The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-17
His Previous Confessions Regarding the
Cronin Tragedy Eclipsed ma New One,
In Which he Attempts to Implicate Alexander
Sullivan in the Conspiracy and the Sub
sequent Carrying Out Of the Murder.
An Interview with the Prisoner, Which
Places Him in the Role Of a FabricatOr.
Michael Davitt Thinks Sullivan Is the Victim of
Personal Spite-Mr. Fitzgeralds Theory
of the Cause Of the Doctors Murder.
AN ALLEGED CONFESSION.
A Chicago Horse-Thief Tries His Hand at
Manufacturing Sensations for the Public.

AN ALLEGED CONFESSION.
A Chicago Horse-Thief Tries His Hand at
Manufacturing Sensations for the Public.
CHICAGO, June 16.-All previou confess
sions of Woodruff, the horse-t thief, who
has been indicted for completely in the
Cronin tragedy, were eclipsed this morn
ing in an entirely new story from him pub
lished in an extra edition of the Times. He
contradicts and discredits every other
statement" heretofore attributed to him.
and now appears in the role of an ex-mem-
Der of the Canadian militia, claiming that
he was trusted by Cronin's alleged muir
derers because he furnished Fenian spies
with valuable information during one of
the military raids into Canada. Woodruff
says he arrived in Chicago March %. and
obtained work from gardener on South
port avenue, not far from the Carlson cot
tage. After three or four days work for
the gardener, Woodruff was taken sick.
His narrative says: with the intention
of going to the county hospital, drifted
into OSullivan's place. l made up my
mind that he was a Fenjan. and reminded
him of certain scenes during the Fenian
raid into Canada. 1 went over during that
raid as volunteer in the Twenty fourth
Kent battalion, whose headquarters were
at Chatham. We went as far as Niagara.
At that time was assigned to the adju-
tant's department. and gave to somc Fen
ian spies, who came to our camp, such
points as l learned while in that place
That was my first connection with the
Clan-na- Gael. OSullivan told me he would
get me some work if possible. From there
came down town and went to work at
Deans livery stable"
Woodruff tells that he met detective Cough
lin soon afterward and bad drink with him,
conveying the impression that Coughlin
knew Woodruff to be thief, and Woodruff
believed the detective to be fence"
While walking together they met OSulli-
van, the ice man. O'Sullivan mentioned
Woodruff's request for employment, and
Coughlin quzzed Woodruff that a man in
his line should work" Woodruff persisted
that he was laboring for his board and
clothes at the livery stable. Coughlin and
OSullivan went off together.
THAT was about the I'd of April" contin-
ued Woodruff. Melville arrived in Chi
cago about this time, this is the first men,
tion of Melville in the 'confession.'l /
know this because day or two afterward
was over On the South Side and went into
the owl saloon, which is kept by Sol Van
Praag. had been over on Fourth avenue
before that. i went to a back room and
saw Melville and Coughlin drinking to-
gether. This was in the eveing. knew
Melville, as had met him in California.
He was a great friend of Desmond and
'Sand-lot' Kearney during the labor troubles
there. After taking several drinks Cough
lin left us, saying he had to keep an en-
gagement." Melville and Woodruff, so the
latter says, made the rounds of the disrep-
utable houses in the neighbOrhoOd for an
hour or more, and then Melville took leave,
saying he was stopping at McCoy's Hotel.
Woodruff complained of being broke, /"
and Melville gave him 50 or SO, saying, II
want to see you again"
Two days afterward Woodruff attempted
to see Melville at McCoy's, and looked over
the register and made inquiries of the
clerk, but did not press to see Melville. not
wishing to create suspicion. "Going
NORTH" Woodruff continues. II met Nc
Dougall near the Northwestern depot. and
Coughlin was with him. This is the first
mention of McDougall.l AS / came up
Coughlin said: Good; he is just the man l
wanted to see' Then to McDougal he said:
| Are you acquaintedp
II replied: L guess ought to know Me-
"McDougall turned to me and said: That
| will do. NV name is Williams
"I laughed and said: A rose by any other
name would probably be as sweet l had
| known McDougall, or, as ne now called
himself, Williams as a rough-and-ready
| spirit, and an old worker for the Clan-na-
| Gael, although during the itermediate time
he had worked as blacksmith. Coughlin
| and McDougall had quite talk while
| waited. After talk, which did not hear,
| Coughlin left, saying he had some business
AS soon as Coughln was out of sight Will
Jams said to me, Come on.'"
| In saloon, subsequently, Williams said
SO the story states How are you txeds"
Il said. L am nearly busted" He then
said, why don't you go and see Alexander
| Sullivanr and told him was not prepared
| to be sent to Europe. Williams turned to
| me- and looking me squarely In the face
said 1t would not be necessary for me to be
| sent out of town in this case"
| ITO pair pIOCCCuCu, NOOuIun QcCluICb
| to No. III Clark street. This is the place
where as has frequently been published
| the furniture of the Carlson cottage was
| first stored. Woodruff said he demanded
to know what he would haze to do: Will.
thing about il. 1t is deal, and you will
| not be implicated"
| Turning round and looking me straight
in the face, he asked. Are yon one Of them
| stills He referred to my helping the Fe
mans at the time of the Canada raid.
replied: Il am as much as l ever was if
| am paid for it,"
This was about the 10th of April. Or
| leaving. Williams again urged him to &c
over and see Alexander Sullivan. Wood
ruff's narrative proceeds al went to Deans
| barn and thought the matter over and theL
returned and applied at Alexander Sulli
| vans Alexander Sullivan was not in hi,
| office, but going out met him In the hal
before reached the elevator. / said: Mr.
Sullivan, McDougall sent me over to to Sc,
"Mr. Sullivan said: 'McDougal-Oh, yo,
mean Williams, don't your
Il said, yes, guess so: l slept with hin
last night. He wanted me to go over ant
have talk with YOU
alexander Sullivan replied: Il hav,
nothing to say; have never met you be
FORE
".Well.' said, Il think have met yo,
before Have grown out of your recol
lection since came from Canadas hav
but lately returned from Canada
sullivan repeated his first answer: :
don't recollect you; have never met yo'
| az told him I was looking for a iob An,