New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-03
DIX. CRONINS POCKET-KNITES.
TESTIMONY TO SHOW THAT THE TWO IN
COURT BELONGED TO COUGHLIN.
COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENCE ARGUES THAT THE
CUTLERY CUTS NO FIGURE IN THE
CASE-PLEA IN BEHALF OF
CRONIN.

Chicago Dec. 2-At the opening Of the Cronin trial
this morning, Mr.. Forrest for the defence announced
that he was prepared to introduce evidence In
rebuttal, had been stipulated he might do before
the arguments began.
August LowensteD, dealer in clothing. was put
the stand to testify that he sold Dan" Coughin
on April o. the week before the murder, pair oi
trousers, which Coughlin then and there put In
doing he took oil the old pair which he woro and
emptied the pockets placing the contents on chair
Among these things two knives. The knives
taken from Coughn by Detective Flynn at the time
Of his arrest and on Friday last identified by Mr..
Conkln having been carried by DR.. Cronin. were
then shown to the witness. lie testified that he
could not say positively that they the same
knives those which he Coughlin take out of
his pockets April 81, but they looked something
like them. On cross-examinatlon, the witness said
he just glanced at the knives and started to take one
Of them, saying that Coughn didn't need two, but
Coughn stopped him, saying that he wanted both OF
them The examination brought out the fact that the
witness IS brother of exDcective Jake LowenStelh'
" Dan" Coughn's partner
The next witness was Jake Lowenstein. lie testi-
fed that he had Of Coughlins knives quite
often and the other he had himself carried When
shown the knives already in evidence he declared
that they Coughlins.
Judge Wing for the defence, then resumed his
argument, which interrupted by the adjournment
OF the Court on Saturday afternoon. He warned me
jury that they not expected to decide upon the
question OF innocence. mere prcponderance OF
evidence in favor Of guilt would not justify con
vction The circumstances must have direct con-
necton with the commission of the crime, and must
be unexplanable the theory Of innocence. Speak
ing Of the knives, he said
Now that whole question Is easily disposed OF
by the statement OF two propositions, IN which every
man on this jury will agree with me, think First
The defendant here, COughln. is either guilty or IN
nocent. If Innocent, he could not have had those
knives if they Cronins If guilty. he would not
have had them, if they belonged 10 DR.. Cronln
Those two pain propositions, In the mind OF any
reasonable man, would be the end Of that kniie
episode. . The prosecutor handled the words about
plots 10 murder very lightly, saying that Cronins
murder had been delayed by the spring election
Think of Coughlin postponlng murder by telephone
Just think of his telephonng to O'Sulvan and saying
O'Sullivan. can't keep that engagement made win
you TO kill CrOnin. because have got 10 peddle tickets
for the election OF an Alderman Then think OF
O'Sullivan saying: Well, no matter; any time VIII
do p"
The speaker then took up various other clrum
stances which were adduced in evidence TO show
Coughn's connection with the crime. and argued that
every ono of them consistent with the theory OIL
innocence