attorney Longenecker, who held to the wise opinion
that in a case of so much national importance it was best to "make haste
slowly," and it was not until June 3d that the taking of evidence
commenced in earnest. Mrs. Conklin, Frank T. Scanlan, Patrick Dinan (the
liveryman), Jonas Carlson, Justice Mahoney, John T. Cronin (brother of
the dead man), and the employes of A. H. Revell & Co., were among the
first witnesses examined. They gave their evidence clearly and without
reserve and produced a favorable impression upon the jury. A profound
sensation was created when the blood-stained trunk was brought into the
room. Police Captain Schaack was upon the stand, and his testimony
developed so strongly the fact, that, through willful disobedience of
instructions and gross mismanagement, the murderers had been enabled to
escape, that before the close of the day an order was issued by Chief of
Police Hubbard suspending him from the service for an indefinite period
for "apparent wilful neglect of duty." From his own evidence, it was
clear that he had failed to obey the Chief's instructions to ascertain
the livery stable from which the white horse had been hired, that he had
failed to call upon several witnesses whose names had been given him,
and that he had allowed Detective Coughlin to pull the wool over his
eyes in the most extraordinary fashion. The examination of the officer
who had made himself famous by his work in the Anarchist case, was
thorough, searching and merciless. He reluctantly admitted, that for ten
days following Dr. Cronin's disappearance he did little or nothing on
the case, because he did not believe that the doctor was dead. He had
also allowed wilful disobedience to his orders by Detective Coughlin to
pass unrebuked. After the jury had gotten through with the Captain, John
Sampson, an individual not unknown to the police, swore that Coughlin
had tried to hire him over a year before to waylay the physician as he
was returning from a meeting at McCoy's Hotel, and "do him up." This
evidence was corroborated, and it was further shown that Sampson,
actuated by a sense of gratitude--Dr. Cronin having at one time refused
to accept compensation for medical attendance upon one of his
(Sampson's) relatives--had informed the physician of his peril.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: JURORS EXAMINING BLOOD-STAINS IN THE PARLOR OF COTTAGE.]
But the most sensational features of the inquiry were yet to come.
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN AND DR. CRONIN.
Witness, after witness, many of them men of high standing in the
community, as well as of unimpeachable veracity, went upon the witness
stand and swore, that upon scores of occasions, the physician had
expressed the opinion that Alexander Sullivan was his mortal enemy, and
that he stood in eternal dread of the ex-Irish leader. Patrick McGarry
for instance, an honest homespun Irishman, who, by industry, had
accumulated considerable property, and who was one of the warmest
friends of the murdered man, testified that on numerous occasions the
physician had said to him, that Alexander Sullivan would be the
instigator of his death. Less than three weeks before his disappearance,
referring to the fact, that he had asked for an investigation of
Sullivan's accounts, he had said, "I am taking my life in my hands.
That may prove to have been a fatal night for me, but I am determined to
show up Alexander Sullivan's thievery and treachery to the Irish people,
even if my life is taken for it."
The buzz which invariably denotes the presence of suppressed excitement
went through the court-room when the witness made this statement, and,
catching the prevalent feeling, McGarry exclaimed with fervor:
"Thank God I don't belong to any organization of which that man is a
member. For I consider Alexander Sullivan to be the man who has brought
shame and disgrace on the Irish name in America."
To Joseph O'Byrne, the Senior guardian of Camp 234, of the Clan-na-Gael,
Dr. Cronin had said that he knew that he was to be sacrificed. To
Michael McNulty, another member of camp 234, he had insisted upon more
than one occasion, that he knew that Alexander Sullivan and Lawrence R.
Buckley, (the latter being a prominent member of the Clan-na-Gael) "were
going to kill him." That the latter had made many violent speeches
against the physician, was sworn to by Thomas J. Conway, an insurance
agent. A previous witness, by the way, had testified that it was
generally understood among the members of the organization, that
Lawrence Buckley had given to the spy Le Caron, the credentials upon
which the latter had attended a secret convention of the Clan-na-Gael.
[Illustration: LAWRENCE R. BUCKLEY.]
Testimony was given by a large number of witnesses, to the effect that
both Alexander Sullivan and numerous members of the organization, had
denounced the physician in the most vigorous terms, questioning his
loyalty to the Irish cause, and expressing sentiments, which generally
analyzed, seemed to indicate that they would be glad to see him out of
the way.
SELECTED FOR A FOREIGN MISSION.
One of the most sensational episodes of the enquiry, was the examination
of Capt. Thomas F. O'Connor. He had been intimately acquainted with Dr.
Cronin for several years, and firmly believing that the physician's life
was in danger, had advised him to go armed at all times. O'Connor had
been present at a meeting of camp 20, when charges had been made against
Dr. Cronin, and a committee consisting of Buckley, Coughlin, Frank
Murray, John F. O'Malley, and another man had been appointed to
investigate them. These charges were to the effect that he had read,
before another camp, a circular which was antagonistic to the spirit of
the order. After the physician's disappearance, he had seen Coughlin,
who had expressed the opinion, that he had gone to London to follow in
the foot-steps of Le Caron, as a witness before the Parnell commission.
"Have you ever been requested as a member of this order," asked Coroner
Hertz, "to do some secret work."
"Yes, I have," said the witness, after considerable hesitation.
"Can you tell me who asked you to do this work."
"I can not."
"Did you consult any one about doing this work."
"I did sir."
"Whom."
"I consulted Dr. Cronin."
"What did he say."
"He said, after talking the matter over, that there was enough good,
honest men behind prison bars now, and that I had better keep out of
it." He did not believe in the policy of dynamite.
"Did you take the doctor's advice."
"I guess I did," answered Capt. O'Connor in a tone full of
suggestiveness.
"How was the request brought to you."
"A man walked into my office about ten o'clock one morning, presented
his card, and introduced himself. He said that there were some men going
across the water, and that the chances were that I would be called on.
This was on a Monday, and we talked the matter over pretty fully. The
Wednesday following I was to meet him again. That morning I walked down
town with Dr. Cronin. The man was standing on the steps of the Sherman
House. I stopped and spoke to him. He asked me who that man was. I told
him Dr. Cronin. He seemed to know the name, at least he recognized it
the moment I mentioned it. He said he would see me that afternoon, but
after seeing me with Dr. Cronin, he failed to keep his appointment."
[Illustration: CAPT. THOMAS F. O'CONNOR.]
Although pressed to give this mysterious individuals name, Capt.
O'Connor insisted emphatically that he could not remember it. He said he
knew Alexander Sullivan, but when asked the question, "do you know
whether or not it was he who wanted you to go," he simply replied, "I do
not." He went on to say that the request to go on such a mission,
would naturally come from the Executive Committee of the order. None
except this committee, could know the names of the persons who were sent
across the waters. Alexander Sullivan, he had heard, was a member of
this executive committee. The other two were Feeley and Michael Boland.
The latter at this time was the Police Recorder of Kansas City.
[Illustration: JURORS EXAMINING FINGER MARKS IN PAINT ON WINDOW BLINDS.]
Peter M'Gehan, of Philadelphia, was another witness. He was at one time
supposed to be the man who had driven Dr. Cronin from his residence to
his death. In a general way he answered the description given by Mrs.
Conklin, and his appearance in Chicago, at the time when the first steps
in the conspiracy were supposed to have been taken, his destination
being known only to J. J. Bradley, of the Clan-na-Gael executive,
coupled with his loud talk against Dr. Cronin, and his association with
the friends of Alexander Sullivan--all these circumstances caused him to
be placed under arrest, although he was subsequently released. Not being
found at his place of residence when wanted by the coroner, he was again
arrested at his new boarding place, and put upon the stand.
In direct contradiction to the testimony of one of the previous
witnesses, Joseph O'Byrne, M'Gehan denied that he had ever said that
Dr. Cronin, with McCahey, of Philadelphia, ought to be put out of the
way, or removed, or killed, or words implying any such meaning. He knew,
however, that Dr. Cronin believed that he entertained such views.
Standing at the corner of Clark and Randolph street one evening with
Thomas J. Conway, he saw the physician and Mortimer Scanlon coming
along, and the physician, calling him by name, said, "I understand that
you have used violent language against me." M'Gehan replied that it was
a lie. To this the physician responded "I have been informed that you
were sent here to assassinate me." This the Philadelphia man denied,
saying that the doctor was a "blamed fool," and that the people who were
circulating these stories were only trying to make them enemies. M'Gehan
was closely questioned as to his movements since his arrival in
Chicago, and admitted that he had visited several of the Camps,
including the one of which Dr. Cronin was senior guardian, and that he
had borrowed money from several of the avowed enemies of the physician,
although he had not been acquainted with them before reaching Chicago.
Nothing was developed however to connect him, even indirectly, with the
tragedy.
[Illustration: P. M'GEHAN.]
This branch of the case was closed with some very interesting testimony
from J. G. Hagerty, a railroad clerk. His story was, that sometime in
1885, a circular had been issued by the Clan-na-Gael, stating that
several hundred British detectives had been sent from Scotland Yard for
the purpose of finding out the secrets of the Irish revolutionists in
this country, and hence all the members were on the _qui vive_ for
information as to the possible traitors in their midst. One night while
he (the witness) was walking on the street with Alexander Sullivan, the
latter had expressed the opinion that the doctor was a scoundrel and a
menace to the Irish cause, and that it would be a benefit if the cause
were rid of him.
"Did Alexander Sullivan say anything to you that night about having any
idea that Dr. Cronin's life ought to be taken" asked the Coroner.
"That was my impression" answered the witness, "that was the view I took
of the conversation and I must say that I coincided with him at the
time. I believe that men who are trying to get the secrets of people,
who are trying to elevate themselves should be exterminated, and I
gained that opinion from the reports I had heard, especially from
Timothy Crean, who is now dead, and who with other men had been
instrumental in scattering this information, which, as I now believe,
was scattered for the removal of Dr. Cronin."
"Did Alexander Sullivan use the words that Dr. Cronin ought to be
removed," the witness was asked.
"I would not swear that the words were used exactly as you state them,
but that was my impression at the time."
"Did you get the impression that that was what he meant."
"Certainly I did."
"Could he at that time or any time later have spoken to others in the
same way."
"Most undoubtedly--to hundreds."
"Tim Crean had told me things that Alexander Sullivan had said," went on
the witness, "and among them that this man was a traitor. The word
traitor to an Irishman's visor calls up a terrible vengeful feeling. It
does in me, the Irishmen know what informers are and do not feel
leniently toward them. The impression that I got from Mr. Sullivan's
talk was that this man should be removed from our ranks in some way or
another; that he was a menace to the cause and to the success of the
objects which we were trying to accomplish. I must say that at that time
and since, Mr. Sullivan was not alone in the opinion as to the removal
of men of that description--that is, the removal of them from our ranks,
not by death, but that we should get them out of our organization. There
was nothing more laudable, considering the actions of Le Caron, who as
is now proven to have been Mr. Sullivan's friend, according to the
evidence now before you. Le Caron was introduced to me on the evening of
that conversation by Mr. Sullivan as a man worthy of our confidence and
of the highest character, and coming from such a source, it being
understood that Sullivan occupied a high office in the order, and
considering the confidence with which he was looked up to by the Irish
people at that time, myself, being nothing but a plebian, I could not
but believe what he said."
"Did you believe that Dr. Cronin was a traitor."
"Yes; Mr. Sullivan gave me that information; that was his idea. He did
not give me any proof, but considering his position, I could not do
otherwise than take his ipse dixit for it. I will say, however, that up
to the recent revelations I certainly had no idea at all that Mr.
Sullivan could have been the man he is now represented to be. I must say
in justice to myself I had no idea that he could have come as near being
an accessory to this diabolical 'removal,' as he is now represented to
be by the circumstantial evidence before you."
"Is there anything in your obligation and the constitution of the order
that would make you believe that you ought to remove a man if your
executive ordered you to do so."
"No sir."
"That you ought to take life?"
"No sir, I would not do it if the order came to me."
"Do you think that a man of less principle or brains might do so?"
"I certainly believe now, to my sorrow, that such might be the result."
After this witness had left the stand it was proven by the evidence of
the Sergeants of the Chicago Avenue Police Station that, for some time
prior to May the 4th, Coughlin and O'Sullivan, the iceman, were in daily
communication over the telephone, and that the latter had several times
sent messages to the Detective to come over to his house, his office, or
his barn.
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S SPECULATIONS.
Considerable time was devoted to the investigation of Alexander
Sullivan's speculations through various Chicago Brokers on the Board of
Trade. It was first shown that in May, 1882, upon the return of
Alexander Sullivan from Paris, where he had been for some two months,
the sum of $100,000 had been deposited to his credit in the Continental
National Bank of New York. This deposit was in turn transferred to the
Traders' Bank of Chicago, where it was credited to "Alexander Sullivan,
agent." The books of this Bank, which had failed in 1888, when produced
by Bryon L. Smith, the receiver, showed that checks had been drawn by
Sullivan against this deposit, payable to John T. Lester & Co., the
Board of Trade men, in the following order:--June 1st, 1882, $30,000;
June the 6th, $30,000; August 26th, $25,000; Sept. 6th, $5,000; October
6th, $10,000. The entire one hundred thousand dollars, therefore, had
within the short space of less than five months passed into the hands of
the Brokers. From the books of the firm it was found that between June
the 1st and August the 30th, of that year, Sullivan had traded almost
daily in railroad and telegraph stocks in blocks ranging from 100 to
5,000 shares each day. It was also shown that between June 1882 and June
1883, he had given his checks to the firm to a total of $133,000, and
received from the firm checks and stocks aggregating about $128,000,
indicating a loss of but $5,000 on these extensive transactions. These
checks, however, failed to find their way back again to the Traders'
Bank. There was no record of any further transactions of this character
on the part of Mr. Sullivan until 1886, when he was concerned in some
speculations in grain through the house of Morris Rosenfeld & Co. He was
a winner up to July, 1887, when the great Cincinnati wheat corner broke,
his profits were swept away and he sustained a loss, which he settled by
giving his note for an amount somewhere between one and two thousand
dollars. This indicated that between the first and the last transactions
he had gotten rid of the $95,000 turned over to him by J. T. Lester &
Co. What had become of this large sum of money was a mystery. Perhaps it
had been lost in speculation, perhaps it had been returned to Patrick
Egan, from whom, as was generally supposed, it had originally been
obtained.
LUKE DILLON'S PLAIN WORDS.
[Illustration:
Luke Dillon. John F. Beggs. John Moss. Pat McGarry.
Police Capt. Officer Brown. Chief of Police Mrs. T. T. Conklin.
O'Donnell. Hubbard.
PRINCIPAL WITNESSES BEFORE THE CORONER'S JURY.]
It was not until June the 7th, in the closing days of the inquest, that
Luke Dillon, one of the nine members of the Executive Committee of the
Clan-na-Gael in America, and who had taken a leading and determined part
in the movement to unravel the mystery which enshrouded the murder of
Dr. Cronin, was called as a witness. Those who were in the court room
when he ascended the stand, saw a man above the medium statue, broad
shouldered, of well-knit figure, square cut face and well moulded
features. His dark blonde hair receded slightly from his forehead; while
a full blonde mustache of lighter hue shaded his firm compressed lips.
His chin was square, indicating tremendous energy and great
determination of character. His voice was full, resonant and well
modulated, and he spoke fluently and yet in a measured way that
indicated caution. In answer to the questions of the Coroner he said
that he was a member of the Clan-na-Gael, but that there was nothing in
the obligation which he had taken that conflicted with the laws of the
United States. He went on to say that Dr. Cronin, shortly before his
murder, had said to him that the personal ambition of Alexander
Sullivan, to rule both in Ireland and American politics would be the
cause of his (Cronin's) death, for he felt that the man had no more
blood than a fish and would not hesitate to take his life. The witness
related the circumstances connected with the meetings of the trial
committee at Buffalo and New York, and the examination proceeded in this
wise:
"Can you give the jury any other reason why Alexander Sullivan
should be an enemy of Dr. Cronin?"
"I can give none except personal revenge."
"Revenge for what?"
"Because this man found him guilty of crime, of theft."
"By this man you mean Dr. Cronin?"
"Yes sir; and also because of treacherous conduct to members of the
organization."
"Do you believe, Mr. Dillon, that Dr. Cronin's opinion of Sullivan
was correct?"
"I do now. I used to think he exaggerated Sullivan's importance. I
looked upon him then as only an ordinary villain. But Cronin looked
upon him as a very dangerous man and a very able man."
"At the time of the existence of this so-called Triangle, Sullivan,
Boland and Feeley, do you know of their betraying any members of
the order?"
After a long pause the witness replied: "No; I believe men have
been betrayed."
"Could these men whom you believe to have been betrayed, have been
betrayed without the knowledge of the Executive?"
"No, they could not otherwise be betrayed."
"And men were betrayed?"
"I believe so."
"They were not known to anybody outside of the Triangle?"
"They were not supposed to be known."
"If known, where would those outside receive their information
from?"
"The executive; the Triangle and Executive were the same thing."
"At that time who were the Executive?"
"Alexander Sullivan, Dennis C. Feeley and Michael Boland."
"Have you ever heard from any of the members that Dr. Cronin, in
conversation, has charged that Alexander Sullivan had anything to
do with betraying the members?"
"No; I don't think the doctor has ever charged that against
Sullivan. He has told me that he believed men had been betrayed
through the intimacy of Alexander Sullivan with Le Caron."
"Was Le Caron a member of a camp in Illinois?"
"Yes, sir; in Braidwood, Ill."
"Who is Le Caron?"
"Well," the witness said, smiling, "I wish they had tackled him
instead of Dr. Cronin. I didn't know him personally."
"What position did he hold?"
"He held the position of chief officer--what would be the same as
president in an ordinary society."
"Was he once considered a good member of the order?"
"Yes, sir."
"Is he considered such now?"
"Not at all; certainly not."
"Have you any other information, Mr. Dillon, which would be proper
for you to give this jury, sitting to inquire into the death of Dr.
Cronin, which would assist them in arriving at the cause of his
death?"
"Well, I believe his death is the result of the abuse heaped upon
him by the friends of Alexander Sullivan. He has been denominated a
spy and a traitor, perjurer, and in fact all the invectives have
been piled upon him that could be heaped upon the head of any man
by the friends of Sullivan, all because of Cronin's enmity to
Sullivan."
"Why did Cronin have any enmity toward Sullivan?"
"Because he believed, as I do, that he was a professional patriot,
sucking the life-blood out of the Irish organizations, and we tried
to purify the organization by removing from its head such men as
Alexander Sullivan."
"Do you know the reason why Alexander Sullivan left the order?"
"I can tell you the general opinion in the order on that question.
We believed that he left the order because he thought that his
crimes would find him out, and that Cronin, John Devoy, I and
others who were endeavoring to purify the organization would
finally bring them to judgment before the rank and file. I believe
that when he resigned he did not cease to rule. I have seen his
handwriting on circulars issued to the United Brotherhood a year
after his resignation was supposed to have taken place."
Continuing, Mr. Dillon said that immediately after hearing of the
disappearance of Dr. Cronin, he came to the conclusion that he had been
murdered and urged the Executive to appropriate $3,000 to hunt up the
murderers. The reply was made, however, that there was no proof that he
was dead. In reply to a question the witness said:
"I will give you facts that may show animus. Dr. Cronin saw that
the friends of Alexander Sullivan in Chicago were in the habit of
saying that the verdict, on the trial at which Dr. Cronin was one
of the jurors, was in favor of Alexander Sullivan. The verdict was
supposed to be kept secret, but it somehow leaked out through the
organization, unofficially, what the verdict really was, and the
two doctors were pointed out as the only two men who found Sullivan
guilty of any crime, and that Alexander Sullivan was not guilty.
Dr. Cronin, in order to prove that he was in possession of
information which, if they heard, or he was permitted to read,
would prove the guilt of Alexander Sullivan, stated that he had in
his possession at least three hundred pages of testimony which
would be produced at the coming convention, to prove that these men
were all the charges had specified they were. The executive ordered
him to send that 300 pages of testimony to the chairman of that
body, but he refused to hand them over."
"When was the convention to be?"
"The date of the convention was not decided on; it was to be at
some future time. Dr. Cronin said it would be necessary for him to
hold these documents, so that in the coming convention he would
have something to justify the verdict he had given of guilty."
"What was the verdict?"
"There were four verdicts. There were no majority or minority
reports. The vote of the jury was 3 to 3, a tie, as to the guilt or
innocence of Sullivan and the others. They heard all the evidence,
that is this evidence that Dr. Cronin was going to publish at the
coming convention."
CRONIN'S PRIVATE PAPERS IN EVIDENCE.
The taking of evidence came to an end on June 12, with the reading of
some of the notes and papers left behind by the murdered man. These,
although not entirely pertinent to the inquiry, were of absorbing
interest, and were listened to with breathless attention by the large
audience. They related largely to the notes of Mrs. Mackey Lomasney's
testimony before the New York commission--heretofore referred to--and
revealed a condition of affairs in the management of Irish secret
societies so callous, cruel, selfish, treacherous, and revolting that a
shudder passed through the auditors as page after page was read with
precision and emphasis by the coroner. It was a woman's story of her
husband's separation from her, and of the trials and tribulations
through which she had passed, which was calculated to melt the stoniest
heart, and served as a fitting finale to this historical inquiry.