Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-05-30
THE CRoNIN MYSTERY.
Coughlin, Sullivan and Woodruff
Indicted.

Detective Daniel Coughlin, Patrick
q. Sullivan, tho iceman, and Frank j.
Black alias Woodruff, were indicted by
the Grand jury in Chicago, May 28th,
for the murder of DR.. Cronin. This
result was reached after an investiga-
ton which began at noon and lasted
seven hours, during which two dozen
witnesses were examined and mass
Of evidence considered. The three
prisoners were included In one indict-
ment, to which there were three counts,
one charging them with killing DIR.
Cronin with blunt instruments; sec
ond, alleging the use OF u sharp instru-
ment, and third, '.nstruments and
means unknown.n No evidence was
introduced to prove n conspiracy, and
DIR. Cronin's private papers were not
placed before the Grand Jury. The
witnesses who were called were those
whose stories have been told in the
press. States Attorney Longnecker
thought it advisable TO tighten tho
coils into which the the three prison
ers have already been drawn and fas-
ten them with indictment, probably to
prevent any attempt TO secure the re-
lease Of one or more OF them on bail.
The grand jury took only one vote af-
ter hearing the Witnesses and that was
unanimous for indicting all three Of
the prisoners. States Attorney Long
necker said that no mention Of the
Glan-na-Gael had been made In tho
jury room. The charge OF conspiracy
and Dr. Cronin's papers will be taken
uplater, probably before another grand
jury.
The Times, in late edition, prints
u statement that Z. o. Sullivan has
made a full confession and given TO
the police the names OF every one he
knew that was implicated in the muir
der of DIR. Cronin. Sullivan was neatly
trapped. Day after day he had been
subjected to the questioning Of officers.
Day after day he lied. But no liar
lives who, questioned by different men
ut different times, can weave the wool
Of falsehood so strongly ms to make IL
man did not know that on tho very
night that Cronin was murdered, tho
police took possession of the blood
stained cottage at 1872 Ashland Ave.
But such was the case. The police
pumped Sullivan. He contradicted
himself frequently. Then they told
him IL cir suspicious and gave him
enough OF the truth TO show that they
knew more than he thought they did.
The next day Sullivan changed his
tune, and more contradicting followed.
This lying continued until the 9th.
Then he decided to tell the truth, and
by 50 doing save himself from the fate
that surely awaits the slayers OF DR..
Cronin. Sullivan was taken TO Capt.
Wings Office, where he was confronted
by Capt. Schaak and Lieut. Schuttler.
He confessed he had known Dan Cough
lin for many years, instead Of having
made his acquaintance shortly after
the murder. The iceman admitted
that he was a member Of the Clan-na-
Gael in good standing; that he was
present at Lincoln hall the night Of
March %, when DIR. Cronin officiated
at the initiation of several new mem
bers OF the order; that while in the
employ OF the North Side Street Car
Company Sullivan became acquainted
with many detectives and policemen,
especially those on the North Side;
that Coughlin was an ex-street car
employee, and that he (witness) had
worked in the iron mines in Northern
Michigan and at Hancock, Mich, and
had become acquainted with the rela-
tives Of Detective Coughlin. Then
Sullivan revealed the whole plot and
the names OF all those connected with
the great crime.