Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-18
NEWS SUMMARY.
A BOLD CONSPIRACY.
A Scheme for Fixing the Jurors in
the Groin Case.
A Number OF Persons Arrested.

"A Number OF Persons Arrested.
CHICAGO, Oct. IA startling sensation
in connection with the Cronin murder case
was made public Saturday, being nothing
less than daring extensive scheme for de-
bauchlng the Jurors chosen TO hear this
important case. A number OF confessions
have already been made giving the whole
miserable conspiracy. They reveal most
damnab.e organization against the law OF
the land, conspiracy against the lurispru-
dence OF this country that will startle the
continent when IL is thoroughly known-a
conspiracy Of qualifications OF audacity, q
conspiracy involving men whose names
will be a surprise to the country. 1t is not
exaggeration TO say that the damnable out
rage or this conspiracy cannot be magni-
fed In the taking of of DIR. Cronin and
the manner in which IL was done, the
whole world was startled. This second
conspiracy will alike startle the whole
world. 1t is an assault on the very integri-
w OF our institutions.
A special grand Jury was convened ut
once and after being in session a short
time summoned seven witnesses, and
among the seven were two venire men who
had been possible Cronin jurors, though
not yet examined in court.
At III 80 o'clock Saturday night the grand
Jury had agreed TO return indictments
against Alexander j. Hanks, Mark Salo-
mon, Fred w. Smith, Tom Kavanagh,
Jermiah o. Donnell and Joseph Kohn.
Hanks has been bailif for eight or nine
years, having been appointed in Sheriff
Matson's time. He has always been re-
garded as square man. Mark Solomon
was appointed bailiff in MAY, ISIS, from
the tenth ward Little is known about
him. Fred w. Smith is unknown around
the court house. Tom Kavanagt was en-
gineer at the insane asylum during the
"boodlers" regime and was mixed up in
that transaction. He is now in business on
Franklin street and, strange TO say, his
partner was summoned as Juror When
the examination of the states attorney re
vealed his connection with kavanagh he
was peremptorily challenged. Jeremiah
O'Donnell was recently appointed gauger
ut South Chicago. Joseph kohn is a fruit
dealer who, is said, was to go on the jury
and get $1,000 from Hanks.
According 10 statement by Lawyer
Mills it was the bailiff, Solomon, who first
attempted to bride citizen (Ichappat)
who was afterwards TO be summoned as a
juror. Solomon also is the man whose con
fession was obtained. Solomon turned
over 10 the states attorney a list OF names
and addresses said 10 be prospective cor
rupt jurors. Only TWO of the list had yet
been summoned, and neither was yet ex am
ined. Solomon said the list had been fur
nished TO him by Bailiff Hanks while they
were seated in the court room just behind
the Cronin suspects whom they were
guarding. Hanks had said that $1,000
would be given for fixed iuror-half to
the man in the box and half 10 the bailiffs.
The men on the list were interviewed by
the chief of police. One man said that he
had been approached with an offer
of $1,000 10 go on the jury by
Fred w. Smith. hardware manufac-
turers agent. Another citizen was also
similarly approached by Smith. o Don
nells part, as told by Mr.. Mills, was SINH
lar 10 that of Smith He sounded at least
one man and offered him $1,000 . Don
nell, who was arrested early in the even
ing, is said to have confessed that person
understood TO be Kavauagh, guaranteed
that the money offered would be forth
coming. The supposed corrupted veniro-
men were carefully instructed as TO their
manner while being examined in court, be
ing told how they should answer and TO be
gruff with the lawyers for the defense.
1t was about midnight when the special
grand jury adjourned Their report was
short and formal in character except for
an intimation that the Jurors believed the
plot TO be more widespread than was iDdi-
Gated by the six indictments returned. All
the indicted persons spent the night in the
county Jail.
a rumor was also current that the official
records OF the Cronin case had been stolen,
and that a stenographer employed in the
states attorneys Office had been hired TO
abstract them. but this the states attorney
emnhaticallv denies