St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-16
PRAYING FOR FREEDOM.

Suspect Beggs Files a New Peti-
tion for a Writ of Habeas Cor
pus,
CHICAGO, July ia somewhat SEN
sational move was made in the Cronin
case to-day. John F. Beggs, the inn
prisoned senior guardian of Camp 20,
Clan-na-Gael, filed new petition for a
writ of habeas corpus, giving as rea-
son why he should be set at liberty
that he had been jailed and indicted
solely in the hope that he would thus
be forced to turn states evidence.
The testimony expected of him, he
says, has no foundation in fact.
Beggs, in his petition. further says that
while he was illegally imprisoned and
secreted from his friends Immediately
preceding his Indictment. he was taken
before the states attorney, who tried to
induce him to make certain statements,
the facts so desired not being within
the knowledge of Beggs, and that in the
conversation the states attorney said in
substance: "By the newspapers you
are condemned already; the only way,
or the best way out of it for you, is to
stand with us'-meaning thereby to
stand with the prosecution, and further
stating in the conversation: eff you
will accept employment from US we will
pay you for it" To which Beggs re-
SpOnded in substance: "lf you mean by
standing with YOU that l shall give
you testimony by which any person or
persons might be convicted of the mur-
der of DR.. Cronin, | cannot accept your
employment for the reason that [ have
no facts which would tend to convict or
even cast suspicion upon any person, of
causing the death of Cronin." Soon
after the conversation with the states
attorney the indictment against Beggs
was returned, says the petition, which
adds:
There has been a persistent and deter
mined effort on the part of the police Off
GERS and the states attorneys Office to COM
pei this relator to divulge certain alleged
facts stated in al anonymous letter to the
states attorney tending to show. that some
action was taken in Camp 20 which resulted
in the death of Cronin, which alleged facts
this relatOr has failed to give, for the reason
that the same do not exist.
BeggS takes up, in detail, the state
ments in the anonymous letter as fol-
lows:
''Your petitioner most solemnly and sin
ceTely affirmS that there is not now, nor has
there ever been what is known and deSig-
society, and that there is not now, nor has
there ever been an inner circle, a secret cir
cle second circle or any subdivision Of
said Camp 20 OF said society. nor was COM
mittee ever appointed byc said camp to try
any alleged charge against DR.. Cronin, to the
knowledge OF this relator, and certainly not
during the time in which this relatOr acted as
senior guardian thereof, which was for a
long time prior TO the fourth Of May, 1889;
and this relator says that it is not true, as
stated in the 1OOnTmOnS letter that tho said
camp appointed a committee of seven,
consisting of L. R. Buckley, Harry Jor-
dan, Dennis O'Connor, John o.
Malley, John F. O'Malley, Thomas Murphy
and Daniel Coughlin, or any other person,
for the purpose of trying any charges pre-
ferred against Cronin or any person; that it
is not true that said committee or any other
committee ever invertigated, to the knowl-
edge Of this relator, any charges preferred
against the said Cronin in Camp 20 at any
time whatsoever, and that such facts could
not have existed for a long time prior to
the 4th day of May without this relator's
knowledge; wherefore this relator states that
all of the material facts in the ANONYMOUS
communication, which, as he believes, was
used as the sole pretext for this Indictment,
are untrue in factand can never be sustained
by any proof whatsoever"
The states attorney having stated
that he did not desire at the present
time to make public his case, Beggs
offers to nave his hearing in private.
Judge Horton agreed to hear arguments
on the petition tomorrow.