The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-26
Startling Revelations, Involving a
Police Official, in Chieago's
Last Sensation.
The Buggy in Which Or. Cronin Rode
to His Death Hired bya
City Detective.
An Explanation by the Suspected Man
which Does Not Stand Investiga-
tion-Important Clues.

Mertes, a miIKman who lives near the cot
tage where the assassination was commit
ted. On the night of the murder he saw
two men drive up to the cottage in
buggy. One was dressed in long brown
overcoat, such as Cronin wore. This one
got out The O.her, answering the descrip-
ton of the man who came for Cronin in
the buggy, drove rapidly away. Cronin,
If il was he. went up the cottage steps.
The door was opened before he reached IL
and as soon as he got inside il was closed.
The miIkman next heard loud cries as II
men were fighting. Ii IS believed then
was the time of CrOnin's death.
Revelations this morning threw strong
suspicion OF completely in the murder OF
CrODin on Detective Dan COughin. OF the
city police force. and show the gross lncom-
potency, If nothing worse, of Capt Setback,
of the north side police, under whose orders
Coughlin works. To begin with, iit is
known, in fact he admits it, that Coughin
and Cronin were members of the same po-
litical Irish parties, and were enemies.
This lends significance 10 the following
facts: On the morning of the day OF The
murder Couehlin engaged from Livery
Stable Keeper Oman a horse and buggy Tor
a TREND of his, TO be called for that eve
ming. Abut the tkne when the man who
decOyed Cr0nin away would have called,
had il been he, this friend OF Coughlln
called at the livery stable. He closely re-
SSIngled the man VINO 0lQ OflNe away WIN
Cr0nin. He was given a white horse and
drove toward Cronin's house The horse
was out for two hours and came BACK, nav
ing been hard driven. These facts were re-
ported to Capt Setback by Dnan. Setback
says he called COughlln to account and
COughlin said the man he hired the buggy
for was a friend of his friends in
Michigan; that he sent Coughltn out
Ia find this man; that Coughlin reported he
had fOurd and questioned him, and was
satisfied be had had nothing to do with IT,
Setback admits he did not require that the
man he brought before him out allowed
Coughlin, who was himself under susp
cioD, To make report without any cheek
10 prove its truth or falsity- Setback says
he took the horse to Cronin's house and his
hOusekeeper said il was not the one behind
which Cronin drove away. The house
keeper cOntradicts this, and Dlnan says
Coughlin told him ne couldn't find the man
from Michigan. COughlin says he is now
IN New Mexico.
Superintendent of Police Hubbard said
this evening the explanation which Detect
i've Coughlfn gave in connection with his
hiring a horse on the day on which Dr.
CrOuin disappeared was substantially as
follows: A few days before May man
called at the east Chicago avenue police
station and introduced himself as Thomas
Smith, of Hancock, Mich. and a friend of
(OlghliD's brother, and who keeps a livery
stable in that town. Smith claimed 10 be
ON his way 20 New Mexica. Detective
terest about the city, and Saturday, May 4,
smith said he would like TO take a buggy
ride that evening. but was afraid the livery
stable Keepers would not trust stranger
" it'll a horse. Cuughlin told him he would
fix the matter with man. Smith got the
white horse and rig, and Coughlin did not
see him again for a week or more, when re
met him and asked Smith why he had not
paid for the use of the rig. Smith gave
Coughlin So and said be would give him
the other 50 later. COughlan met him for
the last time one day last week and Smith
said he would start for New Mexico the
next day.
DIR. Cronin's friends met this afternoon
and completed arrangements for the funer-
al 1t is thought that at least 1000 men
will march in procession and probably TO-
600 people will go by train TO the ceme-
tery.
Ii Is denied that DIR. Cronin's clothes
were found in the Carlson cottage, as
stated yesterday. An evening paper says
that letter was turned over to the police
as coming from one of the mysterious ten
ants of the blood saturated cottage and is
considered of great Importance, 1t Is
postmarked Hammond, lad, and was re-
ceived on the 10th inst Enclosed was
found Sl2 for another months rent and the
writer tried to explain away their hasty
exit and the paint danbed on the parlor
floor. He neglected 10 say anything about
the foot prints or the blood stains.
This afternoon Mayor Creiger held two
hours conference with the superintendent
of police and the corporation council. He
said emphatically that extraordinary ef-
forts must be made to bring the perpetra-
ors of the crime to justice, and that the
officers must be over Jealous
rather than not active enough.
Where there is a doubt as TO whether Sc
we're action should be taken, take sdvan-
tage of the doubt and act The mayor
SAID he would rather be in the wrong nine
teen times in a case of importance like this
than give the murderers chance 10 es-
cape
Detective Coughlin was brought before
the mayor this afternoon, the superinten-
dent OF police, corporation counsel and two
friends of Crunin's being present, Cough
lin told his story and was then severely
cross-examined. 1t is understood he be-
came hurried and nervous, but said moth |
ing that could be used against him. When |
the conference broke up none of its men,
bers would talk. Coughlin, however, was
taken away by detective and placed IN
der arrest
More disclosures have come to light this /
evening. Ii seems that the description of /
the man who hired the horse now given by |
Liveryman pinan and the description he |
gave Capt Setback several days ago are /
widely different, and the police are looking /
into the matter.
A free examination of the interior of the |
cottage where the murder was committed /
was allowed to-day by the police. Evil i
&c ces of terrible struggle are seen. On /
the south wall of the parlor are great
splotehes of blood. A portion of a leg of q
washstand and dressing case had been
broken on. the arm rest of q rocking chair
broken and the pieces scattered on the
floor. There is every Indication that DIR.
Cronin was not killed. or even rendered
senseless, by the first blows he received,
but that he probably made a desperate
struggle for his life.
Events were brought to light this even
ing showing arrangements for the Cronin
tragedy were apparently begun as early
as Feb. /. At that date q person CORE
spending to the description of the man
who subsequently rented the Carlson cot