River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-05-30

STRANGERS: lie saws the house was first
rented in March by young man giving the
name of Frank Williams, but no one occu-
ped it On April - another months rent
was paid by the same young man, who said
his sister was sick in the hospital. He and
his brother had expected her to keep
house for them. but they expect
ed her out soon and would then
move into the house. The same man
called on Mrs Carlson on both these occa-
SONS but on the last one he had another
man with him whom he said was his
brother She did not see any thing more
of item and was beginning to think they
did not mean to take possession Of the
house ut all, when two or three days
before May 20. when the third payment
would fall due. a man came whom she had
never seen before, but who said he was one
of those who had taken the house and wanted
to pay for another months rent. The old
LADY, so Indgren saws, was suspicious
OF him in some way, and refused to rent to
him any more, saying she was going TO sell
the cottage The man asked her what she
wanted tor it, and when she said $1,000
he said it was too much money. He then
went away and did not return
William Mertes. a milk dealer, who lives
on Woodside avenue a door or two north of
Addison. tells a remarkable story which, in
view OF the fact that it has been definitely
settled that Or. CrOnin was murdered in
the Carlson cottage at 1873 North Ash
land avenue. has am important bear
ing on the investigation. Two weeks
ago last Saturday night between $50 and
Q o'clock Mertes was passing the Carlson
cottage when a buggy containing two men
rolled up To the edge of the ditch One of
the men. whom Mertes describes as a tall
and apparently athletic man. wearing a
brown overcoat, sprang from the buggy and
ran up the front stairs of the cottage, the
door OF which was thrown open before he
even knocked for admission. Scarcely
haa the door closed again when the
sound of loud and angry voices
vi hin the cottage startled the milk
dealer lie looked searchingly at the man
in the buggy. wondering what had brought
him To that lonely neighborhoOd at such an
hour of the night, but the strangers face
was shrouded by the brim of a soft hat,
AID Mertes was unable to tell whether
he was stout or slender, or fair or dark
The fellow whipped his horse into gallop.
drove 10 Addison avenue and then turned
in the direction OF the lake. Mertes said he
thought at the time a fight was in progress
in the cottage. but as be heard only words
he paid but little attention There were
lights IN the house. He could not olstin-
guish the words he heard Though he lis
tened he heard no sounds of a scUffie.
Mertes never told his story until Friday
forenoon. when he fell in with a party OF
friends who were discussing the discovery
Of the Carlson cottage. Then he recalled
the startling incident of his trip.
He is probably the only man besides
the iaurlereTs who heard DIR. Cronin's
death struggle The loud noises that
startled him were undoubtedly made by
the murderers as they fell on their victim.
The doctor, it would appear. vas attacked
the instant he entered the door, and was
never given a chance TO defend himself
CHICAGO. NAY ~ Peter McGeehan, who
mystenOusly disappeared from Philadel-
phia three months ago. and was next heard
Of in this city. where. tits alleged, he threat
ened the life OF Ir Cronin, was arrested
sunday He has been under surveil-
lance since May 4, the date o. Cronin's
disappearance. His arrest is thought TO
fOreshadow other arrests and il i believed
will eventually land al the participants in
the foul crime Ii has been impossible to
ferret ont the evidence against him nov in
possession OF the police. bar il Is undouht-
edly very strong There are constantly
under espionage six or eight people in Chi
cago, and the police assert that. with not