Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-10-14
A STARTLING CONSPIRACY.

| A STARTLING CONSPIRACY.
Trying to Bssbe the Cronln jury
ConfessIons That VIII Startle the
| world-High Omefals ImpIicased-A
BaiiG Confesses-He Attempts to
Brlbe q Venlreman, who Gives tho
Plot Away-FIve Thousand Dollars
0nered For a Vote For Acquittal.
CHICAGO, Oct. 12.-One of the bolsest and
most corrupt plots ever brought to the notice
of the public was outlined by Attorney Lon-
geneoker's right hand man, Mr.. Mills, this
afternoon. The conspiracy not only includes
county officials, but outsiders Of high stand-
ing, and several arrests have already been
made and more will follow. Not content
with the bribery of men an attempt has been
made to drag even innocent women into the
plot. Mr.. Mills, upon being interviewed,
said: ut will he remembered that Wsdnes-
day afternoon an honest young man who is
employed as foreman in a large establish
nent in this city was examined and excused
for cause" Il is understood. thouoh NOT
stated by Attorney Mills, that the name of
the venireman attempted to be bribed was
George S. Tachappat. he is the foreman for
B. V. Page & Co., oil merchants, CON
Thursday afternoon, !" said Mr.. Mills, ia very
prominent citizen of Chicago entered the
court room and very privately communicated
to the counsel for the State that his foreman.
the yenireman in question, before being
called to the jury box had been approached
by baliH of the court with an offer of
| 81 900 to vote for the acquittal of the de-
PENDANTS. He said: "This is not cock and
bulr story and bring it before you in the
| interest of public justice"
The next day the man made full state
ment to the States attorney the gist of which
| was as follows: In obedience to the sum-
| mons he came to the court room Wednesday,
and while in the ante-room friend came to
him and the two went out to get cigars.
While out the man said to the venireman
| ''Do you want to make some moneys"
The venireman innocently answered, Seer
tainly do"
every we'll You get on the jury and
| stick for an acquittal, and you will have
| 81 900. The contract and arrangement can
be carried out with your wife. It can be ar
ranged so that she will wear certain colored
dress If the money Is paid to her ON a certain
| day. If the money is not paid to her on that
certain day she is to wear different oolored
dress, and the contract is to be off,"
The venireman turned reproachfully to his
friend and said: ST am not that kind of a
man" whereupon the bailiff replied: 81 am
"
venireman was excused from court for cause.
He left the court house intending to return to
his place OF business, and on leaving the
court house met on the steps leading to the
sidewalk the man who had attempted to
bride him. The man turned to him and
said: "Whers were you this noon times I
looked everywhere for you. They said we
will make 1t $4,000 and - him make him
do It,"
It was too late, however, for the venireman
had been excused for cause, but he at once
returned to his place of business, having re-
preached the man for putting such low esti-
mate upon him, and reported to his employer
the prominent citizen and what had taken
place, who, the following day, reported 1t to
the prosecution.
After this the bailiff and the venireman
were brought together to the State Attorneys
office. The bailiH being thus confronted with
the venireman's statement made complete
confession, in which he implicated several
prominent persons, also another bailiff. The
attorneys for the prosecution. together with
Chief Hubbard and others at once went to
work on the case and have disclosed one of
the most deliberate attempts to corrupt. a
has come to the public attention.
In a subsequent interview Mr.. Mills said
that they had confessions giving the whole
conspiracy away; confessions that will startle
the whole world of a conspiracy involving
men whose names will be a surprise to the
country. 1t is no exaggeration when say
that you can not magnify the damnable out
rage of this conspiracy.
| Chief Hubbard said to-day: "We have
discovered plot to pack the jury, and VIC
have the whole crowd dead to rights" The
chief was asked whether it was true that
Stenographer Purcell had run off with val.
liable records In the case. He said: Purcell
did carry off some records, but they ha6
nothing to do with the Cronin case They
were in regard to q secret society of which
he is a member. None of the Cronin records
or documentary evidence has been stolen"
State Attorney Longenecker emphaticall,
denies the report that records and exhibits il
the Cronin case have been stolen from hi
Office, and that his former stenographer
James Fitzgerald, was the guilty man. Mr.
Longenecker said IL was an outrage (,
drag Purcell's name into such a oonnectfo,
and that the stories of the theft were a fic
ton.
fifth indictment was agreed upon agains
jeremiah ODonneil, who was recently ap
pointed gauger at South Chicago. At II
p. m. 1t was reported that two additions
indictments, seven in all, had been made.
According to q statement by Lawye
Mills it was the bailiE Solomon who first at
tempted to bride a Citizen (Taehappat) Wit
was afterward to be summoned as Juror
Solomon also is the man whose confession
was obtained. Solomon turned over to tn,
state attorney list of names and addresses
said to be prospective corrupt jurors. Only
two of the list had yet been Summoned ant
neither was yet examined. Solomon said thu
list had been furnished to him by Bailif
Hanks, while they were seated in the cour
they were guarding. Hanks had said 81. O0t
would be given for . fixed juror, half to the
man In the box and half to the bailiffs.
Last night the men on the list were inter
viewed by tho chief of police. One mar
stated that he had been approached with ar
offer of 81, 900 to 60 on the jury by Fred w
Smith. 9 hardware manufacturers agent
Another citizen was also similarly ap'
preached by Smith. O'Donnelps part, a,
told by Mr.. Mills, was similar to that o.
Smiths. He sounded at least one man anG
offered him 81 900. O'Donnell, who was ar
rested early In the evening, is said to have
confessed that q person understood to bt
Kavanaugh guaranteed that the money offer.
ed would be forthcoming. The supposed
corrupted veniremen were carefully instruct
cd as to their manner while being examined
in court, being told how they should answer
and to be gruff with the lawyers for the de
fence.
The official list of indictments given on
about 1880 p. M, contained six names
Hanks, Solomon, Smith Kavanuagh, O'Don
nell and Joseph Kohn. The latter is frui
dealer who, 1t is said, ives to go on the jur
and get 81 900 from Hanks.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
> CHICAGO, Oct. 13.-Seoret conferences an
rumors of further arrests tell the story G
new developments in the Cronin case up
ten O'Clock Tonight. The State attorne
and his associates were In private session 9
. that hour in the East Chicago avenue polio
/ station. All the lawyers for the defense wer
generally believed to be in close oonferenc
:, elsewhere. A barber, Edward Hosgland, on
Of the men who confessed to having been er
5 gagged In plot to fix the Oronin jury told
reporter the story of his share. He implicats
, Kavanagh and O'Donnell as the men throug
whom he was drawn into the business.
By II p. m. it was known that new al
? rest had been made and the prisoner take
q for ooncealment to an outlying police station
Two other arrests were expected before mic
. night.
q Where Was New Haven LIght4
= PORT JEFFERSON, L. l., Dot: 13.-Tf
sloop yacht Lille from New London boun