The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-08
DILLON'S STORY.
The Eastern Leader of the Gamma
Gael Creates a Sensation at
the Cronin Inquest
More Correspondence from Alexander
Sullivan. in which He Scores
the Murdered Doctor.
An Emphatic Denial by Lawrence Buck
ley that the CIan-na-GaeI Ordered
Cronin's Removal.

CHICAGO. June 7.-Thls was a day of
sensation at the inquest of DIR. Cronin-
Luke Dillon, of Philadelphia, one Of the
highest of the executive officers Of the
Clan-na Gael, took the witness stand and
in the course of his testimony read from
the archives of the association a document
penned under extraordinary circumstances
by one of his own predecessors in the high
est council of the Clan-na-Gsel, Alexander
sullivan, of Chicago. This document was
dated New York, sept. is, ISss, and is ad-
dressed to p. A. 0'Boyle, secretary, and is
a protest by Sullivan against the presence
of Dr. CrOnin in the membership of the
committee TO investigate the charges
aga INST sullivan, which held its session
il Buffalo. Mr.. Sullivan protests
against CrOnin on three grounds. First,
that CrOnin is his personal enemy; second,
that he has expressed opinions in the case;
third, that he Is a peTJurer and a scoun-
drel. unfit to be placed on any Jury. To
the first objection Sullivan cites CrOnin's
well known and evident hostility towards
the writer in many ways, his writings on
the subject, etc. In reply to the second OBJ
lection, sullivan said il was only necessary
for him 10 notice that CrOnin was r mem
Der of the executive body of the United
brotherhood who had promulgated charges
against him; that he had expressed decld-
e0 opinions IN IL case ana WOuIQ not De
'cepted a. a Juror IN any civil case IN
which Sullivan had anything 10 do. AS
to the third objection, Sullivan says: 81
charge that the brand of perjury IS SO
burnt into the scOundrefs brow that all
the waters of the earth would not remove
the brand. He was delegate to the dis
trict convention at Chicago, March 23 1884,
TO which two delegates were elected from
each district; yet CrOnin after officially re-
porting the election, circulated the report
hof a hoA Tod
added that he would not be permitted to
speak or present any suggestions from
bis district Every other delegate testified !
that every delegate not only could speak, |
but was actually called upon, and that |
everyone including CrOnin, did speak. |
Cr0nin was expelled a convicted liar, who |
had added perjury 10 his slander." oulli' |
vans protest then went on to show that /
CrOnin was perjurer in civil matters, as /
well. The records obtained from Ireland /
showed that CroDin was baptized at Bel /
fast, April 20, 1874. lie has sworn that he
lived at st. Catharines,, Canada, until after \
the assassination of President Lin
company Q, Nineteenth battalion Canadian
militia, show CrOnin Joined that company
II the time of its organization in 1862 or
1853, and took the oath of allegiance 10 the
queen. The official records show Cronin's
ather was a British subject, as DIR. Cronin
lp to the time he left Canada was British
subject, and If, as he stated. his father was
in the United States before
going To Canada, he voluntarily abandoned |
lis citizenship, just as his SON swore al
egiance and became loyal
British militiaman. Yet" adds Sulli-
ran, this creature swOre in his name
Is legal voter in 81. Louis and voted.
After coming to Chicago and residing
here one year he sneaked down TO Ma
'Oupin county, Illinois, and swore that he
Irrived in the United states of America a
minor under the age of 81, and secured his
a IN m Faia fH !
worn 10. This much of CTonin's charac-
er, / submit, should be considered in con-
lection with any report his malice and
'reJudicr may dlctate'
Dillon told of the trial at Buffalo of the
harges against Sullivan, Boland and Fee
ey. These charges were of the misappro-
,ristion of Clan-na-Gael funds and were
made by John Dewey. Witness said when
sullivan learned CrOnin was to be- a MEM
er of the trial committee he denounced
i'm in unmeasured terms, and after the |
rial il was voted 10 allow Sullivan 20 cir
ulate with the finding of the trial commit
ee a protest, the substance of which is given !
bOYe. Witness continued: '1n June, 1882,
ohm Dewey said SSO0,O00 and over was
D the hands of the triangle, and that over | ,
10000 had been spent in violation OF the |
This does not include the |
100000 given To Sullivan by Patrick EgaD.
know nothing about that. The funds OF | ,
he organization were supposed 10 be used
D assist Ireland in gaining her liberty.
here Is nothing In the constitution reQulr- l
lg man To sacrifice his life tor the order.
)illon said there was nothing in the con- ,
titution of the ClRn-aa Gael to interfere
nth a members duty as an American citi-
en-, except that an occasion might arise
Then he would have 20 violate the neutral
y laws.
Dillon said the trial committee of six. of
Thich Cronin was member, was practi- I
ally jury. Besides the secretary, two of I
be committee took notes of the proceed
lgs. These were Drs. CToDin and Nc
ahey. After the trial Cronin refused TO
lrn in his notes when requested by the
xecutive committee. He boasted in Chi
ago of having the documents, and of in
-nding TO bring them out in the full con-
entiOn of the Clan. Witness had advised .
i'm not to make such boasts, as pe believe d
beY jeopardiZed the doctors safety. {
Capt. Lawrence Buckley, of The Chicago {
Ian ma Gael Guards, was a member of the ,
Ommittee that expelled CrOnin traitor
] 1885 He testified that Dan Coughlin
Tas on the committee, bnt that LeCsron {
ias not. He said the attaching of Sulli- ,
ans protest TO the report of the trial com
littee was approved by all of the execu-
yes except Patrick EgaD, who was not s
resent. The coroner asked Buckley IL :
De executive committee ordered Cronin's :
smoval, and witness answered emphati-
ally in the negative. The inquest was
ere adjourned for the day. The suspects, {
K Detective Whalen and Peter McGahan.
he Philadelphian. we're in the court room
le latter part of the afternoon.