Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-27
THE CRONIN TRIAL BEGINS.
Longenecier Gets a Continuance
Till Wednesday.
ALL ASK FOR SEPARATE TRIALS,
That's What Ratified the States At
torney-Every Suspect Profess
ees 20 Fear Contamination
From Woodruff
Lon penecker Caught Mapping.

CHICAGO, August 26.-TSpecial Telegram
TO THE BEE. To-day was the date set for
the trial Of the alleged murderers Of DIR.
Cronn.
BY $3.50 o'clock this morning Judge Nc
Conuelrs court room was well filed with
spectators, lawyers and newspaper men.
The entrance TO the court room was vigi.
lantly guarded by deputy sheriffs, aad no
one was allowed to even pass the first guard
at the foot of the stairs unless he or she
gave u GOOD reason for wanting to be present
at the trial.
Promptly mt 10 o'clock the prisoners were
brought into the court room carefully
guarded by eight deputies. The six men sus-
pected of being implicated in the murder Of
DIR. Cronin marched into court headed by
Martin Burke. Woodruff, Coughlin, Beggs
and O'Sullvan followed, and Kunze, the
young German, brought up the rear. Beggs
was represented by his attorney, Mr.. For
rest O'Sullivan, by Donahoe & David;
Coughlin, by Messrs. Forrest and Wing;
Woodruff, by A. w. Brown; Kunze, by Don
ahoe & David.
AS soon as court was called Attorney Dom
ahoe rose to his feet and made II formal ap-
plication for u separate trial for his client,
John Kuuze. In short speech by the attor-
ney he said that while ilunze was confined
in the county jail the states attorney came to
him and told him that If he would tell what
he knew about Dan Coughlin and p. O'Sul-
ivan he would be given his liberty, but that
he (Kunze) knew nothing about the case
Mr.. Donohoe further said that he had no OPP
portunity to prepare defense for his
client, because Judge Longenecker had not
gwen him a list of the witnesses who testi-
fed before the grand jury which found the
indictment against his client.
Iyntn laat Cat t,rla 4 iyraIsn info
ton regarding the evidence against this
man." said the attorney SIS 1t fair, then,
that my client should be tried before have
an opportnn,tyto to prepare defensef'
Attorney Donuhoe had scarcely finished
speaking when Lawyer Wing arose to his
feet aud read lengthy application setting
forth reasons why his client, Daniel Cough
lin, should have separate trial. MIR. Wing
SAID that his client declared that he could not
have fair trial If tried with the other sus-
poets and that he feared the testimony of
Woodruff, as his confessions had already
been very conflicting.
AT this junction in the proceedings a sig
nihcal,t incident occurred. Mr.. Forrest, at
torney for Coughlin, took Mr.. Kennedy, the
attorney for Martin Burke, TO one side, and
after few minutes conversation led him to
Dan Coughlin and introduced the two. After
shaking hands the three men spent several
moments in conversation.
Mr.. Wing briefly reviewed the evidence
against his Client Coughlin, and made the
formal application, after which he read an
affidavit signed by Coughlin stating that he
had no knowledge OF the Cronin murder ex-
cept what he had gained from the newspa-
pers. He said that he had nothing to do
with the movements of Martin Burke or
with the hiring OF any rooms or cottage, or
with the contract between O'Sullivan and
DIR. Crouin, In short Coughlin denied every
thing with which he was charged
The next motion was for separate trial
for O'Sul!ivan, made by MIR. Donahoe. He
said that his client could not have fair and
impartial trial if tried at the same time as
Frank Woodruff, for that prisoner would
give testimony which would be calculated to
injure the case OF p. O'Sullivan. MIR. Dona-
hoe briefly reviewed the several confessions
of Woodruff and gave reasons why OSuli-
van should have separate trial. When Mr.,
Donohoe had concluded, his partner, Mr..
David, read an affidavit signed by Douahoe,
giving his reasons for asking for II separate
trial, and declaring that it was not for the
purpose of delay that his motion was made
but because he could not believe his client
could have fair and impartial hearing If
placed on trial with the other men suspected
of numbering DR.. Cronin.
p. O'Sullivan, IN an affidavit, denied all
the charges brought against him and said
that to the best of his belief he could not
have fair and impartial trial If tried with
the other defendants.
Senator Kennedy did not read his motto II
for separate trial for Martin Burke but in
short speech he said 81 will not read the
affidavits OF my client and myself, for the
simple reason that :want to save time and
want to leave them for your honor to read
at your leisure"
Mr. Kennedy was followed by the at
torneys for Beggs and Woodruff, who also
asked for separate TRIALS.
MIR. Ames, attorney for Beggs, said that
his client wanted an immediate as we'll as a
separate trial.
'Your honor" said States Attorney
Longenecker, rising to bis feet, II am very
much surprised at these motions for separate
trials. had no time to prepare an answer
to these applications think should have
at least week to look into this in order To
prepare an answer to these motions. / con-
fess that am taken by surprise"
"You have been talking about being ready
for trial, said Mr.. Forrest, 'now go ahead.
Your honor, continued Mr.. Forrest, growing
warm, 81 demand that this case go ON.
want no more delay. No sir, Mr. Longe-
necker's policy from the first has been one OF
delay aud now he wants another delay. Why
did be not give me list of the 100 witnesses
before Saturdays IL was for the purpose OF
delay. Further, your honor, want to say
that the states attorney has advised Martin
Burke To dispense with the services of Sena-
tor Kennedy and that he has told witnesses
that they must not talk TO me, Mr. Forrest
the attorney for the Defense"
MIR. Longenecker replied to Mr.. Forrest by
claiming that this was the first time that he
had asked for o continuance.
II utU SICK, hHu
have not been feeling Well for several days
desire continuance for one week il your
honor Will permit it,"
"Your honor" said Mr. Forrest ''if this IL
only a slight indlsposition on the part of Mr.
Longenecker we had better go on. He will
be better in twenty-four hours. No doubt
he has an able corps of assistants who, with
MIR. Mills and MIR. Hines, can carry on the case
think it is only right that this trial should
go on. AS said before, IL has been the pol
icy of the prosecution to make as much della,
as possible. We have all heard that the state
was ready; II 1t is let the trial go on"
Mr. Brown, Woodruff's attorney, tool
the floor as soon as Mr. Forrest had finished
aud said that he wanted IL distinctly under
stood that he would aud did oppose all effort.
to have the case continued. ave want nc
delay at all, and are now ready TO go u
trial. no said. 1T is for your honor u
decide whether this delay shall be granted. >
"Your honor,n said Mr. Longenecker
seeming 70 vince under the cutting remark,
of MIR. Forrest, ~ do not ask for continu.
ance merely for the sake OF a de
delay. In the first place, an
not prepared to argue the motions for sep
arate trial for all six of the defendants.
did think one or two of them might maxi
such motion, but in order TO argue all sil
OF the motions would like TO have som,
time To prepare. Not being well, will no
be able To work for few days, and for thii
reason, and this only ask for acontinuanc
Qf A least "A WaAl< "