St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-14
HISTORY OF THE CLAN
States Attorney Longeneckel
Will Not Ee Allowed to Go
Into It.
This Ruling Bars Many Wit.
neSses Summoned in the
Cp0nin Case.
The State Will Put Only One
More Witness on the
Stand.
Salesman Hatfield Says the
Suspect Captured Tuesday 4
Is Not Simonds.

Inc CIOHin Iridl GnlS morning Judge
Mcconnell announced his decision on
the question of going into the past his.
tory of the Clan-na-Gael. The last wit
ness on the stand yesterday afternoon
was eX-Policeman Brown. He is also
an ex-member of the Clan-na-Gael. He
was asked whether or not he preferred
charges against DR.. Cronin in 1885, the
states attorney explaining that he pro.
posed to show by the witness that this
was fact: that Dan Coughlin was
member of the trial committee, and
that DR.. Cronin was expelled from the
organization. The logical consequence
of the admission of this testimony was
complete Investigation of the Clan-na-
Gael. at least so far as it could be made
to show cause for
ANIMOsITY AGAINST DIR. CRONIN
on the part of any one of the prisoners ae
the bar. This offer led to the most ears
nest and prOtracted argument between
counsel for the state and counsel for the
defense that has yet taken place during
the trial. Nearly every lawyer engaged
in the case, on either side, had some
thing to say during its progress, and
there was much plain speaking. The
talk occupied the time till adjournment,
and Judge Mcconnell announced that
he would hold the matter under advises
ment and would render his decision
this morning. In accordance with that
arrangement, when the court was called
to order this morning. Judge Mcconnell
announced his opinion to be that the
evidence sought to be elected from Offi-
Ger brown, on the points named, was
incompetent, and ruled it out. Judge.
McConnell's ruling was as follows:
The offer of the states attorney to prove
by the witness on the stand that he preferred,
certain charges four years ago in Clan nRs
Gael camp against DR.. Cronin: that com.;
the charges: that one of the committee was
the defendant Daniel Coughlin, and that the
finding OF the committee was treason, and
the penalty fixed at expulsion The purpose
of this evidence is stated TO be to show malice
on the part of the defendant Conghlin,
against DR.. Cronin. i have given the matter
the most careful consideration, and haVs
come TO the conclusion that the evidence
ought not to be admitted, and that it would
be error to allow it to go to the jury. The
fact that man four years ago served upon
committee which found an unjust verdict
and recommended or inflicted degrading
punishment against fellow member, does
does not necessarily show malice. The eva.
dence would need to go farther than is sugs
gested in the offer of the state. Coughlin's
conduct as member of the committee; rules,
.
evidence heard: the arguments made during
the deliberations of the committee; whether
the report was unanimous. and if not unanis
nous, was Coughlin member of the majors
ity-if unanimous. whether CoughliE was
MERELY A CONSERVING MEMBER,
or did he demand and press the COMMITTEES
for an adverse report? And again to inquire
as 10 whether the verdict was authorized by
the rule and practice of the order, whether
tie punishment. was unusual, unwarranted,
etc. "In other words. to determine the
maiice of the actors in that proceeding we
should be Obliged to go into all its detailA
dence, tending to show in very doubtful
way malice at another period against Dr.
Cronin. we should open up a separate and
distinct inquiry, and transfer into this case
volumes of Irrelevant and perhaps ineompe-
tent testimony. My consideration for the
talented gentlemen representing the state
led me to defer this decision until after full
argument: bnt consideration has persuaded
me that my first opinion of the evidence was
correct. Therefore, shall not permit that
inquiry. for the purpose for which 1t is pro.
posed"
This decision, of course, rendered
any further attempt to examine Officer
Brown futile, and Officer McKinnon,
of Winnipeg, who was on the stand yes
terday. was recalled. He testified that
Burke told him he had assumed the
name of j. W. Cooper because two men
were watching him.
Mr.. Forrest Gnterrupting)-T hat was
offered in evidence yesterday with certain
marks on 1t. Ny client tells me that he
never put those marks on, and have no OBJ
that ink TO find out what was ander it,
The Court don't think you ought to say
anything about that at present
Mr.. Forrest-I object to its going in evt.
dence.
The Court-Tt has not gone in evidence; 10
has merely been identified.
The cross-examination of this witness.
which was postponed Yesterday at the
request of the defense. was then begun.
After some unimpOrtant witnesses were
examined. the boards cut from the floor
of the Carlson cottage were offered and
admitted in evidence, in spite of the OBJ
jections Of the defense. Mr.. Franken-
field. the signal service officer here, was
called to the stand, and, producing his
official record, testified that from mid
night of May 3 to midnight Of
When the examination of this witness
was finished. the states attorney asked
for an adjournment until 2 p. M, in
order that the prosecution might con-
suit as to whether or not they will ins
truduce a certain line of evidence in
view of the courts decision this morn
ing. The adjournment was taken, and
it is generally believed that the evil
dence for the prosecution is all in.
Salesman Hatfield, the man who sold
the furniture to -. B. SimOnds," this
afternoon saw the man arrested last
night in the belief that he was the
much-wanted man. Hatfield at once
declared that
HEwAS NOT "sIsIONDS.O
At the opening of the trial this aft
ernoon States Attorney Longneeker
said that, in view Of the courts ruling
in the matter of evidence as to the past
dOings of the Clan-na-Gael. the state
would only put one more witness on the
stand-a man named Clancy. from New
York. who. he said, was not now in the
city. 1t was suggested, in view of this
announcement, that the court adjourn
until Monday, in order to give the de-
fense time to prepare its case; but it
was finally decided to adjourn until
Saturday morning. which was accord
ingly done. In the course of his state
ment to the court the states attorney
said that all he expected to prove by
Clancy was conversation which he had
had with O'Sulivan. Clancy is New
York newspaper man.
p. Mcnamara. who was arrested on
suspicion of being u. B. Simonds," was
this evening, nothing being
found to warrant his detention. The
monotony of the Cronin triaFfor the
jury was pleasantly diverted this even-
ing. the jurors being taken to the Grand
onar, hnitca IN con Sol Smith Ruccau