The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-11-06
THE CRONIN TRIAL.
District Officer Spelman Tells
About the Letters
Which Passed Between Him and Beggs
Regarding C,an-Na-Gael
Atfairs.

Significant Paragraph in Ono Of tho
Epistles Predicting Punishment for En-
emies OF the Triangle.
CHIcAao, Nov. 5.-When court opened
yesterday Edward Spelman was on hand
and was the first witness called. Mr..
Spelman said he was distiller and
lived in Peoria. He had been member
of the Clan Gael for twenty years
and was the district ofiicer district 49,
comprising the States Of Illinois, Wis
oonsin and Michigan. According TO the
constitution there is no officer above |
him in the district. The executive are |
body ofofilcers in themselves and have |
charge Of the executive affairs of the !
order. Witness said he did not know
how many composed the executive body.
Mortimer Scanlan Is one and Mr.. Ro-
mayne Is another. Witness had met
others, but did not know their names.
Witness knew Dan Coughlin. He saw
him in Peoria in January or February
he was with young man named Kunze.
Witness did not know whether prisoner
.(Kunze) was the same one or not. Dan
Coughlin came to him with letter of
introduction Witness was not positive
whether he and Coughlin talked about
DR.. Cronin or not, but he thought not.
Witness was asked by Judge Longe-
necker whether he did not tell the grand
jury that in the conversation Coughlin
had said that DR.. Cronin was --
and ought to be killed. Spelman admit
ted making the first half Of the state
ment, but said after going home and
thinking UP the matter and talking with
two men VINO had heard the conversa-
ton, he had come TO the conclusion that
he was mistaken. He also said that he
had sent his lawyer to Judge Longe-
necker and also come TO Chicago TO per-
sonally ask that he be allowed to cor
rect his testimony, but was not allowed
to do so.
The famous Beggs-Spelman testimony
was then introduced. Under date OF
February 16, 1889, Beggs wrote Spelman
that he was directed to call his attention
TO the fact that the senior guardian OF
the Columbus Club at recent meeting
had read to the assembled members the
proceedings OF the trial committee, and
also that certain camps had elected and
initiated members. before their names
had been submitted TO other camps.
Good discipline, Beggs added, called for
an investigation Of these matters. Spell
man, who simply signed sd. o. 16," re-
piled in lengthy letter, the gist Of 1t
being request that Beggs would refer
him to the section Of the law uIAier
which he was empowered to inflict a
penalty on senior guardian for disclos-
ing the proceedings Of trial committee.
Spelman concluded as follows: my
term OF Office will expire at the close OF
the month and God knows l am glad. l
IL xtyhO thiulr thau
should lead the Irish people, but think
II Is dangerous in decent men TO associ-
ate with such scamps."
On February IS Beggs replied that he
did not have the constitution; could pot
point out the action complained Of as q
violation OF any written law, but thought
such conduct was prejudical to the order
ssWhy," he asked, 'if men are sincere
are they always opening old sores. The
majority OF our men believe the parties
charged (referring 10 the triangle) are
innocent Of wrong doing, and the man OF
men who make the charges are MOI
friends of Ireland" Beggs' letter con
cluded with this significant paragraph
ssPersonally, think it better not X
notice such things. but am only one
The men who are in power will in TINT
realize the motives OF those who are con
tinually breeding disorder in their rank
and day Of punishment'will come.p
Spelman said he had contributed $50
for the prosecution OF the murderers an'
was liable for s4OO more. Beggs ha'
never preferred any chargesagainst Gro
min. Witness went on to say that Gro
min was an agitator and fond Of malIini
charges.
Annie Farrar, widow and a forme
patron of 0'Sullivan, the ice dealer, wa
the first witness at the afternoon ses
sion. She testified that 0'Sulliva
called at her house in May TO see abou
taking ice, The widow spoke to the ic
man about tho finding OF Cronin's bod
and said "lt is something fearful
decoy man away and murder him lilE
that To this O'Sullivan replied: "The
saw he is British spy and has give
away the secrets OF certain order, an
II he did that he ought to be killed; b
rot no worse than he deserved"
S. Steib, an ex-policeman, testifie
that on the night OF May he was St
toned at the corner of Cooper and Flu
lerton streets. About 11:30 o'clock
noticed a horse and wagon, the latt'
containing large trunk, being drive
east on Fullerton street There wei
three men in the wagon, but the witne
was unable to say how they we
dressed, and, in fact, gave very little q
tention TO the entire rig, as here VI
n nothing suspicious about 1t and itsocc
pants.
Officer John A. Smith was then call
TO the stand. He swore that on the mig
OF May 4 ho saw long wagon, contai
ing largo box and three men, hitch
TO dark colored horse, driving north
Clark street near Frederick street and
few minutes after twelve o'clock. II
men we're dressed in dark clothes. Ju
after pulling his box at two q. m. on I
same night the witness noticed the SAL
4 vehicle and men on Clark street ne
Diversy street, driving south The b
was still in the wagon.
The body was dumped into the cat
y basin at fifty-ninth street and Eva
ton avenue, about two miles from FRI
~ erick and Clark streets. From the plt
where the wagon was seen by Steib
Frederick street is about one half hou
III ride, and from Frederick street TO
lake, where tho murderers first took
& BODY, thence TO the catch basin back
NJ Diversy street. would require abb
A two hours TO drive over. lf &
~ In Favor OF Revision.