Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-23
STARTLING STATEMENTS.
A Chicago Paper Accuses Well
known Davenport Citizen OF Com
plictty In the Croniu Murder Mys-

n chicago Paper Accuses u w ELL
known Davenport Citizen OF Com.
plictty in the Cronin Murder Mys-
terry.
The Chicago Inter Ocean publishes a
sensational statement, the tendency of
which is to implicate Mr.. A. P. Nc
Guirk, the well>known lawyer of Daven>
port, with the Cronin murder mystery
Mr.. McGuirk has great number of
friends in Rock Island, and none of
course will give second thought to the
idea of his completely in any illegitimate
way in this now noted case. The Inter
Ocean claims it gets its facts from gen.
tleman prominent in Irish affairs, who
claims that James Nugent, who attemp.
ted to see The Cronin prisoners Friday
afternoon, was accompanied by A. II.
McGuirk, of Davenport. They were
refused permission by States Attorney
Longenecker. and then applied to the
Jail officials. where they were also re.
fused. The Inter. ocean states that the
two men then went away and came back
again about ESQ the same afternoon.
The ailor was in then. and admitted the
couple Ia the Jail office, but positively
refused To allow them to see the Cronin
prisoners. The party then says OF Nu-
gents companion:
His name is McGuirk, and he is re-
sident of Davenport, Iowa. also law
tr.,. -, A.
Guirk. Cannon was at one time the
most prominent professional Irishman in
Iowa. He was the special agent for AL,
exander Sullivan and the triangle for that
state. He performed great deal of Sc
cret work for the triangle. and was in
every way its trusty friend and servant
Cannon took to drink finally. and thus
became unfit for secret work. The
triangle chose his partner, McGuirk, as
his successor. He proved worthy of the
confidence placed in, and rendered val
liable services to the triangle Last fall,
after the trial of Alexander Sullivan was
over, and Irishmen all over the country
were waiting snXiously for the verdict.
McGuirk was called to Chicago by his
master, the triangle.
81 myself can vouch for the fact that
during his stay here he was in daily con-
sultation with Alexander Sullivan, and
the following incident was related to me
and several Others by DR.. Cronin few
months before his death. 1T was in
September, think that McQuirk called
at DIR. Cronin's Office and told the doctor
that Alexander Sullivan had sent Linn to
request the doctor to call upon him at
the opera house He wants to see Won
very badly. said McGuirk, and l would
advise you to 60 and see him.
Tell Mr.. Sullivan for me that nv
office hours are from II m. to p. m
He knows my address, and when he wants
to see me he will find me here answered
DR.. Cronin
Then McGuirk went on to talk with
the doctor about the trial of Alexander
Sullivan, and tried to induce the doctor
TO lend his influence toward a verdict of
careless expenditure of funds, but no
suspicion of fraud. The doctor indig-
nantly refused this proposal. Il was
sworn to do my duty on that trial COM
mittee, he said, and my verdict will be
in accord with the facts as | found them
Then McGuirk changed his tactics, and
tried on various speciOus pleas to get the
doctor TO show him the documentary ev-
idence against Sullivan. DIR. Cronin sus-
pected the man and positively refused
Then McGuirk left the office in terrible
rage, swearing that if Dr. Cronin persist
ed in bis obstinacY his life would be the
forfeit"
James Nngent is known in Iowa as a
triangle lrishman. Lately he has been
very intimate with McGuirk, who, in his
capacity of special agent of the triangle
in Iowa, is acquainted with every Irish
man of any prominence in the state
McGnirk and Nugent came to Chicago
together at the call of the triangle. M
gent was brought here becasue he is
practically unknown to Chicagoans.
These two men are here in the interests of
the defense, and in that capacity endeav-
ored to see the Cronin prisoners. | ain
glad to learn that they failed"
In relation to the above Mr. McGuirk
informs the Democrats gazette that legal
business called him to Chicago Monday
h's~,. July 10. tie was in Chicago Tues
day following doing pusins~~ Nth Altar
ney W. A. Foster and others Thursday
he left for Watseka to look after the es-
tate of Mary Common. and there engaged
the services of K. w. Hicher. From
Watseka he came home last Friday by
way of Peoria. While in Chicago he did
not 90 to the Jail, did not see Nugent
and dIdn's know he was there.