The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-24
ALEXANDER SULLIVAN.
A Suoolnct Review Of the Noted
Ciansni ans Life.

A Suoolnct Review of the Noted
clansman's Life.
Alexander Sdlliyan's career is
studded with startling incident. A
small merchant. he was accused and
+, acquitted OF arson. A politician. he
has figured in every camp, holding
some Offices. seeking others, and as
Stunning to act as a local Warwick, now
in one party, now in another. Reduced
to fiscal straits he scheduled as a bank
rupt, and then relieved by the easy
process once in vogue of legal obliga-
tion TO discharge enumerated debts he
surprised his creditors by payment in
full with high rate of interest In
the territories as in Chicago he h d
received and returned bodily menace.
He has exchanged shots. Thirteen
years ago in Chicago he killed a school
to cher. Twice tried he was finally
acquitted of murder. Perseverance
and audacity marked his subsequent
career, and his address can not be
! better illustrated than by the state
ment that in the Office OF that journal
which denounced him with uns pairing
vigor and bitterness and extended it's
animadversions to every one connected
nearly or remotely with his defense
he became valued counselor. Even
looking at 1t as a justifable killing
Hanford's murder would have daunted
the perpetrator had he a weaker
nature than Sullivan. He faced popu-
lar Indignation with grim but quiet
resolve and had the satisfaction of
finding himself courted where he had
been condemned and sought where he
had been repealed. Had Blaine sue
ceeded in 1884 Sulllvan's success would
have been complete.
Having method, industry, thorough
ness, and persistence Sullivan, once
embarked ON the career of an Irish
nationalist, readily reached the first
place. To gain leadership was not a
difficult task to the possessor of ambi-
ton guided by an intelligence unsway-
ed by the emotions. Opposition gave
way before a man who wasted no time
in thrasonical bar-room discussions,
but studying men and situations, work
ed while others slept In the open he
supported Parneil and constitutional
agitation. Under the cover of secret
society he was one of triangle"
preaching and practicing physical
force. Never wholly without enemies,
accusers, and detractors he attained,
nevertheless, higher dictinction and
broader influence th,n any assumed
leader of the Irish in America ever
commanded. Irishmen who would not
join secret society and abhorred the
use of dynamite applauded him as one
who implicitly accepted the leadership
of Parnell, while the clansmen rejoiced
in the knowledge that at the head of
the Irish league was dynamiter who
had taken the oath OF the brotherhood
and as one OF its directing minds was
projecting mysterious expeditions
against England. Sooner or later frac-
tional differences characterized all
Irish organization. Large sums of
money raised by the secret societies
were so mysteriously disbursed as to
excite comment which led to accusa-
ton. Sullivan's influence commenced
to decline. The league had followed
him in American politics and
met disaster, but even if he were AL
exander the successful and the just
the Irish would have wearied of him
as the Athenians wearied of Aristides.
Some incidents in Sullivan's life, his
known speculations on the stock ex-
change and in the wheat pit, his law
ish use of money in many directions,
gave color to the whisperings against
his fiscal honor. Chief among those
who chall enged his integrity was DIR.
Patrick H. Cronin. Sullivan is Bit
ter and implacable foe. His animosi-
ty was aroused. He appeared person
ally to prosecute Cronin as clans
man and procured his expulsion from
the society. But resolute and persis-
tent as himself, Cronin, organizing
factional camps, continued his charges
against the triangle" of which Sulli-
van had been the controlling force.
A union of the divergent camps was
effected and Cronin was once again a
clansman. Prosecuted by Sullivan
the time came when, despite the Bit
ter protest of the accused, Cronin sat
as juror on the trial OF Sullivan.
Though in the minority he held to the
truthfuIness of his charges and was
perhaps stimulated by the disclosures
made because of the failure of the
Traders bank. The august meeting
Of the brotherhood was to be per-
turbed anew by the scandal, for Gro
min resisted all pressure to cease and
stood ready to renew the combat
which he feared would cost him his
life.
Alexander Sullivan lies in Jail under
the heavy accusation of having been
principal, an accessory, or OF having
guilty knowl edge of the murder of DR..
Cronin. The crime is hideous, revolt
ing. Against the deep damnation of
Cronin's taking off, accomplished as it
was in secret by assassins and as the
result of ahorrible conspiracy, planned
and persisted in with devilish ingenuity
and firmness of purpose, the killing of
Hanford, done in open day in hot blood
and under circumstances suggestive of
self-defence, seems trivial offense. II
Sullivan is guilty he is damnably
guilty. Coughlin was possibly a
shallow knave, the iceman fanatic,
Woodruff a cheap mercenary, but
the intelligence that planned, the
hatred that persisted, the craft tina in
spired was, if the coroner's jury Is
right, the intelligence, the hatred, the
craft of Alexander Sullivan. The
very enormity of the crime and its hor-
rible circumstances stagger belief that
Sullivan, who had everything to lose