The Indianapolis journal., 1889-07-16

The States Attorney Accused Of Attempting
to Force Confession from Him.

CHICAGO, July ia somewhat sensa-
tional move was made in the Cronin case
to-day. John +. Beggs, the imprisoned
senior guardian of camp No. 20, Clan-na-
Gael, filed q new petition for writ of
habeas corpus, giving as reason why he
should be set at liberty that he has been
jailed and indicted solely in the hope that
he would thus be forced to turn States evil
dence. The testimony expected of him, he
says. has no foundation in fact. Beggs, in
his petition. further says that while he was
illegally imprisoned and secreted from his
friends immediately preceding his in
dictment, he was taken before the
States attorney, who tried to in
duce him to make certain state
ments. the facts SO desired not being
within the knowledge of Beggs, and that
said, in substance: by the newspapers
you are already condemned; the only way,
or best way, out of 1t for you IS to- stand
with US" meaning thereby to stand with
the prosecution, and further stating III
the conversation: '.If you will accept en-
ployment from us we will pay you for it.
To which Beggs replied, in substance: '.If
you mean by standing with you that /
shall give you testimony by which any
persons or person might be convicted Of
the murder of DIR: Cronin, l cannot accept
your employment. for the reason that 1
have no facts which wOuld tend to convict,
or even cast suspicion upon any person, OF
causing the death of Cronin."
soon after the conversation with the
States attorney the indictment against me
was returned" says the petition, and adds:
There has been PERSISTENT and deter
mined effort on the part of the police OH
GERS and the. States attorneys office to
compel this relator to divulge certain al
legged facts stated In an anonymous letter
to the States attorney, tending to show
that some action was taken in camp No. 20
which resulted in the death of CrOnin,
which alleged facts this relatOr has failed
to give, for the reason that the same do not
exist" Beggs takes up in detail the state
ments in the anonymous letter as follows:
Your petitioner most sOlemnly and sincere
1y affirms that there Is not now, nor has
there ever been, what is known and
designated as an inner circle of the Clan
na-Gael society, and that there is not now,
nor has there ever been, an inner circle, a
secret circle, a second circle, or any subdi-
vision of said camp No. 20 of said society,
nor was committee ever appointed by
said camp to try any alleged charge against
DR.. Cronin. to the knowledge of this
relator, and certainly not during the time
in which this relator- acted as senior
guardian thereof, which was for a long
time prior to the 4th of May, 1850; and this
relatOr says tnaJ IL Is not trues as stated
the anonymou letter, that he appointed a
committee of seven. consisting of l.. r.
Buckley, Harry Jordan, Dennis OConnor,
John O'Malley, John 4. OMalley, Thomas
Murphy and Daniel Coughlin. or any other
persons, for the purpose of trying any
charges preferred against Cronin or any
person; that it is not true that said commit
tee or any other committee ever investi-
gated. to the knowledge of this relator any
charge preferred against said Cronin in
camp No. 20. at any time whatsoever. and
that such facts could not have existed for
a long time prior to May without this re-
latOr's knowledge. Wherefore this relatOr
states that all of the material facts in the
anonymous communication which. as he be-
ieves, was used as the sole pretext for his
Indictment. are untrue in fact and can
never be sustained by any proof whatsO-
ever"
The States attorney having stated that
he did not desire at the present time to
make public his case, Mr.. Beggs offers to
have the hearing take place in private.
Judge Horton agreed to hear arguments on
the petition tomorrow.
A Prolific Place for Cronin Letters.
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont, July 15.-The fol-
lowing letter was picked up to-day on the
Grand Trunk track, near Stamford, two
miles from here. by j. Kelligher. who gave
it to James QuIllan, an accountant of the
Canadian government park. 1t bears nc
postmark or stamp, and is supposed to have