New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-13
JUDGE MCONNELDS RULINGS.
PROGRESS MADE IN THE CRoNIN TRIAL.
THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PRISONERS MAKING
EMPToRY CHALLENGES ALLEGED
DISCOVERY OF cLAN-NA.GAEL
RECORDS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TKrBUSE.J

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkTBUNE.l
Chicago, Sept 12-Appreciable progress was made
In the Cronn trial to-day, not in the actual selection
of jury but in the celerity with which the defence
compelled dispose of their peremptory ehai-
hnges. 1t IS conceded that there is no hope OF a
jury, or possibly even juror, being selected uhlu
the defence have exhausted their aggregate 100 per
emptOry challenges. OF this number forty-sX were
consumed up 10 the time Of adjournment this evenings
and If they continue 20 be lavishod upon apparently
competent men freely they have been this week
TIE total number Will hardly outlas. next week.
The prosecution far have disposed Of only nineteen
pcremptory challenges, as compared with the forty
six of the defence IL is the well lrecognzed policy Oh
the defence to permit jury TO be selected until thcr
peremptory challenges have been exhausted. Then
certain jurors who have formed opinions from readhs
the daily papers, but insist shat they srN able to dlVess
their minds Of these opinions and give the defence
fair and impartial trial. Will be challenged forcause
by the defence. Judge Mcconnell will over
rule those challenges, holding that the nero form
ing expressing of casual opinion does not ds-
qualify intelligent juror, long he is able to
take his oath that he can fairly and mpartially try
tho solely upon the evidence submitted in court
and upon the law Of the land. The defence VIII
make this challenge in every case where there arc
grounds and in every where it is overruled VIII
take an exception from tho ruling OF the court Ii
the prisoners convicted. the counsel for the de
grounds for reversal of the in the higher courts
The matter IS an absorbing topic of conversation
among members of the Chicago bar, and Judge
McConnelrs rulings vhile marking new era In the
proceedings OF criminal Jurisprudence In the West
almost universally approved. This afternoon Mr'
Bentley challenged by the defence for cause, but
the court, after examining the taesman, oyerruled
the challenge. Mr.. Forrest, tho attorney for Burke
said I've take an exception, and challenge MI
Bentley peIemptoriy for Burke.'
Il understand" said the Judge, that Burkes
challenges exhausted"
IL have no doubt about it, replied the attorney.
"but still challenge him for Burke.'
1t appearing that the challenges Of Burke are
exhausted, the challenge is overrulcd.'
That is what l wanted"
Tho point being made, the venreman Wes oha+
Ienged pcrcmptorlly in behalf of 0Sulivan.
A morning paper says that Chicago detective IS
in Winnipeg searching for trunk supposed to have
been taken there by Martin Burke. This trunk, it
Is suspected, contains the mysterious tin box WIlch
Burke had carefully sealed soon after Dr. Crollns
death. The trunk, It Is thoughr Is either IN MmH-
peg Montreal as Eurkc Wa In Canadian PaClh
train bound for Montreal when arrested. IL Is aso
asserted that book OF record OF Camp No 20, Clan
na Gael, containing the minutes of the meeting on
February s. 1859, at which a committee 10 try Dr.
G. lonin for treason was appointed, has been found
These minutes, 1t IS asserted, were written by the
then secretary, John i; o'Connor; an employe o.
Adams a Nestahe: O'Connor has Identified the
record. and, il Is said asserts that It IS true one
The latest Cf th1 tTial Of DE- trUin be-
foIe his disappearance creates decided sensation be,
cause /, l. rnLers TODD that the author is CAPITA
Thomas OConnOr the friend of Dr.. CroniD and that
the incidents which he relates VIII constitute his les
iimOny in the pending trial In February. 1889,
cOrdiug this story, the camps of the Cian-naGae
in this city In fcrment OF excitement over tho
trial at Buffalo Of Alexander Sullivan, Michael Boland
and Dennis C. Feeiey for the alleged appropriation OF
the funds Of the organization and the betrayal OF rs
AGENTS the other side of the water TO the British
Government. 1t was well known that this trial
the result of the bitter personal enmlty beween DR..
CrOnn and Mr. Sullivan, and that at the trial be
doctor had made his last and most earnest effort
prove charges against the Trangle' In February
there eleven camps Of the Clan-naGael in this
city, some OF which. ike him. hostile to tho
" Triangle" At last version OF the proceedings OF
the secret committee began to leak out, and IL IS
alleged that report male in all the Cronin camps
regarding the trial. 1t openly charged by two
members in Camp 90 at meeting in February. that
been made public and disseminated through all Of the
Cronin camps.
The statement made that this information
given out without the sanction of the executive anil IL
was hntcd that Il little short of treason.
AT the close of the discussion. In which DIR. Cronin
plainly alluded 10 the only person responsible,
though lac not mentioned by name Daniel Couch
lin proposed thai committee be named by the senior
guardian, John +. Beggs 10 investigate the truth Of
pointed the committee. II agreed that the
mttec should report to the senior guardian and 10
no else and that the last ever heard OF the
committee or its actions. some time In tho latter
part of April Beggs asked If the committee
reported. HIS reply that the committee had
never acted, the matter had been taken IN hand
by the superior officers Of the organization.