by policemen and night-watchmen in the neighbourhood of Lake
Michigan. There were three men in the waggon, a driver and two
others, who, when the waggon was first observed, sat on a large
chest which the policemen took to be a tool-chest. At one in the
morning of May 5, the watchman at Edgewater challenged these men in
the waggon, and asked them what they were doing. They said they were
trying to find the lake shore drive. The drive is not continued up
to this point, and the watchman gave them some directions, after
which they drove away. They were seen later on in the same waggon,
but without the chest. The catch-basin in which Dr. Cronin’s body was
subsequently found is half a mile from Edgewater. On the morning of
May 5, a trunk identical in all respects with that purchased by the
tenant of 117 Clark Street, in February, and afterwards removed by
Burke to the Carlson cottage, was found between this catch-basin and
the city, about three-quarters of a mile from the catch-basin. During
the trial Dr. Cronin’s clothes were found in a valise in the sewer
about a quarter of a mile further on from the point where the trunk
was found. This valise corresponded in all respects with that bought
by Simonds and delivered to him at 117 Clark Street, and afterwards
removed by Burke from Clark Street to Carlson cottage. It will be
remembered that Cronin took cotton with him to dress the wounds of
his expected patient on the evening of May 4. Cotton was found in the
trunk on May 5. It was smeared with blood, as also were the sides of
trunk.
On May 6 the convict Martin Burke called at a tinsmith’s shop, and
asked the smith to solder up a box for him. The smith wanted to raise
the lid to do his work. Martin Burke told him not to do so, and made
him secure the box by passing a metal band round it and soldering
the band. The smith had read some report as to the disappearance of
Dr. Cronin two days before. While he was soldering the box he asked
Burke what he thought of the matter. Burke replied with coarse abuse
of Cronin, denounced him as a spy, and declared he would turn up all
right.
On May 13, two men called on old Mrs. Carlson, the wife of the owner
of Carlson cottage, and tendered her another month’s rent. She
refused the offer, as she said she wished the cottage to be occupied,
and she added that no rent was due until May 20. Shortly afterwards
the Carlsons received a letter from their tenants saying that they
were sorry to give up the building, and sorry that they had had to
paint the floor, but that that was done for their sister.
On May 20, the date of the expiry of “Williams’” lease of the
cottage, the Carlsons entered the building by the window. They found
the whole of the house in confusion and signs that a severe struggle
had taken place therein. All the Clark Street furniture was there,
but the trunk was gone, the valise was gone, and the carpet was
gone. The walls and the floor were stained with blood. Paint had
been hastily daubed over the floor. The arm of the rocking-chair was
wrenched off and a key, which afterwards proved to fit the lock of
the bloodstained trunk discovered on May 5 near Edgewater, was found
under a bureau, stained with some of the paint which had been applied
to the floor.
On May 21, the Carlsons reported the state of their cottage to the
police, and on May 22 some men engaged in cleaning the sewers found
the naked body of Cronin in the catch-basin. Some cotton similar to
that taken away by the doctor on the evening of May 4, and similar
to that found in the bloody trunk on May 5, was also found with the
body in the catch-basin. The head of the corpse was cut in a dozen
different places on the back and temples.
As soon as the body was identified, Martin Burke fled from Chicago.
He crossed the Canadian frontier, and was finally traced to Winnipeg,
where he was arrested under an assumed name. He had taken a ticket
from Winnipeg to Liverpool.
Kunze has rightly escaped with a much less severe sentence than his
co-conspirators. The more material of the allegations against him, in
addition to the fact mentioned above of his having driven Coughlin
to the cottage on the night of the murder, are that he was seen in
the rooms hired by Simonds at 117 Clark Street, and that he told a
fellow-workman after the murder, but before the discovery of the
body, that he knew Cronin was murdered, and that the body would never
be found.
The substantive defence appears to have consisted chiefly of a series
of _alibis_. They were of the familiar Irish type—a type which in
the graphic American tongue is described as “lop-sided.”
Full reports of the speeches for the defence and of the concluding
arguments for the State have not yet reached this country, and can
hardly be expected for some days. But whatever the line taken by
counsel for the prisoners may have been, it has failed to prevent a
purely American jury of citizens of Cook County from convicting and
sentencing to severe punishment four members of as foul and wicked
a conspiracy as ever was hatched by Irish brains. That conspiracy,
as the evidence shows, was itself the outcome of those intestine
quarrels that by a just retribution ever corrode the heart of the
Irish-American plots against this country. It was the State’s
Attorney’s cue to paint Dr. Cronin as an innocent and patriotic
Irishman, murdered by the hands of villainous rivals. But the true
nature of the patriotic society to which Dr. Cronin belonged, and
to the hands of whose members he owes his dreadful end, can hardly
escape the American public when they come to study the records of
the Cronin trial and the verdict of the Chicago jury. Whether that
study will nerve the honest citizens of the Republic to rise against
the tyranny of Irish machine-men, and purge their name and nation of
the stain of harbouring and tolerating such associations, remains to
be seen. At any rate, the people of Illinois are to be congratulated
on their victory—a victory which, in spite of endless “exceptions”
taken on behalf of the prisoners throughout the case, and the endless
series of appeals allowed by American law, will hardly be affected
in the long run by any fresh proceedings. On the other hand, the
convictions may not improbably result in some of the convicts turning
informers _more patrio_, and thus bringing the real prime movers in
the murder, whose existence is widely believed in in America, in turn
to their doom.—_The Times_, 17th December 1889.
APPENDIX III.
[Illustration: (page 1 of 2 of a handwritten letter)]
[Illustration: (page 2 of 2 of a handwritten letter)]
_NOTE.—The above letter was written to me by Sullivan before the
trial of the charges brought against him by Cronin, and refers to
evidence being collected by Sullivan to refute those charges. “D.”
means division, “J. G.” and “S. G.” mean Junior Guardian and Senior
Guardian; and the use of these initials peculiar to the Organization
prove Sullivan’s continued participation in the Clan-na-Gael._
H. LE C.
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Transcriber’s Note: the following is a transcription of the |
| handwritten text of this letter. |
| |
| Aug 30 1888 |
| |
| My Dear Doctor |
| |
| Just rec’d your telegram. Will you, if the enclosed are correct, |
| subscribe to and return them to me? I am not sure whether you |
| were in the ’86 convention. Of course, I know you were in ’84. |
| You can subscribe before a notary or before your J. G. or S. G. |
| Please fill in the blanks. On the first line, your name, on the |
| 2d, no. of D. On line at end, sign your name and write in name |
| of county at the head. |
| In haste |
| Sincerely |
| Alex |
| |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
INDEX.
Agnew, Frank, details of, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael
in 1876, 172.
American Army, enlisted in, 9;
different engagements with, 11, 12.
American War, episodes in connection with, 13-19.
Anderson, Mr., communications with, 60, 100;
my reports to him regarding conversation with Mr. Parnell, 176;
and regarding my visit to Ireland, 181;
informs me of desire of _Times_ for my services, 266;
introduces me to Mr. Houston, 267;
returns me my letters, 268;
my tribute to, 271.
Betts, Rev. Dr., at Dynamite Convention, 199;
presides over Clan-na-Gael caucus prior to League conventions, 206,
227.
Boland, Michael, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 125;
convicted of misappropriation of Clan-na-Gael funds, 261.
Bourke, General Thomas, on Executive of Irish Confederation, 104;
further details of, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael, 121;
trustee of Skirmishing Fund, 137.
Boyton, Michael, Devoy’s references to, as League organiser and
Clan-na-Gael emissary, 157;
interview with, at Kilmainham Prison, 179;
his views on situation in Ireland, 180.
Brennan, Thomas, Secretary of Land League in Ireland, at Philadelphia
Convention, 209;
story of his escape from Dublin, 230.
Breslin, John J., details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 124;
trustee of Skirmishing Fund, 136;
assists Stephens to escape from Richmond Bridewell, Dublin, 164.
Buffalo, the row at, 186.
Canadian Invasion, story of the first, 31;
story of the second, 82-85.
Carey, James, evidence of, regarding hand-grenade, 158.
Carroll, Dr. William, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 122;
trustee of Skirmishing Fund, 136;
action in connection with proposed alliance with Russia, 140;
visit to, on behalf of Mr. Parnell, and his views regarding
position, 182.
Clan-na-Gael, the beginning of the, 106;
object of, 107;
views which led to formation of, 108;
general principles and methods of the, 110;
form of admission to, 112;
governing body of, 115;
appointed on Military Board of, 119;
leading men of the, 120;
and the Skirmishing Fund, 136;
work of the, 139;
proposed alliance of, with Russia, 139;
controls the Land League, 152;
letter from Devoy regarding same, 154;
Mr. Parnell on difficulties with Irish members of, 175;
Michael Boyton on same, 180;
Alex. Sullivan elected president of, 191;
change of constitution of, 191;
manipulating League organisation, 204;
details of scheme for same, 205;
and Phœnix Park murders, 208;
and Philadelphia Convention of Land League, 211;
Sullivan’s working of, 218;
books and documents burnt, 220;
and League Convention of 1886, 236;
Egan and National League, 237;
and Home Rule Bill, 246-248;
and League movement, 250;
finding of committee of, on Cronin charges, 261.
Clerkenwell Explosion, references to, 71.
Clingen, Colonel, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 122;
arranges for my bringing letters from Devoy to Europe, 159.
Collins, P. A., candidature for presidency of National League in
America unsuccessful, because of his offer of reward for
discovery of Phœnix Park murderers, 215.
Condon, O’Meagher, at Dynamite Convention, 198.
Conventions, Fenian, at Philadelphia, 60;
at New York, 76;
Clan-na-Gael, at Pennsylvania, 146;
at Wilkesbarre, 149;
Land League, at Buffalo, 186;
“Dynamite,” at Chicago, 187-194;
Land League, at Chicago, 204;
National League, at Philadelphia, 211;
at Boston, 227;
Clan-na-Gael, at Chicago, 231;
National League, at Chicago, 236;
Clan-na-Gael, at Chicago, 247, 259.
Cronin, Dr. P. H., reference to, 123;
attacks Sullivan for misappropriation of funds, 220;
sketch of his life, 221;
expelled from Clan-na-Gael, 226;
development of dispute between, and Sullivan, 258;
murder of, 262;
corroboration of my evidence through murder of, 270;
the story of the murder of, Appendix.
Cross, Colonel, life and methods of, 44-48.
Daly, “Jack,” story of, and Dynamite Campaign, 243;
letters to Breslin on Home Office, 244.
Davitt, Michael, release and arrival of in America, 142;
opinions of, at this time, 143;
visits camps of Clan-na-Gael, 143;
meets with Devoy, 143;
takes up “New Departure,” 143;
returns to Ireland, 146;
second visit to America, 151;
advocates the Land League movement, 152;
takes ill at Braidwood, 152;
gives information unawares, 152;
paid back moneys advanced from Skirmishing Fund, 153;
Dr. Carroll’s views regarding, 183;
speech against, by Devoy, 259.
Devine, Joseph, story of escape of, from Illinois, 50.
Devoy, John, arrival and sketch of, 103;
further details regarding, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael,
76, 121;
trustee of Skirmishing Fund, 137;
and “New Departure,” 143;
letters regarding same, 145;
goes to Ireland as secret agent of Clan-na-Gael, 146;
report regarding position of revolutionary forces in Ireland, 147;
issues circular to Clan-na-Gael camps regarding Land League, 154;
supplies details of plots and plans of Clan-na-Gael, 155;
intrusts me with letters to Egan and O’Leary, 159;
communication with regard to Mr. Parnell’s views, 181;
letter from him regarding same, 182;
at Dynamite Convention, 199;
on Phœnix Park murders, 208;
in opposition to Sullivan, 219;
joins forces with Dr. Cronin, 225;
secedes from Clan-na-Gael, 226;
speech against Davitt, 259.
Documents, in connection with second Canadian raid, 78;
in connection with Clan-na-Gael, 112;
my procedure with regard to, 128;
telegram regarding “New Departure,” 144;
Devoy’s letter, 145;
Devoy’s letter _re_ League and Clan-na-Gael, 154;
my report to my “camp” of League Convention, 213;
Egan’s letter of introduction to League in America, 234;
Clan-na-Gael circulars _re_ Home Rule Bill, 246, 247;
Clan-na-Gael resolution re National League, 250;
extract from Cronin report on misappropriation of funds, 263.
Dunne, P. W., details regarding, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael,
123.
Dynamite, invention of hand-grenade, 158;
Convention of 1881, 187;
proceedings at, 188;
description of, 194;
Sullivan supplies particulars of campaign of 1883, 217;
sketch of same in England, 237;
methods of conveying, 240-242.
Egan, Patrick, and rescue of Australian prisoners, 73;
Devoy intrusts me with letter to, 159;
first meeting with, in Paris, 160;
description of, 161;
life with, in Paris, 167;
as “a Land Leaguer, and something else besides,” 168;
on Mr. Parnell as a Revolutionist, 169;
on the Land League accounts and audit, 169;
introduces me to M.P.’s, 171;
Devoy on, and Phœnix Park murders, 208;
arrival of, in America, 209;
position as regards matters in America, 211;
and Clan-na-Gael caucus in connection with Philadelphia Convention,
211;
appointed president of American National League, 227;
a tribute to, 228;
tells the story of his escape from Dublin, 229;
on Dr. Gallaher and Dynamite Campaign, 230;
speech at camp meeting at Philadelphia, 231;
supplies me with general introduction to League in America, 234;
circulars of, as president of League, to camps of Clan-na-Gael,
237;
charges by Rossa against, in connection with £20,000 paid to
Sullivan, 264.
England, my first visit to, 36;
my second, 159;
my third, 257;
my fourth and last, 257.
Facsimile of Fenian bond, 27.
Fatalism, thoughts on, 24.
Feeley, Denis, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 124;
at the Dynamite Convention, 201;
acquitted but censured in connection with Cronin charges, 261.
Fenianism, state of affairs in connection with, 25;
methods of obtaining money for, 27;
Andrew Johnson’s government and, 28;
my first connection with, 29.
Fenian Brotherhood, I join the, 38;
I organise a “camp” or “circle” of, 40;
appointed major and military organiser of, 54;
my first speech to, 56;
appointed inspector-general of, 60;
appointed assistant-adjutant-general of, 74;
appointed adjutant-general and brigadier-general of, 82.
Fenian prisoners, rescue of, from Australia, 72.
Finerty, John F., and first Canadian invasion, 31;
at League Convention, 206.
Ford, Austin, medium of communication between Clan-na-Gael and _Irish
World_, 133.
Ford, Patrick, as editor of _Irish World_, advocates Skirmishing Fund,
131;
sketch of, 131;
_Irish World_ and Clan-na-Gael, 133.
Forester, Bill, escape of, from Illinois, 51.
Fox, Dr. J. G., meeting with, 251.
Gallaher, Dr., views on dynamite, 192;
at Dynamite Convention, 200;
introduced to Mr. Gladstone, 218;
organising Dynamite Campaign in England, 238;
with Sullivan in Chicago, 230;
sentence on, 241;
£1400 found on, 241.
Grant, General, and the second invasion of Canada, 88.
Hand-grenade adopted by Clan-na-Gael, 158.
Home Rule, effects of Mr. Gladstone’s Bill, 235.
Houston, Mr., first meeting with, 267;
preparation of evidence by, 269.
Hynes, Wm. J., details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 76, 123;
in communication with, regarding Mr. Parnell’s proposals, 184;
at Dynamite Convention, 196;
at Land League Convention, 206.
Inner Circle, Knights of the, 107, 117.
Ireland, visit to, 177.
Irish Confederation, formation of, 101;
executive of, 104.
Irish Republican Brotherhood, establishment of, 109;
John Devoy’s report on, 147;
troubles of Mr. Parnell with, 173;
Boyton’s references to position of, 180;
efforts of Sullivan to capture, 254.
_Irish World_, Patrick Ford in columns of, advocates Skirmishing Fund,
130;
reference to position of, 132;
and Clan-na-Gael, 133;
and Skirmishing Fund, 137;
statement of accounts, 193.
Johnson, Andrew, and first Canadian raid, 28, 35;
interview with, 57.
Jubilee Explosion Plot, reference to, 254;
Millen’s connection with, 255;
story of the, Appendix.
Kenny, Dr., M.P., introduced to, by Patrick Egan, 179;
assisted by him to interviews with Boyton and others, 179.
Kerwin, Michael, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 78, 124.
Land League and Clan-na-Gael. See latter.
Lomasney, Thos., first dealings with, 100;
description of, 101;
views on dynamite, 192;
dynamite work in England, 222.
Luby, Thos. Clarke, on executive of Irish Confederation, 104;
further details regarding, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael,
121;
trustee of Skirmishing Fund, 137.
M‘Micken, Judge, first communications with, 60;
his kindly treatment of me, 61;
and my troubles in connection with journey to Ottawa, 94;
my last meeting with, 273.
Medicine, I commence study of, 36;
resume study of, 97;
I enter Detroit College of, 100;
I become a fully qualified doctor of, 105;
I utilise my connection with, 126.
Meledy, Joseph, supplies details of “active” work of Clan-na-Gael,
158.
Millen, General, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 125;
goes to Ireland as military inspector for Clan-na-Gael, 146;
my meeting with, in Paris, 253;
his connection with Jubilee Explosion Plot, 254 and Appendix.
Moroney, Joseph, and Jubilee Plot, 256;
introduced by J. S. Nolan, M.P., to House of Commons, 256;
in possession of £1200 for dynamite work, 274;
his movements in connection with same, Appendix.
New Departure, Devoy and Davitt and, 143;
sketch of, 144;
advocated by Devoy in Ireland, 146;
received with enthusiasm by the Gaels, 149.
[See also “Davitt” and “Devoy.”]
O’Connor, John, _alias_ Dr. Clarke, travelling agent for Clan-na-Gael
in Europe and ally of Egan, 190.
O’Donovan Rossa, arrival of, and sketch of, 102;
further details regarding, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael,
121;
advocates “Skirmishing Fund,” 130, 135;
Devoy on difficulties regarding, 156;
expelled from Clan-na-Gael, 209;
work of his agents in England, 237;
controversy with Egan regarding the £20,000, 264.
O’Kelly, J. J., member of executive of Irish Confederation, 104;
obtains seat in Parliament by misappropriation of Clan-na-Gael
funds, 153;
interview with, in House of Commons, 172.
O’Leary, John, letter for, given me by Devoy, 159;
my first meeting with, 161;
Sullivan informs me, must be got rid of, 185.
O’Neill, General John, and Fenianism, 29;
commands first invasion of Canada, 32;
extract of report regarding same, 34;
sketch of his life, 38-40;
my loan to, 77;
general orders of, in connection with second invasion of Canada,
83;
speech to the invaders, 85;
arrest of, 88;
sentence on, 97;
and the Riel Rebellion, 98;
last days of, 99.
O’Reilly, John Boyle, arrival in America of, 72;
at invasion of Canada, 88.
Parnell, Mr., and the New Departure, 144;
arrival in America, 130;
supported everywhere by Clan-na-Gael representatives, 130;
returns to Ireland for General Election, 151;
Devoy on position of, with regard to Clan-na-Gael, 157;
my first meeting with, 171;
House of Commons interview with, 175;
gives me his portrait, 177;
his request to me carried out, 190;
and Kilmainham Treaty, 210;
cables to American supporters, 212;
subsequent references to, 215, 235, 236, 255.
Powderly, J. V., speech at Dynamite Convention, 201;
at Land League Convention, 206.
Phœnix Park murders, Clan-na-Gael and Devoy and, 207.
Rebow, Mr. John, communicates my letters regarding Canadian invasion
to Government, 30;
arranges for my joining Secret Service, 37.
Revolutionary Directory of Clan-na-Gael, details regarding, 116;
Devoy supplies particulars regarding plans of, 155;
referred to with respect to Mr. Parnell’s complaint regarding Irish
Republican Brotherhood, 186;
complaints regarding, 188.
Reynolds, James, details regarding, and his connection with
Clan-na-Gael, 122;
trustee of Skirmishing Fund, 136.
Russia, Clan-na-Gael alliance with, 140.
Secret Service, I join the, 37;
general references to, 273-276.
Sheridan, P. J., in Kilmainham Prison, 179;
arrival of, in America, 209.
Skirmishing Fund and O’Donovan Rossa, 121;
advocated in _Irish World_, 131;
and Clan-na-Gael, 136;
pays for expenses of Devoy and Millen in Ireland, 149;
statement of accounts of, from _Irish World_, 193.
Special Commission, my offer of evidence for, 259;
I appear as a witness at, 269.
Speech, my first Irish, 55.
Stephens, James, brought from France for Irish Confederation, 104;
my first meeting with, 163;
story of his escape from Richmond Bridewell, 164.
Stone of Destiny, plot to obtain, 224.
Sullivan, Alexander, my first meeting with, 61;
the early career of, 62;
manipulation of the Irish vote in America by, 63;
appointed collector of internal revenue at Santa Fé, 65;
reporter in Chicago, 65;
further details regarding, and his connection with Clan-na-Gael
in 1876, 120;
supplies details of “active” work of Clan-na-Gael, 158;
my report to, regarding Mr. Parnell’s views, 184;
informs me result of same, 185;
elected president of Clan-na-Gael, 191;
trip to Europe, 191;
at Dynamite Convention, 203;
elected president of Land League, 212;
supplies particulars of Dynamite Campaign of 1883, 217;
charged with misappropriation, 219;
at war with Cronin and Devoy, 225;
Mr. Sexton’s tribute to, 228;
and J. G. Blaine’s candidature, 235;
tried and acquitted but censured in connection with Cronin’s
charges, 261;
proved to have received £20,000 from Egan in Paris in 1882, 263;
alleged connection with Cronin murder, Appendix.
Sullivan, A. M., the late, reference to, 170;
cautioned regarding, 177;
story about Mr. Biggar, 178.
“Times,” the, my first dealings with, 266.
Triangle, the, formed in connection with split in Clan-na-Gael, 220;
acknowledgments of money received by, 231;
charges against, 232.
Tynan, P. J., No. One of the Phœnix Park murders, present at Boston
Convention, 228.
“United Irishmen,” the, of New York, 107.
“United Brotherhood,” reference to, 110.
“U. S.,” formation of, 219.
“V. C.” See “Clan-na-Gael.”
Walsh, R. P., the father of the Clan-na-Gael, 108.
THE END.
PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
FOOTNOTES:
[1] I was not the only member of the family fighting for Queen and
country then. Two others of my brothers entered the army at home. One
is to-day a commissioned officer in South Africa; the other, poor
fellow, left his bones to whiten on the battlefield of Tel-el-Kebir.
[2] The Irish for “Do you understand?”