The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-30
CRONIN CONSPIRATORS.
ALI Will Be Tried Together Except Woodruff
Judge McConnells Decision.

CHICAGO. Aug. 29.-Judge Mcconnell this
morning decided that all the defendants in
the CrOnin trial must be tried together,
with the exception of Frank Woodruff. He
said that in view of Woodruffs confessions,
it would be manifestly unfair to allow him
to 60 on trial with the others. Judge Nc
Connell in his decision said, among other
things:
The state Of the case is substantially this:
Daniel Coughlin, Martin Burke, Frank j. Wood
ruff alias Black, John +. Beggs, Patrick OSulli-
van. John Kunze and Patrick C0oney, are joint
ly indicted for the murder Of Patrick III. Cronin:
ALI OF them, except Cooney, are in court, and
have entered pleas OF not guilty. Daniel Cough
hrmoves for q separate trial. asking that his
case may be severed from all the other defend
ants. Martin Burke and Frank ]. Woodruff each
entered two motions one that he bo accorded a
trial separate from the defendants Burke and
Coughiin, and the other that his trial
may be severed from that Of Woodruff. The
form Of the indictment, and particularly the
character of the evidence relied upon by the
the Q,
lishment Of a conspiracy to murder DIR. Cronin.
These defendants, therefore, can, in no respect,
be injured or prsJadlce9 by evidence M tending to
murder unless it shall be established that there
was q conspiracy, and that they and the others
were .ea ia enai to
denying q severance of trial so far as any
grounds for separate trials are based upon the
evidence of facts prior to the time OF the murder.
and to all matters subsequent thereto, except
only the alleged confessions of Woodruff / am
unable to see how the other defendants can be
tried with him without the greatest embarrass-
ment. In his series Of confessions he has in one
way and another implicated nearly all the de-
PENDANTS. His confessions are competent evil
dence against him. and almost necessarily when
he is sitting in the dock with them would be
fatally injurious to the others. The
prisoners are entitled to q fair
trial. Associated with Woodruff they
cannot have it. an persuaded that authority,
reascn and simple justice require thar the other
ruff.
The motion, therefore. which / shall sustain
will be the motion of O'Sulivan for a trial sepa-
rate from that of Woodruff. Necessarily, that
will lead to the sustaining of the motion of Wood.
ruff for separate trial, although 1t does not de-
serve the consideration the other applications
do. The other motions stand denied.
The decision was surprise, and for few
seconds after it's delivery a peculiar quiet
pervaded the courtroom, and people in
stinctively looked around to see who would
first break the silence and what was to fol-
low. Mr.. Forest eventually rose and asked
for an exception to the decision which was
promptly grantedg and the order was formu-
lated. All the defendants then took excep-
tioH to the rulingOf the court refusing them
separate trials, and the Judge granted
twenty days in which to file bills of excep-
tiOn. The attorneys for thevariOus defend
ants then expressed themselves as ready to
proceed with the trial Court then ad-
jOurned till tomorrow.