Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-11-21
TOPICS OF THE TIMES.
Tactics of the Defense in the
Cr0nin Case.
THE SUSPECTS PROVING ALIBIs.
States Attorney LOngenecker Made
to Testify to His Sources
of Information.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatches to the HERALD

OF Information.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
CHICAGO, November 20.-Testimony TO
prove An alibi for the defendants in the
Cronin case was resumed this morning.
Mrs. Thomas Whalen, who keeps house
for O'Sullivan, and her sister, Kate NC
Cormick, no spent the night OF the
murder at OSuilivan's house, CORRIDOR
ated the evidence of former witnesses,
that O'Sullivan was in the house all the
time that night. They were awake till
l O'Clock in the morning, and he was
still there. Mrs. Whalen said she was
present when Clancy, Of the New York
Herald, wanted O'Sullivan to 60 to see
Cronin's body. O'Sullivan refused, be-
cauee he didn't know Clancy, but said
he would 60 if policeman asked him.
Matt Danahy, saloon keeper, testified
that Martin Burke WAS in his saloon from
7 to 10 O'Clock the evening of May 4th.
On cross-examinstion the fact was de-
veloped that witness was member OF
Camp 20. He admitted that he had
been supplying Burke's meals to him
and that he visited Winnipeg some time
ago for the purpose of Cooking around"
He denied ever having sent money to
Burke at Winnipeg, and denied that he
ever called Cronin spy or other oppro-
brious epithet. He admitted that he
was treasurer of the prisoners defense
fund, and was active in raising money.
w. f. Coughlin, saloon-keeper, cor
roborated Danahv's testimony about
Burke being in the latter's saloon that
night.
At the afternoon session John O'Msl.
ley, clerk in the North Town Assessors
office, corroborated Danahy's evidence as
to Burke.
James Lyman, a city contractor and
member OF Camp 20, told of the meeting
of February 9th, when the committee
was appointed to investigate the state.
ment that the report of the Buffalo trial
committee had been prematurely made
public in Cronin's camp. Witness said
after the resolution was adopted the mat
ter was re.considered and referred to
District Officer Spellman, of Peoria.
Elk. Congre ssman John f. Finerty
said he was member of Camp 20. He
had never heard of an elmer circle" in
it. Several other witnesses were exam
ined in regard to the Inner CIRCLE" but
none of them knew anything about it.
States Attorney Longenecker was then
called as a witness on behalf of defendant
Beggs. He objected, but after brief
argument the Court ordered bis exam
iuation to proceed. In reply to questions,
the States Attorney said he had heard
Beggs' testimony before the Coroper's
Jury, and had subsequently caused Beggs
to be brought before the Grand Jury.
When Mr.. Foster aeked him il he had
examined Beggs before the Grand Jury,
Mr.. Mill-, of counsel for the State, ob.
jected. In reply to the query of the
Court as to what no meant by this line
of examination Foster said: 81 mean to
show that Beggg voluntarily told the
States Attorney, when a witness before
the Grand Jury, in regard to this
Cronin correspondence and the action
of Camp 20 in this matter.
/ propose TO show that the first informa-
ton came from Deggs to Longenecker OF
the matter being referred to SpellmaD,
and that be, through Chief of Police
Hubbard, presented to the States Attor-
ney the correspondence in his own be-
half. further offer to prove that, after
that examination and in pursuance of
what Beggs stated under oath, Spellman
was eubpeaaed IS a witness before
the Grand Jury and INTERCEPTED, and fur
nished the letters Beggs had written him,
in pursuance of the voluntary statement
of Beggs in this matter, which the States
Attorney knew nothing about"
The Court said Foster was entitled to
get that before the jury, but he Was sorry
he had not asked the States Attorney if
he was not willing to admit that fact be-
fore put on the witness stand. The
examination then proceeded.
The examination developed the fact
that Beggs told the States Attorney OF
the correspondence between defendant
and Spellman, and in pursuance of that
information, the States Attorney caused
Spellman to be examined and sub
prnaed to produce the letters he had
written to Bcggs. Up to the time OF re-
ceivipg the information the States At.
torney did not know Beggs had written
any letters to Spellmap.
Foster then asked if the testimony OF
Beggs before the Grand Jury was not the
first information the States Attorney
had that there had been such corre-
spondence. Judge Longenecker said this
question was putting words in his mouth,
and would not answer it, but finally
he said: ''Beggs said there were letters
that would explsin the whole thing, or
something to that effect, letters written
to Spellman and replies to explain the
secret committee arrangement"
The States Attorney further admitted
that Beggs wanted him to obtain those
letters.
Chief OF Police Hubbard was called
aud admitted that after Beggs' arrest
they had had conversation regarding
the Spellman correspondence, and that
Beggs had directed him where in his
(Beges') desk to find the letters which he
wished taken to Judge Longenecker.
Adjourned.