The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-19
Tho Western Union Telegraph Com
pany Brought Into It.
Tho States Attorney Insists Upon
Seeing kilograms That Passed
Between Alexander Sullivan, p,
O'Sullivan and Dan Coughlin.
The Attorneys for tho Company Kick
Against This But tho Court orders
That the Messages DO Brought
Before the Jury.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, June 1.-THE sensational
incident OF tho Cronin Grand Jury this
morning was the refusal Of William L.
Bell, OF the Western Union Telegraph
Company, to obey an order OF the Jury to
produce messages passing between Alex
andcr Sullivan, Dan Coughlin, Z. O'Sulli-
van, John j. Maroney and q. w. Mel
vile, Mr.. Bell maintained that II was
against the rules Of the company to pro-
duco such messages and that the statutes
OF The State Of Illinois imposed fine of
5000 upon a telegraph company for dis
closing the contents OF any personal FOR
business messages passing over its lines.
After all attempts 10 induce tho witness TO
obey had failed, the jury, headed by
States Attorney Longcnecker, repaired 10
Judge Shepherds room and appealed to
his honor 10 issue an order directing tho
witness TO answer under pain Of contempt
and commitment
Charles S. Holt. attorney for the West.
ern Union, appeared in behalf OF the wit.
ness, and stated that while the company
desired In every way to assist the ends OF
justice, II did not desire 10 voluntarily
violate tho statutes OF the State and dis
close the messages Of It's patrons upon the
mere request of Grand Jury. II tho
court thought III TO issue an order direct
ing the witness under pain Of contempt to
produce the messages, the company would
then consider this bar TO any possible
civil prosecution by patrons and the Wit
ness would obey the order. lie thought,
though, the jury should more explicitly
describe the messages wanted, their pres
cnt request being more In the nature Of
general drag net
States Attorney Longcnccker held that
the Jury could not definitely describe any
particular messages, because they we're
not yet acquainted with the contents VI
the messages sent. What the Jury de-
sired was the right 10 examine any and
oil messages that might have passed be-
tween any OF the suspected parties since
! March 1.
The jury alone could be the Judge Of
their relevancy 10 the case. Mr. Holt
| objected somewhat 10 an order 81 such
sweeping nature, but the Judge fully sus-
| tnincd the States Attorney, and 40 order
was spread upon the record directing the
witness under pain Of contempt and COM
milment 10 jail 10 produce any aud all
messages, cablegrams " copies thereof,
In tho Chicago Office passing between
! Alexander sullivan, Dan Cou. him, T..
| O'sulliyan. John j. Marunoy, q. W. Mel.
| Vile and Charles Mcdonald, either under
| their true name or any alias, or between
/ either Of these men aud any other per-
sons, since the iirst OF March last. Tho
officers Of the Western Union stated that
five men had been employed two days
searching among the records for originals
or copies OF the messages desired, aud
that they would nov DO promptly spread
before the jury. II IL presumed this
afternoon viii be- devoted by the Jury 10
an examination Of these messages.
Maurice Morris. fricld of DR.. Cro-
min, WIS before the jury this morning aud
told how the Doctor had. frequently stated
that he had incurred the cnmity OF GER
tain persons high In authority In Irish
societies and that he had fears for his
safety.
William Muicahey, the suspect about
whom NO much has been written, was
closcied with tho jury for nearly an hour
aud those who heard his story became
convinced that he had no connection with
the crime. lie showed lac had not gone 10
work for O'Sulliyan until several days
after the date Of the murder, and from his
evidence did not appear 10 know much
about O'Sulliyan or his associates. lilo
WIS asked particularly about the move
mcnts Of O'Sulliyan during the days fol-
lowing the murder. but stated that they
were In nowisc suspicious and that O'Sul-
| livan seemed 10 be doyoiing more time 10
the leo business than TO any other outside
affair lie stated that he had never, TO
his knowledge, seen O'Sulliyan and
Coughlin together during these times, but
that he might possibly bo mistaken on
that point ~ be was not well acquainted
with Coughlin. Altogether Mr. Mulcahey
was a very improbable witness and tho
jury obtained no information Of conse-
nugnro ffnun hia houria examination