The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-05
THEIR LIVES At STAKE.

I0eIH LIVES Al STAKE.
Coughlin. O'suilivan. B<ggs, Burke and
Kunze Placed on Trial at Chicago.
Charged with the Murder Of Dr. Cronin
Jurors Subjected TO Searching Ex-
smination-Thc Prosecution Relying On
CircumstantiaI Evidence for Conviction.
cHIcAco Ang. u. - The Cronin trial has
begun. The tactics Of delay SO skillfulIy
employed BY both sides have been cx-
haustcd and the actual work of selecting a
Jury has begun. When Judge Mcconnell
opened court yesterday morning both
sides announced their readiness to pro-
ceed with the trial special venire for
fifty Jurors was issued, and an adjourn
ment was taken until oo'clock p. m.
At the afternoon session the prosecution
appear for the first time in its full
strength Mcssrs. Hynes, Mills. Ing
ham and s-istant States Attorney
Neeley entering the room with
Judge Longcneckc. and taking their
seats with him on tho States .ide OF
the lawyers table Opposite them were
Messrs. Forrest, Donahoc, Foster, Ames.
Senator Kennedy aud Judge Wing. while
bc.ind them were tho clients the five
prisoners on trial, coughlin, Bcggs and
Kunzc in the front row of three chairs and
Burke and OSullivan bringing up the rear.
When the court came to order II ap-
peared that forty -eight men had been sum-
moned to act as Jurors. Thirteen Of this
number were excused for various reasons.
This preliminary examination over the box
was filled by twelve men. Judge Longe-
necker was about to test the qualifications
of the twelve for Jury service from the
States point OF view when Mr.. Donahoo
made an objection to the appointment
OF Messrs. Mills Ingham and Hynes
as associate counsel for tho State on the
ground that they had been engaged by
private parties to appear in the case. and
had received money or the promise Of
money from these private parties
who were anxious to secure the
conviction Of his clients He fur
ther objected to Mr.. Hynes on
the ground that he was actuated by
motives OF ennlity to his clients, all of
which he offered to prove by the testimony
o. the three lawyers themselves and otherr.
Mr.. Forrest for Coughlin and senator Ken.
nedy for Burke also objected States
Attorney Longenecker protested that it was
too late for these objections. which had not
been entered at the time he asked for the
appointment of the counsel. and now that
jarv was in the box to try the cause the
court could not try another issue.
Jadgc Mcconnell agreed with him
and overruled tho objections, to which
rating the usual exceptions were entered.
Eigh. Jurors were examined by the State,
fulr OF whom were accepted and four re-
tecoed. The court adjourned at 30 p. IN.
The case has gone far eSough to indicate
pretty conclusively the line of evidence
q ION which the prosecution will rely. II
the questions put to Jurors on the cxamina
tion point to any thing they point to the
conclusion that circumstantial evidence
and that alenc is relied on fol-
a conviction. Woodruff and his con.
fassions seem to have dropped on,
of tho case as factor in it. 4
any rate whatever he knows or can tel
will be used rather rs corroborating ths
circumstantial evidence adduced than a
being direct testimony to the murder
or the conspiracy OF which it was :
part. Every man III tile jury-box tha
Was examined by the State was ques
ii med closely as to whether he believed il
c'Tcunlstantial evidence. Any hesitancy o,
the part OF the prospective Juror to clearl,
express his confidence III this sort OF evi
lence was the initial point of search
ing examination by the States .Attor
ney. A principal question witt
m Longenecker. who conducted the .eS
animation of jurors on behalf of the State
was: "Supposing 1t should turn out in th
trial of this ease that the evidence
mainly circunstantial, If it conyinccs yol
beyond reasonable doubt OF the guilt o
these defendants would you feel it You
duty to find them guilty Just the same as |
the evidence was direct."
While tho State is evidently relying OF
circumstantial evidence to procure con
yiction, there are not wanting Indication
that it expects to present convincing ar
ray OF circumstances proving th'
guilt of the defendants or some 0
them. The question of consideration
scruples about the death penalt,
is gone into with each Juror Nor j
any faltering on this point by Juror al
/, lowed. The Juror who satisfactorily an
I swered the questions as to circumstantia
evidence and the death penalty then had
combination o. the two thrust at him. II
be safe and sound Juror in tho eye
OF the prosecution he must he willing
to inflict the death penalty upol
proof of guilt by circumstantial cv
! idence under the same condition.
] that he would II guilt were proved by di
rect testimony. Ii QOcCrlnalIy SOUND OI
the purely intellectual questions OF evi
dcnco and penalty. the Juror was qucs
toned as to hts past life. associates an,
business and social connections, t
| see that no warp or has had cngen
dered in him any OF those prejudice
or crotchets which render the sound
est intellectually unreliable. Whero tn
| Juror was born, where he lad lived, hts oc
cupation for years past and the societies
secret or otherwise, to which he belonged
or had at any time belonged. were not sec
! ond even to the inquiries as to his acquaint
! ance with any Of the prisoners or thei
) counsel
/ Acquaintance with Alexander Sullivan
| Lawrence X. Buckley, Thomas Murphy o
| Harry Jordan was matter to whic
! sedulous attention was paid by the State
/. OF the Jurors who were examined non
/ would admit acquaintance with any &
these men except one. lie was membe
I Of the Irish-American Club and was intro
/ duced to Alexander sullivan on the OF
| casion of the reception rendered to Patric
| Egan last spring
Court adjourned before the state ha
1 rendered any jurors to the defense Thei
line OF examination can therefore only b
coniectured.