The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-25
Convincing Evidence that DR.. Cronin
Was FoulIy Murdered in
Cottage at Lake View.
Blood Stains Found All OVec House
Which Was Rented by Two
Unknown Men.
Cfrcumstan showing Prisoner Woodruff
Knows More About the Matter Than
He Has ToId-Cronin's Funeral.

where CrOnin was murdered-a vacant cot
tage in Lakeview. Apparently the suthor-
tiles have had some information about the
place for several days, and since the dis
covery of the body an officer has been con-
stantly watching the cottage. Reporters
heAId Of the surveillance, but the officers
would give no information. Accordingly,
this morning three reporters watched their
opportunity, and when the officers were in
the rear of the house, forced an entrance at
the front. Stains resembling blood were
seen on the front steps, but when the re-
or parlor, they found undOnbted
blood stains on the floor, also
in a corner of the back parlor and in the
hallway. The parlor floor is covered with
bloody marks. although here the assassins
evidently made strenuous efforts TO destroy
the stains. The floor is daubed reeklessly
with brown paint and IL can be plainly
seen the work is now that of an expert. Ii
was evidently done IN such haste that sew
eral places were left where the blood
s aims were perceptible, notably in the cen
tire of the ficOr. In the paint were prints
OF bare feet; evidently the person who
made the marks was much excited, for
the footprints are seen in every
direction. indicating the owner had rushed
all over the room. The reporters had not
finished their investigation before the ar
rival of officers, who put stop to the
work. Before breaking into the house the
reporters had peered through the basement
windows and discovered a spade standing
against post, and that the earth had been
freshly turned up. 1t is said the police
found bloody clothing concealed In the
house OF basement, but on this point they
refuse to talk.
The cottage in question is situated within
few hundred feet of the home of II. q.
Sullivan, the ice man whose card was pre-
- sS..t.f f...Nt 4.
leave his home on the night of his disap-
pearance. The man who presented the
card said one of Sullivahis employees had
met with an accident and requested Gro
Minis services. The cottage belongs to a
man named Carlson. who lives in tie rear
of the same lot Ii appears that about
seven weeks ago young woman rented
the house, paying a month in advance
People were given to understand the
woman mad rented 10 for her brothers,
who had been hired by Sullivan. Sullivan
declares he did not hire any such men.
Moreover, though the rent was paid, the
house remained unoccupied until about the
time of Cronin's disappearance, when there
carpets. IL they were preparing for Gro
nin's assassination this would have been a
good way To smuggle into the house the
large bundle OF cotton batting found with
the body Proceeding on the theory that
CrOnin was murdered here, il is pointed
out that the house is admirably
located for the purpose. as be-
ing so near Sullivan's house
CrOnin could be conducted to il without ex-
citing his suspicion, while at the same time
il would fnrHish perfect hiding place for
them TO spring upon him as soon as he en-
tered the place. Ii is also surmised that
the carpet NAV have been used upon tbs
hallway ct fier front room TO give the
place the app rance of being occupied.
The attention of the police was directed
TO the house by Carlson, the owner.
EbersOld and the coroner. When Lieuten-
ant Schuettler found the reporters had
gained an entrance to the house he was
very angry. He suspended the officer who
had been on watch and sent another to the
place. The lieutenant himself, however,
was not more successful in keeping the
secret, for q reporter succeeded in draw
ing from him important admissions among
them that the police had a clew to the muir
derers. The most important admission
was that the clothes of the dead man had
been recovered and identified.
Late this afternoon Mrs. Carlson turned
over 10 the police letter signed "FraDk
Williams" which she said was written by
one of the two strange men who occupied
the cottage, and who disappeared after the
murder The police officials appear TO
think, tonight, that CrnnIn's assassiDs may
have initiated Boodler McGsrigles famous
escape up Lake Michigan. 1t isl-aid that
two men were noticed esrlv the Sunday
following Cronin's disappearance
in boat on the lake nearing the north pier.
They were heading in a straight line from
the beach in Lincoln park, near where
Prisoner Woodruff said halt had been
with the mysterious trunk. Since that
night q row boat has been missing from an
close by. Suburban police
have alway declared there were three men
seen in the wagon, supposed tn cOntain the
my sterious trunk. Woodruff from the first
talked of two Others besides himself. The
police are very anxious to hear from the
missing boat
The Carlson cottage has been thoroughly
and a new brush, such as
painters ordinarily use In coarse work,
was found IN the attic Its hairs were
smeared with paint similar to that with
which the blood stains had been partly OBJ
liberated. Ii the attic was also found pot
quantity of the same sort of
paint The indications were the painting
had been done some time after the killing,
possibly involving return 10 the house
by the murderers or the accomplices after
the paint had dried. A son-in-law of Carl
son tonight said the cottage was rented in
March and the rent paid in advance The
man who brought the bed, bureau and
his sister was in the hospital sick. and
that before moving in be
would wait until she was able to
leave the institution. After this he
came back with another man. They in
the Carlson's they were brothers,
and their name was Williams When the
month was up, April 20, they came around
and paid another month 5 rent, sayiDg their
sister was still sick. The old folks became
suspicious after this and determined there
was something wrong, so decided not to
let the men have the house after this
MONTH
A singular thing is that last Thursday
another man who had not been seen before |
came to pay the third months rent Mrs. |
Car son refused TO rent the house, saying |
they proposed 70 sell il The man said be
would return the next day TO take the fur
nituTe away. He did not come for the fur
niture the next day, and II is in the house
yet
In the vacant cottage where the blood |
stains were discovered and the place where |
the police had already decided was the
scene OF the murder OF DR.; Cronln, there
wsS found By the detectives tonight q
brand new key. The officers decided at
once to try il in the lock of the mysterious
trunk found by the roadside the morning
after Cronin disappeared. The key fitted
exactly and all doubt now of q genuine
connec ion between the prisoner Woodruff,
the doctors dead body, the trunk and the
blood stained cottage, has been put beyond
question.
A morning paper publishes what pro
fesses 10 be the papers left by DIR. CrOnin.
The following are extracts: "June Is, IS
John Dewey. in the convention OF the
u. b made feur charges with specihca-
tons against Alexander Sullivan, Michael
D4l4Uu anu Drulc u CtlCss AC NAo- kNe
were .violstiOn of their Oaths of member
ship and Office 'misappropriation of funds
of the L. b > .malfeasance in ofhce- AT
the Clan-Da-Gael convention in August
Isss. the above named were elected MEM
bers of the executive body and BY that BODY
members of the revolutionary directory. IL
is charged that these men named deceived
and misied their colleages on the revolu-
tionary directory who represented me ). X:
ri ia that body and through them deceived
and misIed the supreme council OF the j. K B
with whom they were sworn 70 act in
unisou and TO assist In revolutionary
work and by such deceit and misleading
created misunderstandings and distrust be-
tween the two allied governing bodies of
the Irish revolutionary movement They
Levied on the executive body of the L.
in the name of the revolutionary directory
during the years 1881. 1852, ISIS and 1ss4
sums of money amounting in the aggregate
70 SI2s. 900, and received and expended the
same. or ordered il expended, without the
knowledge OF consent OF their colleagues
of the revolutionary directory. II is al
legged that they. together with OfFsrreu. OF
Leadville. subsequently audited their own