Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-30

CHICAGO, May 22.-The dead body OF
DIR. Cronin, the Irish-Amer who SO
strangely disappeared from his home in
Chicago two weeks ago, was found this
evening some distance north of the city
In sewer on Evanston avenue. A bloody
towel was wrapped about his head, but
the body was stark naked. A Catholic
emblem, which the doctor always wore
next his skin suspended about his neck
was untouched. On his head were a
dozen cuts, which had severed the scalp
and indented the skull. It is the opinion
of the police that Cronin was
FoULLY MURDERED.
Much excitement was shown at the
detective head-q uarters, when all doubt
as TO the identity of the body was
finally removed by definite messengers
from Lake View. It was evident from
the expressions of the police that one Of
their first objects will be to have ex-
planned the assertions by the supposed
friends of Cronin. Lieut.. Elliott, chief
of the detectives, will have these people
at the inquest and demand an expIana-
tion, full and complete.
The detectives claim that they have
been handicapped from the start by the
lack of assistance from those, who claim
ed TO know all concerning the doctors
disappearance. 81 will have this infor-
nation now," said Lieut.. Elliott" or
there will be
NUMBER OF PROMPT ARRESTS"
Wholly accidental circumstances
brought the corpse to ght. A gapg of
laborers, who were aiming bitches
along Evanston avenue noticed
near the corner of Evanston avenue
and 18th street strong smell of putrid
flesh. One of the men pried off the Gov
er of the catch basin at the corner, and
there discovered the corpse. 1t had ap-
parently been hastily pitched into the
basin, as his head was underneath and his
feet and legs in the opening. The basin
is located nearly a mile from where the
mysterious blood stained trunk was
found on the day after Cronin's disap-
pearance. 1t seems altogether remark
able that it was not sooner discovered,
for the Lake View police started out to
search all the catch-basins in that sub
urb the week after the trunk was found.
One of the searchers said tonight that
they had missed the basin where
THE BODY WAS HIDDEN.
The body was Immediately taken to
Lake View morguo and within an hour a
dozen of Cronin's friends were in the
station. They weresF quite sure it was
that of the missing doctor, and their
opinion was verified later by T. T. Conk
lin with him whom Cronin lived, and also
by others.
DR.. Brandt, who examined the body,
said the blows on the head
must have been inflicted by
some sharp instruments. There would
seem to be no possibility of a doubt as
to the Identification of the body. Among
many others who expressed positive
opinion III regard to it, was the dentist
who recently worked on Cronin's teeth,
and also the man who for years had been
Cronin's tailor. It is thought that Gro
Minis body was carried in the mysterious
blood stained trunk. There was cotton
found about the feet and under the
chin of the corpse of the same
quality as that found in the trunk
and the threads of cloth found in the
trunk CORES pended in appearance with
threads of towel wrapped around
Cronin's head. The body was much
swelled and in an advanced state of de-
composition, owing to the long stay under
water in the catch basin. The m2u,
Woodruff, or Black, who after arrest,
CONFESSED TO HAVING HELPED
cary off the trunk containing the corpse
which he claimed was that of woman
from barn in the city on the night of
Cronin's disappearance, was interviewed
tonight in Jail. He manifested no sur
prise when told of the discovery, but
while talking freely about the matter, he
seemed careful not to GO outside of the
story he originally told. He repeatedly
said thatif he had not been locked up in
jail he could and would have cleared up
the mystery before this time.
CAUSE OF THE DOCTORS MURDER.
In reference to the statement made by
some OF Cronin's friends at the time of
the latter's disappearance that he (Sulli-
van) knew more about the matter than he
cared to tell, Mr.. Sullivan said he had
treated that report with contempt at the
time and had nothing else for it now,
He added he was Mortified to hear of the
murder, and will do everything in his
power to help place the guilty persons
where they belong.
OHOEtly dIGer the news OIsGne unulnR
of the body had been received, reporter
called on Mrs. Conklin at her home,
where the doctor resided. When infor IL
ed of the finding of the body she said
SHE WAS NOT SURPRISED,
that she always had said he was murder
ed. 'You WILL" said the reporter, "an-
doubtedly give the police the benefit of
your knowledge concerning the enemies
of the doctor, to aid in finding the muir
derers."
81 don't think that 1 will," she replied.
"They seem to know so much that they
won't appreciate what can tell them,"
and Mrs. Conklin shut the door.
Her husband had an interview with
Police Captain Shack late tonight, but
the officials deny that he gave any infor-
nation of Importance. Conklin would
not talk to the reporter.
Old Homes Are Best.
By Prof. Charles Eliot Norton, in the May Scrib-
ner'S.
If one runs over the list of persons