The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-05
SPELLMAN ON THE STAND
A Leader of the Clan-na-Gael Disap-
points the Prosecution in
the Cronin Case,
His Testimony a Direct Contradic-
tion of That Given Before
the Grand Jury.


Find Hard to Unravel.
CmcAGo, Nov. t.--The first witness on the
Cronin trial this morning was Edward
Spellman. of Peoria, Ill.,, the district officer
of Illinois and Michigan. As the cxamina-
tion proceeded il became evident he was nm
unwilling witness and that his testimony
WAS different from that he gave before the
grand jury and from what the prosecution
expected He said he met Beggs April ~.
who said that the matter referred to in their
correspondence, viz: that the proceedings
of the trial committee. held IN certain
camp in violation Of the rules, had been
amicnbly settled The witness then said
that he knew Dan Coughlin who, with a
man named kunzo, had visited Peoria a
year ago and presented a letter Of introduc-
tion. He had no conversation with
Coughlin about DIR. Crunin. This
WAS IN direct contradiction of Spell
mans previous testimony and he was asked
by Lonicnecker il he had not sworn that
Coughlip spoke To him about Or. Cronin.
There was n long wrangle over this qucs-
tiOn. Which WAS finally allowed and Spell
man anlworod; II sand before the grind
Peoria be said Crunin WIS q SON of "a --,
but ON Iiilection and ON consultation with
two oihtr men present, ! sent my attorney
% Chicago 10 notify the district attorney
that was mistaken. My attorney was un-
able to ine Judge Lougenecker, and came
myself specially to Chicago and notified
Judge Lungenecker, and other counsel that
il they asked me that question on the stand
| should have tn deny IL, IN order 10 do
justice tn my own self and TO the facts.
After left the grand Jury room and went
home and slept, felt ANNOYED ana trou-
bled. felt / had possibly done n wrong to
Conghlin, aud went Immediately 20 Pal
Ions a. Downs and told them what | had
sworn 90 before the grand jury, aud that |
WAS bothered about II. They said, Spell
man, you have made n mistake; no such
conversation took place" Witness said in
reply to question that ho had seen Alex
amier Sullivan before going 10 the states
attorney office, but lac went there because
he had been informed Sullivan was talking
very harshly about him, and that his visit
WAS not IA connection with the ease. The
correspondence between Begps and Spell
man wu's hen read.
During tie cruss-examinntion Spcllmun
WIS asked If Beggs ever spoke 10 him about
the charges against CrOnin. He replied
that great deal was said about Cronin,
but 81 place IL upon any one mhtter AT any
one period he couldn't do il at this time.
WAS il not because of his organization
of other campsY'
mo-" replied Spellman; ''becauep he was
always ANXIOUS TO prefer charges. lie WAS
n kind uf agitator; he WIS an honest man.
not bnd follow, if he could have his own
way. II hot"
Mr. Hyde here objected 10 any such
statement, as Cronin Is dead and could not
respond. Spellnlnn said no charges were
is,de by Boggs against any individual IN
nis official position as senior guardian.
The defense moved 10 exclude from
the record all questions and answers
in regard to what was testified
10 before the grand jury. lengthy debate
ensiied on this point in the COURSE of which
II WAS stated that Spcllman had subscribed
500 toward the arrest and conviction of the
murdercrs OF Cronin and that lie lns paid
$40 of tlis. II WAS intmated that the
I stimuny before the grand jury was given
when he was in one frame Of mind, and tha,
hls present attitude WIS tie result Of CON
sultations with friends. The court finally
said authorities might be brought in On the
point
Al the afternoon session the cross cx-
animation WIS resumed and witness asked
a number Of questions regarding the object
of the visit of huDzetO Ptoriaw with Coughin,
ns to whether il Lad any connection with
Cronin. Spellman said IL had not 50 far as
he knew, though he hnd no conversation
with kunze there. Coughlin as yet hnd no
connection with Cronin, and reference
Of counsel led to the inference that IL
"A Chicago distillery and the whisky trust.
Jno. A. Mnhoney, justice of the pence,
stlied that he was present at the hall in
Lake View in March last when Cronin in
stituted n camp of the Clan-na-Gael. After
the meeting, iceman O'Sullivan asked wit
ness about Cronin's standing MS physician,
aud receiving favorable reply, arranged
for witness TO visit Cronin with him To make
arrangements for the latter 10 care for Sui
livans men. This arrangement wns made
about the middle of April and 0'SullIvan
gave Cronin some Of his LusiAcss cards,
saying If the doctor was wanted, when he
fUsulliyanl WIS out of town, or sick, one
@ these cards would be presented.
AT the afternoon session Judge McCion-
nell said lac hnd considered the testimony Of
Spcllman, in controversy, and decided 20
exclude 10.
Mrs Addie J. Taunr testified as 10 the
conversation between herself and D'Suli-
van after CrUnn's body was found. She
asked OSulliyan: Was il not n ter
rible murder O'Sullivan hestated mo-
meut, then said "1hey say he WAS
a British spy" Mrs. Farrar asked "well,
why shonld they kill him ~ O'Sulliynn
SAID " He gave away the secrets of the
order. If man did that lac ought 10 be
killed If he did that he got no more than
lac deserved"
Three policemen from Lake View district
testified 10 having seen wagon occupied
by three men late on the night of Nav 4th.
nnd as noticing trunk or box in the body
of the wagon.
John Way, another policeman testified
TINT about / o'clock on the morning of Nav
9TH he saw two men walking east toward
the lake, followed by wagon driven by
another man. Witness questioned the
diver, who said they wanted 10 go to Chi
cngo and we've looking for the Lake Shore
drive. The other two men then came back
from the beach and the policeman gave
them the proper directions.
The Brolherhood- Meeting.