Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-31
THE CLAN-NA-GAEL PLOT.
How Camp 20 was Enraged by DR..
Cronin's Report.


How Camp 20 was Enraged by DR..
Cronin's Report.
In the Cronin trial yesterday Patrick Nolan,
financial secretary Of camp 20, produced his
record book and from it testified as to the
numbers borne by Coughlin, Cooney, O'Sulli-
van, Beggs and Burke, all Of whom except
Cooney are now on trial. The witness further
testified that he was present at meeting of the
camp on the night Of May 8, the day proceed
ing DR.. Cronin's death; that Beggs presided;
that there was q call for the report Of the &C.
cret committee appointed on February 8, and
that Beggs replied that the committee was to
report 70 him alone. The witness said that on
the Sunday following DR.. Cronin's disappear
ance he met Burke and Cooney about O'Clock
In the afternoon in a saloon This was before
the witress knew Of Cronin's disappearance.
They went to another saloon and played cards
for q couple Of hours
An EXCITING TINE.
The next witness was Capt Thomas +.
OConnor, the man who created the excitement
in camp 20 on the night Of February by say
ing that he had heard read in DR.. Cronin's
camp . report Of the committee that tried the
triangle. Capt O'C0nnor said that Andrew
Toy was the first man 10 speak that night
Foy arose in his place in the camp and addressed
the senior guardian and stated he arose under
. terrible strain. That after the disclosures of
lie Caron in London the organization. as an
organization, was no more. That there were
four British spies in the organization and that
u should be reorganized. and that every one
slightest faint or suspicion attached to him
should be expelled. When he got through /
arose to my feet, and stated that was not at
gu surprised ct hearing the gentleman talk as he
had done. That I knew, by positive informa-
ton, that the organization was run by parcel
Of rogues known our executive body; that
they had squsndered our funds, even to the
extent Of e100, 900; and not alone that, but they
sent our best men across to England to have
them pat behind the bars. and now state posi-
lively that LIE Caron was an sgent of our execu-
tive body and received pay from them.
DEMAND FOR INFORMATION.
At that moment was interrupted by two or
three brothers with demand to tell where
got my information. I did not like the first
brother who spoke to me and said: "You de-
mand nothing" Then there were two or three
other brothers that demanded to know where
got my information, and there was a general
uproar at the time. So turned around to the
senior guardian and said to him: III the senior
guardian demands Of me where l got my in
formation / will tell him." He did not say
anything. Then there was some more urroar.
i turned q second time and third time and
Il
me where i got my information l would tell
him. Then stated had heard terrible re-
port of the entire trial committee at Buffalo,
and that had also seen a written report three
hundred pages of closely written long hand,
about the trial. and that / was positive of my
statement. At that instant Daniel Coughlan,
member of the camp, arose to his feet and
said: Mr.. guardian. i move you that a secret
committee of three be appointed to find out
the source of Capt. OConnor's information"
ThnoA
one else on his feet and the senior guardian
raped the camp to order, as 1t was such
tumultuous time. such turmoil, and somebody
spoke, and he said: Il will hear no more on
this subject and / will appoint committee"
Question. Who was the senior guardian at
this time?
Answer. John F. Beggs.
BEGGs DID NOT OBJECT.
On cross-examination Capt O'Connor said
that he did not say in mis- speech on February
that DR.. Cronin read the report Of the trial
of the triangle, nor did he say in what camp it
was read. He said that after he was sub
pCnaed to appear before the coroners jury he
met Beggs and asked him if he should disclose
the secrets of the organization. Beggs told
him to 60 ahead as they were already public
property. The witness said that he had heard
OF the inner circle" as applied to the execu-
tive body, but never In connection with indi-
yidual camps. Capt. O'Connor said he had
been at work on the Cronin case without pay
up to September 26, when he was appointed as
a policeman.
On redirect examination the fact was brought
out that there were five or six members of camp
70 present when the witness made his speech
Of February who were in the other camp
when the report in regard to the triangle trial
was given, and were therefore cognizant of the
facts as to the camp in which it was given and
who gave it. He explained that it was a
verbal. not written report There were six
teen or twenty members Of camp 20 in the
other camp when the report was made That
report, he said, made by the late Dr.
Cronln In his (Cronins) camp. Subsequently
Cronin showed the witness the written report.
DAN couGHLIN ACCUSED cRoSIN.
The next witness was Henry Owen O'Connor,
member of camp 20. He described the pro-
ceedings at the meetings of February 8 and %,
without bringing out any new points. At
subsequent meeting, however, he said that Dan
Coughlin came up TO him and said that in
formation had been received in Chicago to the
effect that a confederate of LIE Caron was in the
organization and the indications pointed to DR..
Cronin as the man. The witness stopped him
at that point.
Police Officer John NJ Collins was then called
TO the witness chair. He testified that he had
been a member of camp 90 He said that at
the reunion meeting February o. Dick Powers
and Pat McGsry made speeches denouncing the
triangle. Then Beggs said that this TRADE
against the triangle and Alexander Sullivan
must cease or there would be war: that Sulli-
van had many friends there. Collins descrip-
ton o. the meeting of February failed to
bring out anything new.
Patrick McGary. senior guardian Of the Clan
Na-Gaei camp in Lake View, instituted by DIR.
Cronin and of which DR.. Cronin was member,
was the next witness He told the story of the
reunion meeting Of February % without add
ing any material information. and then told of
visit he made to the house OF O'Sullivan on
the Sunday following DIR. Cronin's death. He
there questioned 0'Sullivan very closely about
his contract with DIR. Cronin to treat his men
In case OF accident, and described the twitching
OF OSuillvans moustache. Court then ad-
tourned until tomorrow