The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-05
SPELLMAN ON THE STAND
THE DISTRICT GUARDIAN GOES
BACK ON HIS OWN STORY.

Ea States in Explanation that His
Memory Was Refreshed by Friends
After He Left the Grand Jury Room.
Policemen Testify to Seeing the
Wagon With the Trunk on the
Night of the Murder.
CHICAGO, Nov. 4.-The first witness
..rlAd in the Cronin trial this morning was
Edward Spellman of Peoria, ILL.,, who was
Examined on behalf of the prosecution by
the states attorney He testified that he
,vss the treasurer of the Great Eastern Dis
filling Company. care you a member of
the Gael, or United BrotherhoodY' Y'
he was asked.
therhood," he replied.
Commonly called the Clan ma -Gaelq'
"I do not know anything about that. /
do not know what you call it."
ssWell. YOU have heard it called thatg"
sT have heard good deal about it in that
yzay since this trial began"
THE CLAN-NA-GAEL GUARDS.
scYou have heard of Clan-na- Gael
guards"
"Yes"
"And in order to be member Of the
Clau-na-Gae guards you must be member
of the United BrotherhoodF'
81 do not know anything about that"
The witness then went on to testify that
he was the district officer of district No. 16,
embracing Illinois and Michigan. He said
that be was the highest officer in the dis
trict, and that his duties were laid down by
the constitution. The executive is body
in itself and the duties of its members are
also provided by the constitution.
"Do you know who constitutes that body
nowF
Mr.. Forrest-We would like to have the
record show, on behalf of the clients | rep
rent. all objection to all of this testimony
respecting the executive board and officers.
The Court-Of course you can make your
objection. and may take an exception.
Mr. Spellman then proceeded to answer
the question, and said he knew the names of
a few of them. Martin Scanlon was one,
Lawrence Buckley another, and Mr.. Ro-
mayne of New Y Ork, another.
CORRESPONDENCE WITH BEGGs.
The witness then identified certain corre-
spondence which passed between him and
Beggs in regard to the business of the
order. As the examination proceeded it
became evident that he was an unwilling
witness and that his testimony was differ
ent from that which he gave before the
grand jury, and from what the prosecution
expected. He said he met Beggs April 90,
and he said the matter referred to in their
correspondence viz: That the proceedings
of the trial committee had been read in a
certain camp in violation of the rules had
been amicably settled.
"Did you not tell me Beggs said the mat
ter had been attended toF asked the states
attorney.
"No,h answered the witness, 81 have no
recollection of II"
Spellman then testified that he knew Dan
Coughlin, who with man named Kernze
had visited Peoria year ago, and pre-
sented letter of Introduction. He had no
conversation with Coughlin about DIR.
Cronin.
GOING BACK ON HIMSELF
This was in direct contradiction of Spell
mans previous testimony, and he was
asked by States Attorney Longnecker if
he had not sworn that Coughlin spoke to
him about Cronin. There was long
wrangle over this question, which was
finally allowed.
"Did you not" asked the attorney, "say
before the grand jury under oath that
Coughlin said 'Cronin is a - Of a -,
and ought to be killed. and that he so
stated to you when in Peoria? Did you not
SO testify?"
81 did not say that to the grand jury as
the district attorney puts it to ME.
simply sald-n
The witness was here interrupted, but
finally went on as follows: II said before
the grand jury, that in conversation with
Coughlin, at Peoria, that he said Cronin was
A. -, but on reflection, and on
consultation with the other two men
present, sent my attorney to Chicago to
notify the district attorney that
was mistaken. My attorney was unable
to find Judge Longnecker, SO l came
myself specially to Chicago, and notified
Judge Longnecker and the other counsel
that if they asked me that question ON the
stand l should have to deny it, in order to
the facts. After l left the grand
jury room and went home and slept
felt annoyed and troubled. l felt that
had possibly done wrong to Coughlin, and
went Immediately to Fallons and Downs,
and told them what had sworn to before the
grand jury, and that L was bothered about
It, They said: 'Spellman, you haYe made
a mi. take. No such conversation took
place'n
Spellman was then read. Feb, 18 Beggs
wrote: why, In Gods name, if men
are sincere, will they insist upon opening
oid sores? A majority of our men believe
the parties charged to be innocent of any
criminal wrong, and to have charges made
continually that they are guilty creates Bit
terness and ill-feeling, and the man or men
VINO continue to bring charges are not
friends of Irish unity. x y +
Inc rank and file are sincere. They want
peace and the time is not far distant when
they will have it, even if it has to come TO
war. x The men who are
IN power will in time realize the motive of
those who are continually breeding disorder
IN their ranks, and the day of punishment
will Gomez
After the reading of the correspondence,
oI which extracts only are given above, a
long cross-examination was conducted by
MIR. Forrest.
sFELLMAN's RELATIONS WITH SULLIVAN.
4, The witness said, in reply to question,
Cnat he had seen Alexander Sullivan before
gong to the states attorneys office, but
Shat he went there because he had been in
toTmed that Sullivan was talking very
narohly against him, and that his visit was
AoU IN connection with the case.
BEGGS' TALK ABOUT CRoNIN.
Durlng the cross-examination, Spellman
vas asked: did Beggs ever speak with
you about any charges against DIR. Cronin
IN any case?'
"A great deal was said about Cronin, but
" place 1t upon any one man or at any one
PERIOD could not do at this time.n
- vas 1t not because of his organization