Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-30
Questioned Regarding That Meet
ing Of Camp 20.
SsTsFd Important Admissions Despite
Their Poor Memories.
Conflicting Testimony Regarding the
Trial OF the Triangle and Cronin's
Share in It.

CfuCAGo, Oct ~.
At the opening Of Judge McConneil's
court this morning, Mrs. Winifred Dinsn
wife of Patrick Dinan. the livery man who
owns the famous white horse, testified to
the facts about the horse being taken and
driven north on the night of May I. and his
return At half-psst nine o'clock stesming
with perspirstion aud as if he had been hard
driven.
John F. 0'Connor, member of Camp 20,
Of which Beggs. Burke. Coughlin and the
other defendants were members, was next
placed On the stand. o'Connor was record
ing secretary of the camp when Beggs Was
senior guardian.
After numerous details as to their meetings
and the methods Of transacting business the
witness testi led as follows:
''In February last at a meeting of the
camp, Thomas +. O'Connor asked if we had
ever heard the report of the trial committee
that tried what is now known as the triangle
Beggs said he had not. O'Conner said it
was strange that our camp never got report
although he heard it read in another camp in
the city; that he had heard a man read it
and would state the name of the camp and
man if We demanded IL. Then somebody
askei who it was. | did not hear Who he
there who did hear aed asked him, Whist
did you say?' and | understood him to say
DR.. Cronin.'
The States attorney was evidently of the
opinion that the witness was an unwilling
one and sought to have him detail at greater
length the proceedings of the camp at that
time, but without success.
OConnor admitted the record of the pro-
ceedings OF Camp 20, February 8tb made by
witness at the time. He read il, subject to
many Interruptions in the way ofsqaestions
and objections generally. In referring to in
vidusl members of the camp, numbers in
stead of names were used. Coming down to
the matter OF the camps action on the sup
posed alleged allegations against DIR. Cronin
in connection with the trial Of the triangle at
Buffalo, the witness read Moved, that an
imperative demand be made on the executive
committee at once for the immediate info.
nation of the trial of the committee.
Amended, that the senior guardian notify the
district member of report that is going
around regarding the report of the trial of
the cJmmiLtee. The motion was carried.
A motion was carried that q secret commit
tee of three be appointed by the senior guar
dian to investigate rumors afioat regarding
the trial of the ex executive 2ody.
The senior guardian mentioned, witness
said, was John +. Beggs, now on trial. The
witness said that the trial of the triangle, as
he understood the matter, took place at
Buffalo, October, 1888. The members of
the triangle On trial were Sullivan, Feeley
and Bolsnd
AT the opening of the afternoon session
Andrew Foy, member of Camp 20 was put
on the stand. He was a very non-commi,tal
witness, and with greatest pertinacity
avoided giving positive answers even to the
most innocent questions. He was brought to
admit he made a speech at meeting of
Camp 20, when the matter of the report of
the triangle committee came up, and gave q
mixed narrative of the attending circum.
stances
The next witness was Michael J. Kelly,
foreman of the metal department of the
Adams Westlake Manufacturing Co, and
junior guardian of Camp 20 at the time of the
meeting, February sth He talked of the pro-
ceedings although hls memory was deficient
as to details. He remembered Foy called
for the report of the committee which tried
the triangle, and this demand grew out of
the statemeht by Capt OConnor, to the eff
feet that OConnor heard the report that the
committee read in the camp of which Cronin
was a member, and Cronin was the man who
read it. Tn, last statement was in contra
dction of the evidence on this subject here
tofore given. The former evidence agree S in
saying that Capt O'Connor did not mention
Cronin's name. The witness believed Dan
Coughlin one of the defendants, was prese mt.
The crosse Examination brought out the fact
that although he knew of the trial of the tri-
angle he did not know who constituted that
body. and only learned the names subse-
quently waen published in newspapers.
The next witness. Anthony j. Ford, past
guardian of Camp 20, testified at a meeting
OF the camp the 22nd of February, Patrick
McGarry and Richard Powers made speeches
denouncing the triangle. Btggs said it
would have to be peace or war or words to
that effect. The witness sail al meeting
of the camp in March he called the attention
of the camp to statement that there was
danger that members of the opposition order
of the Uniied Order of Deputies might sue
ceed in getting some of their number initiated
in the Clan-rs Gael camps. aud pointed to
defendant OSullisan as his auth 'riiy for
the statement. OSullivan mad been presen;
when Cfonin instituted the camp Of Clan ma .
Gael in Lakeview
Stephen ColleraD, a liborer, was the last
witness. An attempt was made 10 get a de
tailed statement of the proceedings vf CamI
20 on ,he night Of February sth from him
but with poor success.
Colleran vas questioned sharply by the
prosecution as TO what he knew of the rela
tons of various defendants with each otheI
and what he had seen of their moveme nts
Martin Buske aud ~itness had, 1t " as deyei
oped, gone to the Office of defendant Berg
twice in January and once in February. Tn,
witness said he vent to secure Beggs aid il
getting work. Witness never saw Burke
Coughlin and Cooney together. COlierar
was on the witness stand when the court ad
jourued ill tomorrow.