The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-06
lie CARON, THE SPY, TALKS
IMPORTANT STATEMENTS ABOUT DIR.
CRoNIN's MURDER.
He Denies That Cronin Was In the Pay
of the British Government and Gives
the Names OF Chicago Citizens High
In the Clan.

the Names of Chicago Citizens High
in the Clan.
LONDON, June 5.-The correspondent OF
the New York World had, Saturday night,
an interview with Maj. LIZ Caron, once the
famous secret agent Of the British Gov
eminent among the Irish societies in
America. He lives In coy suburban
home, under another name. A Scotland
Yard detective lives with him, and when
tho two 60 out they are armed for any
emergency. 10 Caron is full Of nerve and
would dispense with the service OF body
guard altogether, but the Government
Processes to believe that his life is in
danger and prefers TO give him protection.
Le Caron says he knows that the very
men who caused DIR. Cronin's death have
sworn to kill him, too, but that he is not
afraid. He swears very positively that DIR.
| Cronin was not spy.
II was on this important point that the
correspondent determined to have talk
with him at his home last night. The fol-
lowing Is the result OF the conversation,
| and entirely on his own responsibility, his
status as regards truth and veracity being
a matter OF public notoriety:
Correspondent-One point which Amer
leans really want to know, Maj. lie Caron,
is whether DIR. Cronin was or was not one
OF your men?
| 10 Caron-Most decidedly no.
Correspondence is alleged in America
that he was murdered because he was
British spy. Do you mean to say that he
was not in the employ OF the British Gov
| eminent?
lie Caron-I can positively swear he was
not.
Correspondent-Bu did you not say be-
fore the Parnell Commission that there
were four more spies in American
lie Caron-I never made such q state
ment, either before the Commission or
anywhere else.
Correspondent--Iti is charged that you
confided certain names OF persons in
America to the lawyers and judges OF the
special commission
lie Caron-I have never implicated any
individual as q spy TO any person or per.
sons, and all statements Of my having con-
fided TO Justice Hapnen, TO Attorney. Cen
eral Webster or TO Sir Charles Russell, by
their direction or voluntarily, the name OF
Cronin rs spy OF the British Government
are absolutely false.
Correspon1ent-What Is your opinion
rs TO the object OF tina Clan ma Gael in
making these statemonts2
Le Caron-The simple fact Is that DIR.
Cronn was not killed for being a spy
That allegation is now made by his enc
mics In order to blacken his character and
justify the murder. / repeat, he was not
spy. lilo was threatened before left
Chicago by the Sullivan faction for quite
different reasons, and for those reasons he
was murdered. And those reasons were
that the Sullivan faction hated him be-
cause he was troublesome, because he
possessed knowledge Of an awkward nature
which he was determined TO expose, and
that was dangerous 10 the faction men
toned.
Correspondent-Did you know Cough
Ian, the detective7
lie Caron-Yes. Coughlan Is member OF
the Clan-na-Gael and an enemy OF Cronin
and his faction. lie received his position
through the influence OF the Sullivan
party, together with many Others now on
the Chicago police force, from the simple
fact that during two preceding municipal
administrations two chiefs Of police were
prominent members OF the Clan-na.C iael.
Corrcspondont-And these wero--
10 Caron-Superintendens McGarigle
and Austin Doyle. The members OF the
Clan.na-Gael have been enabled to place
their brethren upon the police force in a
manner well known TO Chicago politicians
Corrcspondent-What Is the situation
OF the Chicago police forco now with 70.
gard 10 the Clan-na-Gael?
LeCaron-Tho majority OF the Irish
portion Of the Chicago police, II not per.
sonally connected with, are undoubtedly
In sympathy with the Clan ma Gael.
Corrcspondent-wo Would they be likely
10 smother an Investigation, us has been
alcgcd2
LeCmon-As body, no; rs individuals,
yes--ihat IL the Irish portion.
Corrcspondcnt-liaye you heard pri.
vatoly, since you left Chicago, OF any al.
legged action OF the Clan-na. Gael In con
nection with Cronin's suspected treach-
ery9
le Caron-Certainly not; but have
heard privately, very recently, that in
diyiduals OF the organization had charged
him with being a friend and confdant o
mine. But that was only 10 create preju
dice against him. knew him very we'll
for ho lived near me, but always voted
against him.
Corrcspomdcnt-What reason would
there be for suspccting him TO be- a spy
J 10 Caron-Nono whatever. Had h,
, been spy, he would not have been q
. bclligcrcni. nor would he have established
a minority faction. which kept him outside
most the secret councils OF the leaders.
Corrcspondont-ls the Clan.na-Gac
very influential In Ch!cago2
Lc Caron-les; and much more thar
native Americans believe. The orgnniza
ton which Is undoubtedly responsible fol
the murder OF DIR. Cronn. has had To-
yoars upon the roll OF It's membership som,
OF the most prominent men In Chicago
, including such we'll known citizens ~
) John NJ. Smyth, one OF tho largest mer
chants In the city; Judge Pcndergasi, o
/ the County Court; Judge Moran, Of th'
, Superior Court; William J. Hyncs.
, leading lawyer; Daniel Cookery, a larr
, coal merchant; Dennis 0'Connor, a wei
known capitalist; DR. Guorin, a lcadinl
physician; VIM. Mccoy, the hotel propri
clor, and Frank Ogncau, tho great con
! tractor. II can be readily understood tina
, obstruction 30 any measure detrimental I,
the Clan-na.Gael or any support 10 any
thing favorable 10 that body can be oasil!
a