New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-29
WOODRUFFS SECOND STORY
THE HoRsE-STEALER's PART IN THE MUIR
DER OF DR. CRONN.

|
nALLY CHARGED WITH THE FOUL
DEED-A DAY OF RUMoRs AND
| EXCITEMENT IN CHICAGO.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE IkIBrxE.l
Chicago. May 2s-Frnnk Woodruff, alias Frank
Black the horse thief has told the whole story Of
his connection with DR.. Cronns murder. Accord.
| ing TO the statements he has made 20 Captain
Schaack he was not directly connected with the
murder ITSELF hut simply acted ms the driver Of the
wagon which disposed Of the dead mans body in
the catch-basin where it was found. Woodruff has
been taken to the scene Of Cronin's murder and
| alSO to the sewer where the body was found aud
the place where the trunk wnS first seen. Wood
run himself gave the driving directions to the de
tective who managed the rcns. and in every m
stance located the place where the chief acts
in the tragedy occurred
According TO his confession he was directed
by those who had charge OF that part Of the
conspiracy, and whose names Captain Schnacli
reserves for reasons that are palpabe, to go TO
Dinan's livery stable, where he would obtain n
horse and wagon. lie had already been instructed
10 drive the outfit TO the negbborhoOd OF the
Carlson cottage and he also knew for what pur-
pose hc WAS 10 60 there. Woodruff arrived at
the cottage about twenty minutes before Dr.
Cronin wac driven up, and placed his horse and
wagon at point near the cottage where he
could keep his eyes the front steps. He saw
the white horse rig containing DR.. Cronin and
his conductor arrive and three-quarters OF an
hour thereafter the man who was known as
Williams opened tho front door OF the cottage
and gnve the signal by stamping his foot on the
wooden porch. Woodruff at once drove up and
assisted by the third man, the trunk was loaded
into tho wagon.
The two men followed the trunk and directed
Woodruff, who continued as the driver, 10 drive
eastward from the cottage and therc deposit the
trunk.
Right here said Woodruff To Captain Schaack'
pointing To the exact spot where the trunk was
found, We heard a noise OF wagon wheels from
the south, and the two men, one OF whom had
been sitting on the trunk, picked up the box ana
threw IL out of the wagon. l WAS urged TO whip
up the horse and drive west When we reached
Fullcrton.nve both men sad "Good-night!' to
me and left the wagon
The remainder Of the confession is devoted to
WoodruG's wand rings with the horse and wagon
in his attempt TO scll them. lie also suites in his
confession that there is nothing in the woman
story he had told. The euormty of the crime
had never dawned upon him until he had taken
part in II When hc WA arrested he knew he WIS
in g bad box" The names King and Farburn
were those of TWO old friends and they came 10
him on the spur Of the moment. They had moth
ing whatever 10 do with the case.
In addition o. the warrants served on Sullivan,
Cou ghhn and Woodruff. less than ten have been
sworn out and placed in the hands OF detectives.
who are now shadowing the persons named Iha
warrants u Is understood. only IN be served In
casr the people in question show desire TO leave
the city.
The police officials are in fever OF excite
mcnt tonight Officers arc constantly rushing
in and out Of headquarters, and Chief Hubbard
and Inspector Ebcrsod are constantly receiving
reports OF some kind. Mayor Crcgicr Is also
10 no found At his office Ht u late hour IL II
said the warrants mentioned above incnde two
or more for persons whose arrest would cause
n great sensation
The Grand Jury this afternoon returned
indictments against L. o. sullivan, tho
ice dealer; Frank Black, alias Woodruff, the
horse stealrr, ami Detective Daniel COughln for
completely IN the murier Of DIR. p II. CronIn.
Great interest attached 20 the meeting Of the
Grand Jury. States Attorney Longnccker had
sad scvcn times within the past few days that
the present Jury would not have anything To do
with the case, for the reason that he had no
tangible evidence TO lay b. fore IL, That he
brought the case TO the attention Of the Jurors To-
day Is regarded proof positive that important
information had been secured since yesterday
Chief Of Police Hubbard did not leave his ofice
last nj ght, and officers were constantly arriving ut
and departing from the City Hall until nearly
day ght this morning Soon after o'clock the
Chief sent TO States Attorney LonGnrcker large
bundle OF newspapers, which presumably contained
the statement obtained from sullivan, a. we'll ~
other matter About noon Mr.. Longneclrr Hp
reared before the Grand Jury and announced that
he desired immediate consideration OF certain evil
dcncc concerning the murder OF DR.. Cronn lie
was accompanied by Captain SchRack, Lieutenant
Schlct.c and number Of detectives who have
been engaged on the case, Captain SchaacS
guarded the door Leading % the iury-room, and
told all reporters that no information would be
gwen out
The Grand Jury Immediately dropped the con.
siderstion OF minor cases which IL had in hand
and took up the Cronn matter. Mr. Carlson, the
old msu in whose cottage the bloody dcei was
committed, was thr first witness summoned, and
WIS examined At some length. Following him
came T. T. Conllin the NOrthSide oonkctper.
with whom DR.. Cronin lived. lie remained In the
jury-room for over half an hour, and on coming
out told the waiting reporters that lac had been
cautioned not 90 speak u word TO any one about
the casc. Carson'S sCn-ln-hw, who gave the
police description OF the men VINO hhu D'en NJ
the cottage and Mrs. T. I. Conkln were also en-
amincd
Other witnesses heard before the Grand Jury
were John J. Cronin, brother OF the doctor =,
Thomas O'Ncill, Mayor Cregicr's private SECRETARY,
who had notes of Detective Coughlin's statement
with him. Livcrymnn Dinan, who told about
Coughlin ordering horse for friend the night
Of Mry 4; his hostler, Napier Morland; Willard
j. Smith and j. s. Smith, Coughns friends from
IIoughton, Mich, who snd they did not hire
Dinan's horse, notwithstanding Coughlin's state.
mcnt; Frank Scanlhn Dr. Brandt and DR.. Bel
field, Frederick Rosch, the laborer who found the
body, and Mill,man Merits who heard sounds
Of struggle in the Carlson cottage