The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-06

chopped meat, lay partly beneath the body. Reen
naturally supposed that he had done the deed. The
police were Immediately informed OF the affair and
every available officer was put upon the search for
Keen. All efforts were unavailing however, and
he could not be found No one OF the police remem
bered OF ever having seen him, and thus his identity
and apprehension were matters OF difficulty. About
ten minutes before two O'clock however, he came
to the City Marshal's ONCE told who he was, and
gave himself up: He was not ct all communicative
and by advice OF his counsel Mr. E. G. Walker said
little. The City Marshal said to him, "what was
the matter with you and Dennis9'' and he replied
Nothing was the matter with US. didn't have
any words with him. He did not seem agitated
and showed neither guilt nor fear. He was
manned there until last evening, when he was taken
to the jail in East Cambridge, the convenences of
the Marshals Office not being suitable for his keep
ing.
Reen is about five feet six inches in height. very
strongly built and not very intelligent looking.
He IL an0nt thirty TWO years or age ana Vas Married
q short time since He Is native Of Ireland, and
only laH there about six months ago. The murdered
man was also Irish by BIRTH but had been In this
country quite long time and had been employee
forty-fve years OF age, and leaves wife and
five children. He had the reputation OF being
them had ever given the police any trouble. The
wages Of Reen were trusteed short time since
by Cronan, and the matter was in court on Thurs
day.
There seems hardly room for doubt that Reen
dealt Cronan the deadly blow. and 1t can be nothing
but q case OF cOld-bloodcd. premeditated murder.
The theory Is very reasonable that there illfee
ing on the part OF Reen toward the deceased He
brooded over 1t, and while at work with Cronan YES
terday morning saw his chance for revenge while
the latter was STOPPING over sh0veng meat into the
cauldron by his side, and with the axe already in
hand was prompted to strike him as he did There
could have been no. scuffe or struggle, or even
angry words, or the noise would have attracted
the attention OF the men in the adjoining
room. AS it was they were not aware OF the
dreadful deed until some time after 1t had occurred
certainly until Reen had plenty OF time to escape.
The murdered man when struck fell upon pile OF
meat which deadened the noise OF his fall. He, OF
word Coroner Bradford was Immediately noti-
fed OF the murder, and summoned o jury, who
Viewed the body and the surroundings of the horri
morning, when the inquest will be held Hundreds
Of people visited the vicinity OF the murder yester
day. and many tried unsuccessfully to get look at
the prisoner While confined at the station house.
The first witness was Albion Lord, who discovered
the body Of Cronan IN the factory between eight and
| chopping block, and he Immediately alarmed the
men In the next room, who said .'lt Is Johnny"
nickname Cronan had. The head was attached to
the body by small piece OF flesh under the chin.
| The clcaver lay near by covered with blood, and
not employed regularly In that and taking
the place OF another man, who was sick, for day
Or. Bancroft who examined the body in the count
ing r0om said that the body was warm the head be-
ing nearly severed from the trunk the skin IN front or
the neck alone remaining. The spinal marrow, Blood
vessels, nerves and muscles were closed The axe
passed between the second ana tnira verteore,
half an inch below the right ear, and an inch and
half below the left ear The man must have died
instantly. There were no other bruises He found
the organs OF the body perfectly healthy. There was
probably but one blow given, while the deceased was
Mr. Lord was recalled and stated that Cronan had
evidently put one shovelfu oil suet into basket he
had and the shovel was fun OF suet, Cronan having
evidently been in the act OF filling the basket The
usual way was to empty the basket when full into
the boiler. He did not know OF Reenes having
visited the shop after the murder, ana first heard Of
him after he surrendered himself 20 the City Marshal
Andrew Furbush, the proprietor OF the fat factory
ness-Cronan was in his employ. and was perform
ing unusual work yesterday morning; the man who
usually worked with Reene was not at work yester
day and he put Cr0DaD In his place; Cronan arrived
at half-past five O'Clock and he told him II Hickey,
the sick man, did not appear. to go TO work with
Rene and run tallow kettle' Cronan said he did
not want TO work with Rene; Mr. Furbush told him
there would be no trouble and advised him to say
not come and he did not want to work with Reene
some OF the other men would; witness had seen
Reene before haf-past five O'Clock, and when Reene
told him that Hickey had not come he ordered
Reene to go to work chopplng and some other man
would run the boilers" he left Rene then, and
the interview with Cronan followed; he left Cro-
nan, and the latter went do chores, and the
next time he saw him was when his body was found
near the block, a. described by MT Lord; Cronan
trouble had existed between Rene and his sister
tCronans wife, more tnan between Reene and Gro
nan; Rene commenced TO work Tor him two years
ago last spring, and was engaged mt the request Of
Cronan; Rene had worked for him ever since; the
first difficulty between the two men commenced last
spring. when they came into the counting room and
asked the b0okkeeper TO reckon up how much so many
weeks labor would amount to- The work was per-
formed and IS week for Reenes board at Cronan's
was taken out; 1t appeared that Cronan owed Reene
forty dollars, and went to his house, got the money
and gave II to Reene with sovereign Rene had
given TO Cronans little boy; Mrs. Cronan was away
at that time, after she got home Cronan told her
in gold winch Cronan had sent to Ireland to defray
Reene's expenses to this country mad not been
reckoned IN the above settlement; Mr.. Cronan DID
not think or that, but his wife did, Mrs. Cronan also
had list OF articles OF clothing which she had
bought for Reene Mrs. Cronan said the forty dollars
paid to Reene belonged TO Cronan, as the forty dol
lars In gold sent to Ireland to Rene had
never been refunded. Reene swore the forty
ing at Mrs. Cronan his sister and calling her
foul names, he struck her in the face. giving her
black eye, which lasted Q month; ootn were quick
tempered; Mr.. Furbush stopped Rene and prevent
ed Mrs. Cronan from having Reene arrested; she was
bound to have the forty dollars and threatened to
prosecute Rene: the witness had persuaded her all
summer not to prosecute and whenever he talked 10
Rene about IL he got mad: Mr.. Cr0nan would not
have instituted the suit but for his wife, the proceed
inps were ed about three four weeks ago.
the writ was served on friday ana on the next day
Saturday Reene did not ask FOR money, a. ne Knew
about the writ; on the next Friday Reene asked Tor
money and he paid him; that same night
he found another writ and found that
before Furbush, and got his money before Furbush
was that q second writ had been Issued; on the
next week another wrt was issue anu an msene w
some money, and witness offered TO let him nave
some money on his next weeks pay; Reene swore
roundy and told what he had given Cronans chill
dren: Cronan told Rene TO reckon up the value OF
his gifts and he would take IL out OF the money due
to hm Rene swore he did nOhwe him anything aud
attempted to assault him, but Mr. Furbush prevented
any quarrel there.
(lt was here announced that the blood on the axe
or ceaver must be- analysed, to see II IL was human
blood.)
Mr.. Furbush continued his testimony AT the
scene he had just described Reene said, .sBy Cd,
you are trying TO injure me, and win have my
revenge' Rene said he did not mean Furbusll, and
left the Inference that IL was Herman he meant;
"a =.
ter having gone into court; Mr.. Dickson was there
when Rene made the threat; Cr0nan dll not say
bush that ne was afraid OF Rene: Mr.. Furbush was
In Boston when the murder occurred, and did not
return till ten O'Clock. Cr0nan had told him that
Rcene was treacherOus man and had violent
temper.
one or two other with ssses were examined, hut
their testimony was mainly coruborative Of that