The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-16
NEW CRONIN SENSATION.
sURYMEN sRIsED, RECORDS STOLEN.
A Gigantic Conspiracy Unearthed = Five
Thousand Dollars Paid Jurymen to
Vote for an Acquittal-Court
Ofhcials Implicated.

sensational developments in the Cronin
case to-day. All the papers this morning
discussed the sudden adjournment of Fri
day, but the authorities seem to have sue
ceeded in keeping to themselves the rea-
son for the unexpected adjournment and
all-night session in the state attorney spri-
vate office, where a dozen persons brought
in by officers were examined. One paper
printed sensational story about a stem
ographer formerly employed by the states
attorney. 1t asserted that at the begin
ming of the Cronin investigation this man
was relieved from duty because he was re-
lated TO certain people said to belong to
the anti-Cronin party. The stenographer
has since, it is claimed, been leading
reckless life and now is suddenly discov-
cred to have disappeared from the city.
At the same time the states attorney
discovered that large portion Of the evil
dence and all the dispositions in the
Cronin case had been distracted from his
Office, hence the unusual excitement YES
terday. 1t is asserted that last nights
conference and examination OF mysterious
witnesses was for the purpose of retaking
dispositions.
The Tribune saws: "a startling rumor was
current that the entire official record of
the Cronin case had been stolen. The
record includes a copy of the proceedings
before the coroner's Jury, the sworn affi-
davit of witnesses before the grand jury,
the portions OF hair, blood clots, cotton
batting and other tangible evidences of
the crime found in the catch-basin, the
Carlson cottage and tlse bloody trunk.
An ex-employe of the state attorneys
Office who had full access to all the valu-
able pieces OF evidence is now missing and
may be in Canada. The voluminous doc
umentary testimony and the more precious
but still bulky material evidences were
kept in what was considered a safe place
In the state attorneys Office to which
onlv trusted employees had access. The
cx-employe is said to have several times
been seen in the proximity of this vault
of which, when he was in the employ OF
the county, he had abundant opportunity
10 learn every nook and crevice. Rumor
saws the work of abstracting documents
was carried out with skill that at first
blush seemed to necessitate the co-opera-
ton OF some Que inside the Office. The
discovery is said to have been made yes
looking no the addresses of witnesses, in
compliance with the order expected 10 be
entered by Judge Mcconnell, at the morn
ing session of the trial made refer
ence TO the afiidavits taken be
fore The grand jury imperative. Then it If
said that the awful fact presents itself to
the state attorney and his colleagues
that the result of their labors since May
has vanished as if by magic.
The Times, in its report of last nights
conference in the state attorneys Office,
saws: IAN exciting scene occurred late
at night. State Atty. LoneenecSer and
others were assembled in his private
Office. The public prosecutor made q
fierce and excited speech. lie pounded
his desk, waved his arms in the air and
fairy yelled to a suspect who was CULVER
Ing under the vOley OF inveCtives: You
scoundrell YOU scoundrell YOU villain
Then there was muttered appeal, crash
and a heavy fall. while above the din
could be heard the cry, Don't Longe-
necker. For Gods sake, don't
Judge Horton issued a venre for a spe-
cial grand jury, returnable at 1880 p. M,
to investigate the attempts at jury-fxine
in connection with the Cronin trial, AMI
the jurors summonded promptly assem-
bled in the courtroom. Ex-Mayor Roche
is among the grand jurymen, and will be
foreman OF the body. IL Hanks anG
Mark Solomon, criminal court baiIiffs, are
under arrest, charged with packing the
Cronin jury. The first suspicion of this
fact was the failure OF the men TO repor
for duty this morning. Then it was
learned that they were in State Attornev
Long necker's office Yesterday, and haa
hot been seen since Their absence is due
TO tne fact that they We're taken to a north
side hotel by several detectives, and Were
Kept there in close surveillance. The
women were discovered an in at
tempt TO corrupt Yeniremen sum
Ionded TO Judge McConnel's court
and instructing those favorable L.
the prisoners how to answer the questions
81 the state attorney in order TO be re-
LINED as jurors. The bailifis in custody
Lave not NJ any time been engaged in
ElinmOning jurors Tor the trial, and it was
hot known that they had any connection
with the defense. Neither is an Irishman,
let that they have been acting as agents
for the defense is almost certain.
Tine special grand Jury, after being in
Session a short time, summoned seven
Witnesses. and among the seven were two
veriremen who had been possible Cronin
Jurors. though not yet examined in court.
It is reported that these two men had
been approached, among others. by the
two baiiilis now under arrest. The Latter
have been doing duty as guards TO the
Cronin suspects. sitting directly behind
the prisoners every day in court since the
beginning of the trial.
Thursday afternoon a very prominent
citizen OF Chicago entered the court
room aud very privately communicated
10 the counsel for the state
that his foreman, who had been sum
moned oD the jury, before Being called to
tine jury box, had been approached by q
bailih Of the court with an offer of 81 900
10 vote for the acquittal OF the defendants
lie said: This is not a cock and bull
story, and bring it before you in the in
terest of public justice"
The state attorney called on the fore
man who, when asked for statement,
said:
In obedience TO a summons he came to
the courthouse on Tuesday afternoon, sat
IN the antc-room but was not called. He
came again on Wednesday morning and
STAYED in the ante-room again and about
1920 o'clock a man came from the court
room into the ante-room, who was an old
friend OF the venireman. The fact also
appears that the wives of thetwo men were
friends before they were married. The
bailiff then offered him 81 900 il he would
get on the jury and stick for an acquittal."