The Helena independent., 1889-05-11
A WOMAN IN 1T.
Sensational Developments in the
Matter Of the Disappearance Of
DR.. Cronin. of Chicago.
Frank Woodruff Makes a Confession
Which Casts Doubt Upon the
Murder Theory.
CrOntn said To Have Had a Hand in the Dis
PosaI of the MutfIated Body of
Young Woman.

CHICAGO, May IO.-The most startling
information in the mysterious case OF the
missing Irish-American, DIR. +. II. CrOnin.
came out tonight Last night an OficeF
from the Twelfth street station arrested a
young man who was trying to sell a white
horse and wagon IN a livery stable near the
station for a small sum of money. When
taken % the station the man gave his name
as John Brown, and when asked the routine
questions always addressed 70 prisoners
betrayed much emotion and asked for Capt
Mcdonnell. He was taken 20 the captains
Office and in the presence of several officers
told startling story of his connection with
the mystery. To-day the police investi-
gated the story and found it cOrroborRted
by many circumstances which tend 20 show
its truthfulness. Browns real name is
Frank G.. Woodruff. and he has been
working for Dean * Co., livery stable
keepers at 404 Webster avenue.
His story rs reported by the authorities
Is that a week ago last Wednesday in talk
ing with a man named VIM. King he
Woodruff had com planned of being out OF
money, having lost considerable playing
cards. and said that IL was necessary for
him To secure something to do that would
pay better than working in a livery stable.
King said he could put Woodruff in the
way OF making money easily. Saturday
evening Just at dusk King called Woodruff
out of the stable and asked il he could get
a horse and wagon out without any one
knowing 10, and said he would give Wood
run S25 il he would do H. Woodruff said
he could, and a place of meeting at 2
o'clock in the morning was agreed upon.
Woodruff left the wagon out doors in an
alley befere going 70 bed, and when all the
other employ es had retired he stole noise
lessly down stairs, took out the horse and
hitched up, and meeting King they drove
together To barn iu the rear of a big
house ON State street. As they wheeled up
in front of a barn two men came
out one was man named Dick
Fairburn. The other man Woodruff
feels sure was DIR. CrOnin, although it was
quite dark at the time. He had several Op-
pOTtunities to look clearly at the mans
face and asserted that he answered Gro
nln's description in many ways. The
other man addressed the person as Doctor
The three men drove straight through the
alley TO Dearborn and up Dearborn to
Lincoln park. / heard several expressions
IN the conversation between the men and
Woodruff, which convinced me there was
noticed that CTOnin was very anxious for
US TO hurry. Two or three times he said |
Get out of here, boys, get out of here,
quick" 1 noticed the trunk smelled as if |
drove nearly TO the north end of the park |
then stopped minute near some bushes. /
King and Fairburn were with me. We left Il
Cronin at Barnes. 1 remember as / i
was black as i If he had been hit hit with ma :
list. AT the bushes we lifted the trunk Il
and l held the horse while it was opened. /
then found my suspicious were correct. 1
There was a body in the trunk and they /
lifted 1t out in several pieces. l cannot say /
whether IL was the body of |
man or woman, except from one -circum- |
stance. | heard King say; Heres where |
'Yes, and il you had let Tom alone we |
would have had Doc in here with her." /
These remarks passed while they were |
carrying what looked like a corpse. King 4
gave me SO and told me to drive on and /
get rid of The trunk and get the hOrse into /
/ gallOp. | don't think | was over fifteen |
minutes on the run. Finally 1 dumped out /
he trunk and turned back. IL broke open /
Is II fell, but did not wait 70 see in what \
manner IL lay or Just how the pieces were /
placed. then returned to the barn"
Woodruff says he suspects from the con- /
Iersation he overheard between Cronin,
fairburn and King that the body in the |
runk was that of a woman, whose death i
esuited from an operation, perhaps per /
ormed by DIR. CrOnin. He draws this con-
;lusion not only from words he overheard i
lut also from the anxiety evinced by the i
ioctor to get the body out of the way, and /
ecently been struck by some one. Wood /
mn trst read of CronIn's disappearance i
Tuesday, and also read a story relating 70 \
he finding of an empty trunk. He was
.reatly frightened, and thinking the Of
leers were cert1inly un his track, took /
means 10 get out of the city. He had some 4
money remaining, but decided to obtain a
title more, and stole the identical horse
md wagon which he had used last Satur-
lay night. The result was his arrest and
OufessiOU.
Woodruff is Of the opinion that Cronfn is
n the city; that King knows his wher.-
bouts, and that il King can be found he
an tell where CrOnin is A search was
nade at the point in Lincoln PARK where
m the lake shore Woodruff is said
have left CrOnin and the others
With the body. Unusually heavy
aims interfered with the work.
be lake and pond are being dragged. The
esidence 10 which belongs the barn from
he trunk Is claimed to have been carried
'elongs TO well-tO do citizen named Wat
GUS de diselaims all knowledge whatever
I the affair
A pretty brunette named Allie OF Alice
illavason has been missing from the
elghbOrhoOd near which is located the
arm where Woodruff is said to have met
lr. Cronin and the iatters companions |
Ter parents are in rather humble circum-
tances and heretofore little attention has
een paid 20 her disappearance. Several
personals addressed to her and relating
D the girl have appeared in the papers of
ate, but the advertisements contain little
r nothing definite. Saloun-keepeT COnk-
In, with whom CrOnin lived, was Informed
0 night of WOodruff-s statement Conk-
In declared there could be nothing in the
tory and once more insisted that the doc
Dr had been murdered by certain Irish ma
IonalIsts, who, according to COnklin, were
nemies of Cronin.
TORONTO. May I0.-A man alleged 70 be
hs missing DIR. CrOnin, of Chicago, was
zen here to-day. He left town this after
Don IN company with another man and
woman.