Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

CHICAGO. December THE eloquent
argument in defense of John +. Beggs was
again the leading feature in the Cronin trial
to-day. Mr.. Foster began the second
division of his speech by an allusion to
''that meeting which has now become his
toric that was held in Camp 20, February
g." He said that there was no principle OF
law more firmly established than that the
burden of proof is on the State. and that the
accused cannot be compelled to prove his
innocence.
Referring to the notorious Camp 20, Mr..
Foster said: "Where is the argument,
where is the assumption, to establish in
your minds the conclusion that this was
conspiracy which originated in and was car
ried on by Camp 20? Not one thing in all
the evidence, not one thing in all this case,
except that four of these defendants were
members of that camp-nothing. DO you
believe, gentlemen, that q society composed
of $50 members in the city of Chicago,
composed of such men as have appeared
before you, such men as Michael P. Brady,
the lawyer, such men as John P. Finnerty,
the journalist, such men as have been pres
ent, or have been compelled to come here
by process of this court and who testified
that they were members of Camp 20, do you
believe that such an organization was cor
rupt?
PLEAS FOR THE PRISONERS.
"Do you believe that such an organization
as that camp has adopted and carried out a
connected scheme for murder? Individuals
may be dishonest, but societies never can
be. The gentlemen are met with this propo-
sition as a reply to every argument that
they can make upon the theory that that
camp, as a camp, resolved upon the killing
Of DR.. Cronin. It is false, it is unreason-
able, it is unsupported by syllable Of the
testimony. 1t is untrue"
Mr.. Foster, with much feeling, declared
that to say that Mr.. Beggs appointed COM
mittee to murder DR.. Cronin was q lie.
Said he:
"The witness is yet to be born who will
come into court and swear that the object of
such a committee, or of the appointment of
such a committee was made. It is absolutely
false, unsupported by a scintilla of evidence,
and I challenge the whole record"
A SLIGHT INTERRUPTION.
Mr.. Longenecker-I only say that the
testimony was that motion was carried.
Mr.. Foster-i know that q motion was
carried. have not falsifed-the record, nor
have I attempted to, and it makes me mad,
cool as my nature may be, when my clients
life is in jeopardy to have men continue to
insinuate and interpolate in the hearing of
the jury, to men in the jury box that there
is evidence that committee was appointed
to murder DR.. Cronin. No adjective in the
English language, known to me, is suff-
GENTLY strong to express my views and sem
timents when these charges are made.
Mr.. Foster continued to argue at length
that Beggs, as Senior Guardian, had always
counseled in favor of peace and unity, and
then said: Hang him because he is q friend
of Alexander Sullivan. do not know
whether he is a friend of Alexander Sulli-
van or not do know that Alexander Sui
livan has been arrested in this case. 1 know
that he has been discharged under the evil
dence by one of the ablest and oldest jurists
that sits on the bench in this State.
A LEADING oTEsTIoN.
'sI do know that his case has been pre-
sented to the grand jury and the bill ig-
nored. do know that the bonds which he
was required to answer have been cancelled
and he is free man. Now, in the name of
conscience and in the name of heaven, will
they ask you to convict my client because
he is the friend Of another man whom they
desplse, Dut against "non tney can ProTe
no criminal act? Hang him for his friends.
Now, we will not discuss the question
whether he and Alexander Sullivan are
friends or not. I do not know. do not
care. For the purposes of this case do
not cart"
This was followed by an argument as to
the evidence. Concluding, Mr.. Foster told
the Jury that they must either find his
client worthy of death or must acquit him
entirely. He said: John F. Beggs is the
dupe of no man. He is the tool of no man.
He stands forth responsible for his acts,
without a mitigating circumstance, if he
is guilty. Therefore I say to you, gentle
men, in all candor and sincerity, you must
destroy the life of John F. Beggs or else you
must turn him free.