Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-30
AS TO CAMP NO. 20.
Probing the Records Of the
Clan-na-Gaei
IN SEARCH OF THE CONSPIRACY.

Unwilling Witnesses Questioned as to the
Proceedings OF an Alleged Momentous
Meetiug-A Committee Disclosed That
May Have an Important Bearing on the
Murder Of DIR. CronIn-Beggs Announces
That tie Courts Investigation - The
Camp Journal In Court
CHICAGO, Oct 3O.-Having started DR..
Cronin on his last and fatal ride, from which
he never returned, the state Inserted an enter
ing wedge beneath the alleged cover OF the
conspiracy yesterday morning The entering
we,lge consisted Of the testimony OF John f.
OConnor, the secretary OF Camp 20, who
was present at the meeting OF Feb. s 1t
was at this meeting that a secret committee
was appointed TO investigate what the prose-
cution claims were charges against DIR. Gro
min. Together with J. F. O'Connor, the
prosecution introduced the record of Camp
~ containing the proceedings of the date
mentioned, and the two were examined to-
gether. O'Connor was what is called an I'M
willing witness, and not inclined to tell
more OF the secret proceedings OF the camp
than he was obliged To. He had one little
brush with the states attorney when upon
tire witness replying to question Il don't
remember" Mr.. Longenecker rather tartly
said: "Have you forgotten that since last
nightF The witness just as tartly replied:
81 did not acknowledge il last night"
Further About the Decoy.
Bu: be ore entering this branch of the
case little more testimony was heard about
the decoy who took Dnan's white horse
from the stable. Mrs. Oman was the wit
ness and she swors to the same facts as her
husband dill, with the addition Of fixing the
time of the return of the horse at 9;S) p, m.
She also says the decoy walked diagonally
across the street in the direction OF Chicago
avenue, which was also in the direction OF
the police station which was Coughin's
h,adquartars Her description Of the man
did not differ from those heretofore given.
Iceman o. suIIivsn Again.
Laura Hermsn then took the stand and
testified 10 being at Mrs Conklin's house the
day that OSullvan called there. The Conk
Inns were not at home at the time having
gone out to see O'Sullivan, and missed him.
The witness remarked 10 the icsman that he
was getting a good deal of advertising
through the murder. and he said he had no
desire for such advertising. He explained
90 her that he made the contract with DIR.
Cronin 10 treat his men because although he
had but three hands, he expected to have
more, and also said something about chill
dren getting hurt bv clinging to his wagons
tie didn't know DR. Cronin, but Judge Ma
honey introduced him.
A CiansmAn on the stand.
When John F. OConnor WIS called ami a
few questions had been put Forrest entered
an objection to every question as 10 the
Gamma Gael and when the Judge admitted
the testimony Forrest saved an Cxcputi ion.
On the other hand Mr.. Donahoe, counsel
for John F. Beggs, arose and stated that
While his client lid not wish to inter lere
with the other defendants "he desires the
fullest, most perfect and complete investiga.
non, so far as Camp 20 or any other organic.
alton is concerned II, courts that investi-
cation now, and has always done so. and OBJ
jscts 10 no testimony, either material or i'm
mnterial
In Camp go February 8.
O'Connor state1 in answer 10 questions
that he was member and recording score
tary of Camp 90; that the members were
known by numb-rs, even in the secrecy
81 the camp meeting; that John F. Beggs
was senior guardian, his number being 40.
Other members were Dan Coughlin, Martin
Burke, and OSulivan. On the night OF
Feb 5. during the transaction OF the business
OF the camp, Thomas F. OCOnnor arose and
asked " Eve bad ever heard the report OF
this trial committee that tried what Is now
known as the triangle. Mr.. Beggs said be
bad not O'Connor said il was strange that
NJ no has la
heard u read IN another camp m the city
that he heard man read it, and would
state the name OF the camD and the man who
rad il VI we demanded it Some one asked
who read it, and witness understood later
that T. r O'Connor replied "Dr. Cronin.
Witness was asked il T. F. O'Counor had
not charged during his spsech that the tri.
angle had embezzlsd the funds, and that
there were spies among them, but could not
remember.
The Record Produced.
At this point the record OF the camp was
produced and its report OF the meeting read
the witness having made the same in his ca.
pacity Of recording secretary. BY this record
1t was shown that a motion was carried that
the senior guardian notify the district MEM
Der lSyellman, OF Psoria,l OF the report re-
fsrred To- by T. F. O'Connor. Another mo-
tion was carried to appoint a secret commit
tee Of three 20 investigate the rumors re-
fsrred to by 7. r. O'Connor. This was the
pith Of the testimony OF this witness, and tbs
croSs-examinatiou did not make any points
against It; Mr.. Forrest, however. moved
that the whole Of It be stricken out, which
motion was denied at this time
Andrew Foy Wa. at tn. Meeting.
Andrew FJy was next called by the state.
As he passed Burke he remarked Hello,
Martin but the prisoners only reply n
contemptuous sneer. Foy proved "A most
unwilling witness. despite his extreme nsrv-
business He admitted that he bad belonged
70 Camp -, formerly Camp &c. for mint
/ years
Were you at meeting OF Camp 20 o.
/ Feb. So be was asked.
IL suppose so"
| Did you make a speech therep
Il don't rsmembsr-yes, / think l said I
/ few words"
Did you talk thsreF
81 suppose didP
"On the Sth OF February, we mean"
well, from the information / have go
from the state and other places, / suppose II
was about that time"
what did you make a speech aboutP
lie Caron Bobs Up ssreneIy.
well, there was something said abou
another member OF the camp to the effsc
that lie Caron, the inf ormsr, bad been en-
/ gagged by the executive body OF the order fol-
some purpose in England and Ireland, an,
/ that some money bad been given to lie Caro-
/ by the executive. / don't know how muol
/ Il was. but somebody said it was about SIS,
/ OOO Ls Caron was at that time testifyinI
/ before the Parnell commission"
What was said at that time about Spie
/ in the campf
We'll, said that II there were spies il
the camp they ought TO be driven out VIVA
impressed me most in OConnor's speech wa
that TINS informer. LIE Caron, was a pait
agent OF the executive body, and that b
had been paid large sum Of money-sls
! 600 or SIS, OOO-to do certain work in Eng
] lanL'
Witness reluctantly admitted that Burke
| OSuiiivan and COoney we're members G
Camp ~ and that Dan Coughlin was pre-:
ent af the meeting IN question. He said tina
he was very much excited because O'Connol
by implication. accused the triangle OF en-
bezzling the funds. but he could not rsmsm
Der that any committees had been appointe
| to try any one. The cross-sxaminatiol
| elicited nothing Of ifnnortanc.