Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-14
BODY, CLOTHES And BLOOD.
The Prosecution Making Rapid Strides
in the Cronin Case.
Forging Link by Link a Complete
Chain of Evidence.
Gist of the Testimony Given in Yester.
days Examination.


articles were taken to Mrs COnklin'
family. with whom DR.. Cronin lived, and
were fully identified by herself and hus-
band and a few others. Complaints hao
been made recently that the sewer at the
intersection Of Evanston and Buena ave
nues was running over and to-day work
men were sent to investigate the
trouble The cover was removed from
man-hole in the center of the street
and after few minutes work with poles
and hooks two valises were brought up,
one Of leather and remnants of a cheap
paper one. Tn the leather valise was
found Dr. Cronin S prescription book with
several prescriptions bearing his sigma
ture. The paper one dropped to pieces as
it was brought out and from it rolled a
mass Of tattered clothing. most of which
had beed cut In strips. The only garment
remaing intact was a vest which was the
center and which encircled the doctor S
case Of surgical instruments. The clothes
had evidently been cut with hopes that
they would soon drop apart and be borne
away in the sewer. The clothing and
latter two marked with his name we're
fully identified by the Conklins
and others as the property of the muir
dered physician The most damaging of
all circumstances for the prisoners Is the
fact that the find was made only one block
from the spot where The bloody trunk was
discovered after it had been thrown hur-
riedly from the wagon, and only a half
mile south of where the body was found
in the catch basin. The paper valise is
supposed to be the one purchased by -.
b. Simonds. and tomorrow clerk will
endeayor to identify it.
tragic event which occurred just in
front of the court house while everyone was
examining these articles, caused wild ex-
element A shot was heard just at the
entrance of Judge McCOnnell's court. A
dozen lawyers and reporters rushed out
and found stretched on the sidewalk the
body Of a large man. revolver In hand and
brains oozing from his skull. He was dead
and as no one could identify him it was at
once presumed that his tragic death had
some mysterious connection with the SEN
sational discoveries of the day. After an
hours investigation, however, it was
learned that his name was Edward Rehm,
and that he had been for some time known
to be partially insane He doubtless sui
cided while laboring under mental abbera-
ton.
CHICAGO, Nov. 9.-Alexander Sullivan
was released from bail III Judge Baker S
court this morning Assistant State 5
Attorney Elliot made no opposition to the
motion, and the court released Mr.. Sulli-
van bondsmen from further responsible
lty to the matter.
CHICAGO, Nov 9.-When the Cronin
case was resumed this morning, Judge
Mcconnell S courtroom resembled the dress
circle of a theater. More than half the
audience were women, and the closest
attention was paid to the proceedings.
Gerhard Wardel a gardener at 1929
North Ashland avenue, was the first wit
ness called. In reply to Mr.. Mills ques-
tions. Wardel testified that on Saturday
May 4, he left his home about in the
evening and went to Matt Jungs place on
Lincoln avenue. He started for home
about 10 o'clock and walked en- the east
side of Ashland avenue. About 1920
o'clock he reached the corner of Otto street
and Ashland avenue, and noticed two men
who were walking about 200 feet ahead of
him. They seemed to him to have come
out of saloon ON the corner
of School street and Ashland avenue.
They walked on up Ashland avenue and
entered the Carlson cottage by the front
door. Witness described the men, One
was a large man about ) feet II inches
The other was about feet inches high.
Witness saw them plainly when they en-
tered the cottage and saw light inside
through one of the shutters. Next day
witness and his wife passed the cottage
ON their way to mass and witness saw
blood on the steps and on the plank walk
over the ditch in front of the house. The
cross-examination by the defense was
brief and nothing new was brought out.
Michael J. Cameron, saloon keeper, at
703 Lincoln avenue was then called.
Cameron testified that IN April last he
had seen Kunze and Coughlin together
talked quietly together for some time,
but he could hear nothing that
was said A man named Dunn, a
plumber, came in, and Coughlin in
PRODUCED Kunze to him with the
remark: This is a friend of mine" The
witness. cross examined, said that this
was about a week before the murder
DR. Egbert was recalled at this point,
and said that he had cut a lock
of hair from the head of DR.. Cronin dead
body at the time he made the autopsy.
Part of this he placed In a jar which was
sealed, and part he gave to Captain
Schuettler. This was the beginning OF
the expert testimony. Prof. Haines. the
expert chemist of the Rush medical col
legs, which position he has held for four
teen years, next went ON the stand and
said that he had examined a small chip OF
wood with reddish stains on it. Some
cotton and blush paper with red
stains, and part of the lock OF
hair BY chemical tests he found
that the stains were those of blood He
described at length the manner in which
he had made the tests. but said such tests
could not determine whether the blood was
that of human being or an animal. The
witness went on to say that he took three
hairs from the bunch given him and lei
them remain on piece of soap so arranged
as to have only one end on the soap. He
left them there two weeks. That bleacheC
them somewhat. and he placed other hair,
In strong solution of alkali, which tool
out the color more rapidly.
Judge Wing objected to the introduc
ton of this testimony as improper anC
illegal as being in the nature of an eX
pertinent The court then took the ob
lection under consideration, and the ar
ticles were withdrawn for the time be
ing The significance of the testimon,
regarding the bleaching of the hairs b,
the soap will be made apparent whel
DR.. Belfeld will testify regarding tn
color Of the hair found sticking to a piec
of soap in the Carlson cottage. This hal
was colored In a manner identical witt
that caused by the soap on tn
hair taken from the trunk. Judge Win!
cross examined the witness, and tried t.
have some fun on the question of chemis
try as applied to blood The witness wa
too technical for him, however. and tn