Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-11-01


In his review Of the Clan ma gael organ
ilation Judge Iongenecker took a bold
stand He said the society, when formed
in 1869. had noble aims and bright pros
pect 1t was organized to wrest Ireland
from the grasp Of England 10y Legitimate
warfare Hundreds Of good and patriotic
lrishmcn had Joined its ranks with this sole
object in view Many INSCRIPTIONS Irish
men had also joined the organization for
political or mercenary motives As the
Clan ma gael grew stronger, and its treas
ure box became filled with money contrib
utcd Toy patriotic lrishmeu, the more un
scrupulous members Of the society sought
control Of it, affairs aud the distribution of
its money.
Alexander sullivan, Feeley and Boland
were the leaders and aftcrward the court
and Jury Of this conspiracy. Instead Of
Waglng legitimate war for the freedom Of
/ Ireland "A dynamite policy was pursued
abroad and "A system Of embezzemeut prac
/ ticed at home One policy was in defiance
Of the laws of England the other in def
| ance Of the laws of America Both were
atruciuus The money in the treasury was
! -uuandered in Mysterious ways Men were
sent to England on desperate missions. and
"A score Of them are now in British jails
| The commands Of the Triangle were final
| man who should shrk the responsibility y
thrust upon him 10y sullivan. Feeey and
Boland, in this corrupt era of the Clan ma
gael was instantly branded as traitor t.
! the cause
Every murder had a motive, but it was
not always that the motive was discovered.
There was "A motive for the assassination of
DR. Cronin He had had the manhood -
-, ., h..
up among his colleagues and denounce the
embclzlement of his peoples money. He
knew the hidden hand that was quietly
taking the dollars from the treasury and
he was not afraid to proclaim its owner
ship Such "A man was menace to the ex
stence Of the policy the Triangle had es
tablished He was finally tried, convicted
and expelled for treason. Alexander Sui
livan had been his prosecutor, and DAME
! toughliu was one Of the men who sat on
the jury.
Dr. Crunin was not without followers
Other patriotic lrishmen, who had sickenec
Of the deadly aud malicious plottings Of tn,
Triangle, withdrew from the Sullivan
standard DR.. Crunn continued his hOlD
warfare against his enemies and carried il
into conventions and other public bodies
The man was becoming absolutely danger
Gus to the men who had guilty knowledg,
Of the scandal. He had to he put out o
the way if the enamelled regulations Of tn,
conspirators were to he preserved. Here
was the motive for the murder.
Active plotting against DIR. Cronin begal
about the first of the year The conspirac,
was hatched in Camp 20, of which Beggs
Coughin, Cooney, Burke aud O'Sulivai
were members. The mans fate was Their
sealed and the commission of the crime in
trusted to reliable hands
Judge Lungenecker then pictured the de
Liberation with which the plotters wen
about their work. As early as Februar
the trunk which was to carry the doctor
body to the catch basin had been bough
aud strapped for use. \ cottage had beel
rented 10y Burke for the scene of the slaugh
ter. O'Suhvan had made fictitious con
tract with DR.. Cronin for no other purpos
than to assist in ensnaring him TO the plac
Of his death. This was contract to com
at once when sent for, to attend any q
OSullivan's men Burke had been ident
fed as the Frank Williams who rented tn
cottage He had been seen standing on tn
porch the night of the murder. He ha
also been seen talking with O'Sullivan an
Cuughlin Coughlin, or "A man who closel
resemhed him, was seen to enter the hous
"A few hours before the murder was con
mitted There had been telephone con
municaton between O'Sullivan and Cough
lin. and little Kunge, it would be proven
had driven the detective to the slaughte
house to receive the Doctor.
DR. Cronn was taken away from h
home on What he supposed was an erran
of mercy. The horse that Coughlin ha
hired to carry him to the lonely cottage va
I hon -
terward DR.. Cronin fell a corpse upon I'll
furniture Burke had taken to the plaC
from his den on South Clark street Ii
life had been hcnten out by the conspirator
Robbed of all articles Of Identification, say
the red Agnus Del fastened about the necl
the body was thrust into the trunk, borr
to Edgewater, and there dumped into
catch basin.
When old Mrs. Carlson was in the frol
ward of the house the next morning 81
saw stains on the doorsteps and along IL
walk She thought her mysterious tenan
had broken jar of preserves while mo
ing into the building and went about h
work Iater in the week kunze, the pain
er. was seen washing his feet in the cottag
Then Burke rendered another months rel
for the house. hut the old woman, becomiI
suspicious, refused to take the money. III
man then disappeared.
Five days later the Carlsons entered Il
# cottage There were blood stains al
splushes about the rooms, and a bloody Ike
rs which fitted the lock of the trunk foui
le near Elgewater was picked up from t
floor In many places barefooted mi
had sought to conceal the blood splashes
- daubing the floor with paint The print
Il curiously formed foot was found in t
paint.
After the murder the conspirators und,
took to make it appear that Cronin had l'
the country, and they gave out the intn
tion that he would soon turn up in Engla
. as AN "informer,n or, in other words,
the most deadly, despicable foe known
the Irish cause.
Judge Longenecker's speech was deliv
ed with tremendous earnestness, and pl
duced marked effect on the jury,
prisoners, and the crowd which filled
/, court room. Some of his statements agaii
the Clan ma gael officials were of sucl
character that the court warned him Il
-, he would have TO be held responsible
IN them. To this he answered, 81 accept
responsibility,
The counsel for the defence waived
right to make opening addresses, and
examination of witnesses at once beg
the evidence of those first called going
prove the fact of the murder, the find