Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-25
WAS CRONIN KILLED HERE =?
An Empty Cottage With Floors
Blood Stained.
DISCOVERED BY THE POLICE.
Evident Attempts Had Been Made
TO Remove the CHASTITY Stains
BY Daubing Brown Paint
Over Them.
The Murder Mvstcrv Deepens.

that the police struck quite an important
clue in tho Cronin mystery 1t seems to be
beyond doubt that they have discovered the
place where Cronin was murdered, vacant
cottage in Lake View. The authorities have
had some information about the place for
several days, and since the discovery of the
body an officer has been constantly watch
ing the suspected cottage. The reporters
heard Of this surveillance, but the police
would give no Information. Accordingly,
this morning, three reporters watched their
opportunity. and when the officer was in the
rear of the house forced an entrance at the
front. Stains resembling blood were seen on
the front steps, but when the report
ers entered the front room or parlor,
they found undoubted blood stains on the
floor, also in the corner of the back parlor
and in the hallway. The parlor floor is COW
cred with bloody marks, although here the
assassins evidently made strenuous efforts to
destroy the stains. The floor Is doubled rock
lessly with brown paint and it can be plainly
seen that the work was not that of an ex.
pert. 1t was evidently done in such haste
that several places were left where the
blood stains are perceptible, notably in the
center of the floor. In the paint were prints
of bare feet Evidently the person who
made the marks was much excited, for the
foot prints are seen in every direction, indi-
eating that the person had rushed all over
the room.
The reporters had not completed their in.
vestgation before the arrival Of the officers,
who put stop to the work.
Before breaking into the house the report
ers had peered through the basement WIN
dows and discovered a spade standing
against post, and that the earth had been
freely turned up. 1t is said that the police
found bloody clothing concealed in the house
hoc b1t n this pOpt thay rafuSa to
talk.
The cottage in question is situated within
few hundred feet OF the home of p. o.
Sullivan, the ice man.
The cottage belongs to man named Carl
son, who lives on the rear OF the same lot.
1t appears that about seven weeks ago a
young woman rented the house, paying
month in advance, People were given to
understand that the woman had rented it for
her brothers, who had been hired by Sullivan.
Sullivan declares that he did not hire any
such men. Moreover, though the rent was
paid, the house remained unoccupied until
about the time of Cronin's disappearance,
| when men came with what appeared to be a
bundle of carpets. If they were preparing
| for Cronin's assassination, this would be a
good way to smuggle into the house the
| large bundle of cotton batting found with
the body.
Proceeding on the theory that Cronin was
| murdered here, it is pointed. out that the
| house is admirably located for that purpose
| Being so near oulllVanS 3 nOuSc CrOnlu
| could be conducted to it without exciting his
| suspicion while, at the same time, it would
| furnish q perfect hiding-place for them to
| spring upon him as soon as he entered the
| place. 1t is also surmised that the carpet
| may have been put upon the hallway or other
| front room to give the place the appearance
| of being occupied.
| The attention of the police was directed to
| the house by Carlson, the owner. This
| afternoon it was visited by Inspector Eber-
| sold and the coroner.
When Lieutenant Schuettler found the re-
| porters had gained entrance to the house he
| was very angry. He suspended the officer
| who had been on the watch and sent another
| to the place. The lieutenant himself, how
| ever was not more successful in keeping the
| secret for a reporter succeeded in drawing
| from him some important admissions, among
| them that the police had clue to the mur
| derer The most important admission was
| that the clothes of the dead man had been
| recovered and Identified.
Late this afternoon Mrs. Carlson turned
over to the police letter signed Frank
| Williams" which she said was written by
| one of the two strange men who occupied
| the cottage and disappeared after the mur-
| der, The police would not divulge the date
| or contents, but IL is supposed to relate to
| the renting of the house.
| The police officials appear to think to-
| night that Cronin's assassinS may have
initiated "Boodler'' McGarlgle's famous es-
| cape up Lake Michigan. 1t is said that two
/ men were UOUICcu carly Iuc ouIudy ulOIniuB
following Cronin's disappearance, in row
| boat on the lake, making for the North pier
| They were heading almost in a straight line
| from the beach in Lincoln Park, near where
| Prisoner Woodruff said halt had been made
| with the mysterious trunk Since that
| night row boat has been missing from an
! establishment close by. The suburban police
have always claimed that there were three
! men seen in the wagon supposed to contain
| the mysterious trunk. Woodruff from the
| first talked Of two others besides himself
The police are very anxious to hear from
| the missing boat.
| WAS oRoNIN sPYl
| A disagreeable rumor was started, to-day,
regarding DR.. Cronln, which is vigorously
| denounced by his friends. 1t was to the
| effect that DR.. Cronin was spy in the en-
| pioy of the London Times; that his being so
| came to the ears of the Irish natonalists,
| and his fate was that Of other nformers. 1t
| will be remembere that one of the spies of
the Times was in Chicago all last year, until
| November. He was an excellent talker,
| magnetic, and possessed 10 u large degree
| of the quality of making friends.
| His identity was disclosed in the Parnell
| duplicity came to light. DR.. Cronin, it is
| claimed, was also frequenter of the place
| where the detective made his Headquarters
| and that the two were acquainted is not at
| all improbable. II is certain that the infor-
nation possessed by DIR. Cronin was Of ma
ture to be extremely desirable to the op-
ponents of Parnell, and just the kind of in
! formation this spy was after. During the tes-
| timony of lie Caron he was asked TO tell who
| his associates aud fellow workers were
| in America he declined to say at first for
| fear that he would be IT. murdcred for dong so.
! The court ruled that he might give his in
| formation in the presence of the Judge and
counsel only and that that part of his testi-
| mony would not be published. He did so,
and, according TO the rumor, DIR. Cronin's
| name was in the list. Some section which
| was looking out for informers sent delegates
| to Chicago TO attend 10 the case of
| Dr.. Cronn. They came here from abroad,
did their Job, departed, and are now
| probably back in their foreign homes.
| Although DR.. Cronin's friends are indignant
at this story, detectives say the theory that
| the murder was done by strangers imported
| here for the purpose, and that the murder
| ers are now thousands of miles away is a
| good one. IL Is not necessary, the police say,
that the murder should have been done for
the object stated in the rumor. If, for in
stance it was, as claimed by DR. Cronin's
friends, the outcome of a row among the
| members of the Irish movement in this coun-
| try, that fact would not detract from the
idea that outsiders were used to do the
bloody work.
AN IMPORTANT FIND.
In the vacant cottage where the blood
stains were discovered, there was found by
| the detectives might q brand new KEY.