CLOSING SCENES OF THE INQUEST--THE VERDICT--ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S ARREST
ORDERED--MIDNIGHT VISIT TO HIS RESIDENCE--HIS COOL DEMEANOR AND CHEERFUL
ACQUIESENCE--TAKEN TO THE COUNTY JAIL--RELEASED ON HABEAS CORPUS.
The closing scenes of the coroner's inquest were of a nature calculated
to impress themselves upon the memories of the participants.
The morning session had been replete with sensational testimony. At the
noon recess word went around that the jury had heard enough upon which
to frame a verdict, and that the prolonged investigation was nearing its
close.
This, of itself, was sufficient to bring to the building a throng, that
not only crowded the court room and the outside corridors, but extended
away down the three broad flights of stairs and out into the street.
Nearly two hours were spent in the reading of papers relating to the
Clan-na-Gael and its English operations. When the last sheet had been
read there was a pause. Chief Hubbard came in through a private
entrance and a long consultation ensued between that official, the
State's Attorney, and the coroner. Then the latter turned to the jury.
"Gentlemen" said he "are there any more witnesses that you would wish me
to call?"
"No sir," was Foreman Critchell's emphatic reply.
"That is all the testimony that we have at present," resumed the
coroner, "I can furnish you with a good deal of corroborative testimony
if you wish me to."
"I think the jury has heard enough corroborative testimony. If there are
no witnesses on any new points we would like to retire."
It was five o'clock when Foreman Critchell led the little procession
down stairs to the coroner's office. A Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Coroner
went along as a body guard. The silence that had prevailed in the court
room was broken by a loud hum; while everybody commenced at once to
speculate on the probable verdict and the people it would implicate. Six
o'clock came, seven, eight, nine, and still no word from the jury room.
But the crowd kept its seats or its standing room with examplary
patience. Shortly after nine supper was sent in to the jurors, and the
rumor went out that they were unable to reach a conclusion. This,
however, as was to be developed an hour later, was wide of the mark.
THE VERDICT.
One hour later, just as the hands of the clock were pointing to ten,
Coroner Hertz was summoned to the jury-room. He was absent but a few
minutes, and when he returned Foreman Critchell and his associates filed
in after him. A death-like stillness prevailed as Critchell commenced to
read the verdict. When he reached that point which recommended that
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN, the lawyer,
P. O'SULLIVAN, the Lake View iceman,
DANIEL COUGHLIN, the detective, and
FRANK WOODRUFF, _alias_ Black,
be held to the grand jury as principals in or accessories to the foul
crime, there was considerable stir, coupled with exclamations of
satisfaction, and no little confusion was caused by a number of those
present scampering from the room to spread the news around the city. The
verdict, as taken from the official document, was word for word as
follows:
We, the undersigned, a jury appointed to make inquiry according to
law as to how the body viewed by us came to his death, state from
the evidence:
First--That the body is that of Patrick H. Cronin, known as Dr.
Cronin.
Second--That his death was not from natural causes but from violent
results.
Third--That the said P. H. Cronin was decoyed from his home on
North Clark street the evening of May 4, 1889, by some person or
persons, to the Carlson cottage, situated at No. 1872 North Ashland
avenue, in Lake View, Cook County, Ill.
Fourth--That at said cottage the said Cronin was murdered by being
beaten on his head with some blunt instrument in the hands of some
person or persons to us unknown, the night of the said May 4, or
between May 4 and May 5, 1889.
Fifth--That the body, after the said murder was committed, was
placed in a trunk and carried to Edgewater on a wagon by several
persons, and by them placed in a catch-basin at the corner of
Evanston avenue and Fifty-ninth street, Lake View, where it was
discovered May 22, 1889.
Sixth--That the evidence shows conclusively to our minds that a
plot or conspiracy was formed by a number of persons for the
purpose of murdering said Cronin and concealing his body. Said plot
or conspiracy was deliberately contrived and cruelly executed.
Seventh--We have had careful inquiry into the relations sustained
by said Cronin to other persons while alive to ascertain if he had
any enemy or enemies sufficient to cause his murder.
Eighth--It is our judgment that no other person or persons except
some of those who are or have been members of a certain secret
society, known as the United Brotherhood or "Clan-na-Gael," had any
cause to be the instigators or executors of such plot and
conspiracy to murder the said Cronin.
Ninth--Many of the witnesses testifying in the case have done so
with much evident unwillingness, and, as we believe, with much
mental reservation.
We find from the evidence that a number of persons were connected
with this plot and conspiring to murder the said Cronin, and that
DANIEL COUGHLIN,
PATRICK O'SULLIVAN,
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN,
FRANK WOODRUFF, alias BLACK,
were either the principals, accessories, or have guilty knowledge of
said plot and conspiracy to murder said Cronin and conceal his body,
and should be held to answer to the grand jury.
We also believe that other persons were engaged in the plot, or have
guilty knowledge of it, and should be apprehended and held to the
grand jury.
We would further state that this plot or conspiracy in its
conception and execution is one of the most vile and brutal that has
ever come to our knowledge, and we would recommend that the proper
authorities offer a large reward for the discovery and conviction of
all those engaged in it in any way.
We further state that in our judgment all secret societies whose
objects are such as the evidence shows those of the Clan-na-Gael or
United Brotherhood to be, are not in harmony with and are injurious
to American institutions.
We hope that future vigor and vigilance by the police force will
more than compensate for past neglect by a portion of the force in
this case.
R. S. CRITCHELL, H. A. HAUGAN,
JOHN A. VAN HOUSEN, JUSTUS KILLIAN,
RUDOLF SEIFERT, VICTOR U. SUTTER.
[Illustration: ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.]
ARREST OF ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.
Just as soon as the verdict had been read, Foreman Critchell called the
State's Attorney and Coroner inside the latter's private room for a
consultation. A moment later they were joined by Police Captain
Schuettler and Detectives Palmer, Amstein, Miller, Broderick, Schifter,
McDonald, Williams and Hedrick. It was decided that the arrest of
Alexander Sullivan should be effected without delay, notwithstanding the
late hour, and the Coroner, having made out his mittimus, entrusted it
to Detective Palmer. The latter selected as his assistants Detectives
Williams and Broderick, and the trio entered a carriage. Well on toward
midnight the elegant residence of the ex-President of the Land League,
at 378 Oak street, on the North side of the city, was reached.
[Illustration: ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S RESIDENCE.]
Palmer was the first to alight.
He rapidly ascended the steps and rang the bell. Henry Brown, Mr.
Sullivan's clerk, opened the door.
"Is Mr. Sullivan at home?" inquired Officer Palmer.
"He is," said Brown.
"I want to see him," said Officer Palmer, as he entered.
Brown closed the door. Fearing some scheme to give Sullivan a chance to
escape, Palmer at once gave instructions to Williams to go to the rear
of the house, and the officer ran back to the alley.
But the noted Irish Nationalist had no thought of escaping. At that very
moment he was sound asleep in bed. It was characteristic of the strong
will-power of the man. The drift of the testimony for a week had
indicated to him, as to everybody else that heard or read it, that the
Coroner's jury would name him either as a principal or as accessory to
the crime. The paper that he had in his hand as he drove home that
evening, chronicled the fact that the jury had retired, and was
deliberating upon its verdict. And yet, well aware, as he must have
been, that this verdict would be of terrible personal import--he had
retired at nine o'clock and was as sound asleep as a worn out child.
"Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan," shouted Brown.
"What is it?" came a voice from the bed room, "I'm here."
"Some one wants to see you," returned Brown.
By this time Palmer had reached the top of the stairs and was outside
the bed room. Sullivan opened the door and recognized his visitor. Not a
muscle of his face moved.
"All right," he said, nonchalantly, "I'm coming."
To dress himself, as neat as wax--just as he always looked--was but the
work of a few minutes. Then the door was opened again, and his form was
seen in the dimly lighted hallway. Preceded by Palmer, who had been
joined by Broderick, he went down-stairs into the dimly lighted hallway.
"Good evening, Palmer," he said, pleasantly.
The detective returned the greeting. "I have a mittimus for your arrest,
Mr. Sullivan."
"Very well," was the response. He led the way into the parlor, and
Palmer commenced to read the document. Sullivan stood up near the
mantelpiece, leaning his elbow slightly upon the marble slab, and
listened attentively. Not for an instant did he betray the slightest
emotion. A contemptuous sneer settled on his lips. His head was slightly
thrown back as if in defiance of the officers. His hand toyed for an
instant with fringed plush that covered the rocking chair close by on
his left. He never once took his eyes off Palmer as he read the
mittimus. This was in the following form:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, COOK COUNTY, SS.--_The People of the State of
Illinois, to the Sheriff and Jailer of said County, Greeting:_
Whereas, at an inquisition taken for the people of the State of
Illinois at the Coroner's office, in said County of Cook, on the
23d day of May, A. D. 1889, before me, Henry L. Hertz, Coroner, in
and for said County, upon view of the body of Patrick Henry Cronin
then and there lying dead, upon the oath of six good and lawful men
of said county, who being duly sworn as a Coroner's jury, to
inquire on the part of the people of the State of Illinois into all
the circumstances attending the death of the said Patrick Henry
Cronin, and by whom the same was produced, and in what manner and
when and where the said Patrick Henry Cronin came to his death;
and, whereas, the said jury, by their verdict then and there
delivered to the said Henry L. Hertz, Coroner, did return and find
that the said Patrick Henry Cronin came to his death by being
beaten on his head with some blunt instrument or instruments in the
hands of some person or persons to the jury unknown; and that one
Daniel Coughlin, one Patrick O'Sullivan, one Alexander Sullivan,
and one Woodruff, alias Black, were connected with the death of the
said Patrick Henry Cronin either as principals or as accessories
before the fact, and should be held to answer to the grand jury.
Now, therefore, you are hereby required to receive into your
custody the said Daniel Coughlin, Patrick O'Sullivan, Alexander
Sullivan and Woodruff, alias Black, and them safely keep until
discharged by due course of law.
Witness my hand this 11th day of June, A. D. 1889.
HENRY L. HERTZ,
Coroner Cook County.
Palmer had hardly reached the last word, when Sullivan remarked,
without a perceptible tremor in his voice:
"Will you not remain here with me over night, Palmer?"
"I have no authority to do that," answered the officer, after a moment's
hesitation, "I was instructed to take you down to the jail. I am sorry,
but I shall have to do it."
"Very well," replied Sullivan, "I should like to have some clean linen
with me or have it sent over."
"Certainly, that will be granted," replied Officer Palmer.
"Wait till I get my hat and coat," said Mr. Sullivan.
He walked out of the parlor into the hall-way, took down a light
overcoat from the coat-rack, and put it on. Palmer assisted him.
"You are taking this very coolly, Mr. Sullivan," said the officer.
"Yes," was the answer, "why shouldn't I? My conscience does not trouble
me."
"This proceeding was not altogether unexpected?"
"Well, yes, it was rather, at this hour of the night."
Brown stepped to the door and Broderick followed. Sullivan came behind.
"I am ready," he said.
Brown opened the door. Broderick stepped out, closely followed by
Sullivan and Palmer. The three men went down the steps to the sidewalk,
where they were met by Williams. All four entered the carriage which was
in waiting. A dozen people were on the sidewalk, and Sullivan's next
door neighbors had gathered on the veranda to see the Irish leader
driven away. The driver gathered his reins, wheeled the horses around,
and started them toward Dearborn avenue at a rapid trot. The vehicle had
barely reached the corner when a little newsboy, with a big bundle of
evening papers under his left arm, and waving an open one with his
right, ran up to the carriage window.
"Here is your extra," he screamed, with all the strength of his
infantile lungs. "All about Alexander Sullivan charged with Cronin's
murder."
Not a muscle of Sullivan's face moved, not a fibre of his frame, so far
as the officers observed, so much as twitched. He sat in his seat as
motionless as a statue, apparently the most unconcerned of the four
occupants of the vehicle.
Within five minutes the jail was reached. Williams was the first to
alight, and, going up the steps, two at a time, he rapped heavily upon
the iron door. In a moment it was opened. He ran down again to the
carriage, and the other three men, Sullivan included, stepped out. The
prisoner ascended the stone steps to the jail with deliberation, nodded
to a bailiff who bade him good evening, and passed in. Not a word was
spoken as the little party crossed the hall way and yard. The turnkey
had evidently been prepared for the new arrival, for, no sooner had
Palmer reached the head of the little stairway leading to the jail
proper, than the iron gates swung open for their reception. In a
dignified manner Sullivan bowed to the bailiff inside, but did not
speak. The full light of a half dozen gas jets shone full on his face.
Not the slightest change was observable in his appearance. He was just
as cool, just as collected, just as courteous, as he had appeared to his
clients in his office but a few hours before. He stepped up to the
wicket as Palmer read the mittimus to the deputy jailer, and, when the
latter bade him a cordial good evening, he merely nodded his head. The
officials did not ask him a single question, and when one of the
bystanders approached him and asked: "Have you anything to say
to-night?" he replied, in a polite but firm tone that admitted of no
doubt as to its meaning:
"No, not to-night. What I have to say will be said in court. I have no
more to say to-night than I had a week ago." With these words he shook
hands with the detectives and others present whom he knew personally.
The door to the inner cage and corridor opened, and, as soon as he had
stepped in, was pulled to and locked.
The ex-Irish leader, whose name was a household word wherever,
throughout the wide world, two or three of the Irish race were gathered
together, was a prisoner of the State, a prisoner charged with
complicity in one of the most dastardly and cold blooded murders that
had ever disgraced a civilized community.
Yet, even now, his phenomenal firmness and self possession remained with
him. For a few moments he paced the corridor while the turnkeys arranged
the bedding which had been specially provided for him in Cell number 25
of "Murderers' Row."
"This way if you please," said one of the jailers, when this had been
done.
With a respectful half inclination of the body, Sullivan stepped into
the narrow cell, and the big key grated in the lock. When, ten minutes
later, the same jailer peered in through the grating, the prisoner,
stretched upon his cot, was as sound asleep as a new born babe.
Many of the friends of the murdered physician remained in their
headquarters until the arrest had been fully accomplished, and there was
considerable jubilation when the information that Sullivan had been
placed behind the bars was received. Telegrams conveying the
developments of the day were sent to scores of prominent Irishmen in the
leading cities of the country.
"This is a splendid days work," said Luke Dillon. "This crime will now
be fully exposed. The plot will be unraveled and guilty brought to
punishment."
"Everything is progressing in the right direction," said P. W. Dunne,
one of the closest friends of the dead man, "I am the last man to gloat
over a fallen foe, but Alexander Sullivan's arrest comes none too soon."
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN'S EVENTFUL LIFE.
Alexander Sullivan had been a conspicuous figure in Chicago's
political life for some time, and a few years before had been a
prominent figure in two of the most exciting murder trials ever
witnessed in that city. Many persons believed, from the active part
which Alexander Sullivan has taken in Irish affairs, that he was by
birth an Irishman. He was a native of Amherstburg, Ont., where his
father was stationed in the British military service. He went to
Detroit in his youth and was engaged for a time in the boot and
shoe store of A. J. Bour. Subsequently he set up in the same trade
for himself, his store being in the Bresler Block, on Michigan
avenue. He was not a success in the business, and his career in it
was ended by the destruction of the establishment by fire, the work
of an incendiary. It was charged by his enemies that he set the
fire himself, but an investigation failed to fasten the guilt upon
him.
Before this time he had made himself conspicuous in the trades
unions as an advocate of the labor movement, then quite strong. In
the political campaign of 1868 he took the stump for the Republican
candidate. He was a polished and forcible speaker, and did
excellent service throughout the State. His political course
greatly offended his Irish brethren, nearly all of whom were
Democrats, and they denounced him with great vigor. Soon after the
installation of President Grant he was appointed Collector of
Internal Revenue at Santa Fe, N. M., but was not confirmed.
Subsequently, however, he was made Secretary of the Territory. He
established a Republican paper at Santa Fe, and published it for
some time. He became embroiled in several quarrels in the
Territory, and was once shot at by Gen. Heath. He was next heard of
in this city, where he was connected in a reportorial capacity with
the _Inter-Ocean_ and the _Times_. In 1873 he was made Secretary of
the Board of Public Works, and held it for some time.
About 1874 he was married to Miss Margaret Buchanan, who for some
time occupied a prominent position as a teacher in the public
schools, at one time being Principal of the Houghton School. The
evening of Aug. 7, 1876, Mr. Sullivan shot and killed Francis
Hanford, Principal of the North Division High School in this city.
The record is that at a meeting of the City Council on the evening
mentioned, when the report of the Committee on Schools was
submitted, it was accompanied by two letters written by Mr.
Hanford, one of which made this statement: "The instigator and
engineer-in-chief of all the deviltry connected with the
legislation of the Board of Education is Mrs. Sullivan, wife of the
Secretary of the Board of Public Works."
The letters further accused Mr. Sullivan's wife of bringing
editorial and Catholic influences to bear upon the Board of
Education, and of conspiring with Mayor Colvin and others to have
J. L. Pickard, Superintendent of Public Schools, superseded by
Duane Doty. Duane Doty and Mrs. Sullivan, it was further averred,
were a "mutual admiration society."
Sullivan was present in the Council when these reflections on his
wife were read. He went home, and, after narrating the case to Mrs.
Sullivan, took her and a younger brother in a carriage to Mr.
Hanford's house, and, meeting Hanford on the sidewalk in front of
his house, demanded a retraction of what he had written. Hanford
refused to give it. Sullivan struck him, and a general squabble
ensued, during which, it was alleged, Hanford pushed Mrs. Sullivan,
and thereupon Sullivan shot him. Hanford died in thirty minutes.
Sullivan was indicted for murder and tried twice. The first trial
began Oct, 17 and ended Oct. 26. The jury disagreed. It stood
eleven for acquittal and one for conviction. The second trial began
Feb. 27 and ended March 10. Sullivan was acquitted.
At the time there was some talk of indicting the jury, a strong
belief prevailing that their verdict had been bought. The jury,
however, were never molested. Since his acquittal Mr. Sullivan had
been practicing law in Chicago and gathering unto himself that
influence with Irish secret societies, notably the Clan-na-Gael,
which resulted in his election and re-election as President of the
new Land League, which consolidated the Irish-American societies of
all kinds. His power and influence was phenomenal, and he ruled
every organization with which he was connected, with an iron hand.
As a result he made many warm friends, and just as many inveterate
enemies, some of whom hated him with extraordinary intensity. Men
like Parnell and Michael Davitt, however, extended him their full
confidence, and were the first to come to his defense when the
news of his arrest was published on the other side of the Atlantic.
THE OTHER ACCUSED MEN.
Dan Coughlin, the detective, at this time was about 34 years of
age. He was a native of Michigan, and worked in the iron mines of
the northern part of that State when a boy. He arrived in Chicago
at the age of 26 and immediately fell in with Tim Crean, Florence
Sullivan, and Tom Murphy. They introduced him to Alex. Sullivan and
he secured a position on the police force through the latter.
Sullivan's influence was such that he had an easy time. He became a
pet of Capt. Schaack and stood closer to that officer than was good
for the discipline of the force.
P. O'Sullivan was born in Galena about 1853. His parents were from
Galway, Ireland. They moved to Southern Michigan soon after he was
born, and subsequently to Wisconsin, where they worked a farm which
O'Sullivan owned at the time of the tragedy. He moved to Chicago
about 1877, obtained employment as a street-car conductor, and quit
that position after about eight years to go into the ice business.
He went into politics in Lake View, and was a candidate for
Alderman on the Democratic ticket, and was beaten.
Frank Woodruff, or Black, was the son of a farmer of San Jose, Cal.
He was born in Wisconsin. He had been in various penitentiaries,
but for petty offenses. He moved to Chicago about five weeks before
the 5th of May. He was an American.