The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-08
BURKE UNDER THE SCREW
Efforts to Force a Confession from the
Alleged Murderer of DR.. CrOnin.
Attempt to Get Him 0ut-Letter from His
Mother--Mysterious kilograms from Chi
cago-Rumor of a Confession.


called at the Armory and held a private
conference. The object of the visit could
not be learned. but it was rumored that 1t
had something to do with Burke's alleged
promise to reveal what he knows about the
crime. None of the officials would confirm
this, however. A little later Judge Baker
issued a writ of habeas corpus, directed to
Chief Hubbard for the release of Martin
Burke from the cell in the Harrison-street
station. in which he now reposes. The
writ was obtained by lawyer Kennedy. of
Appleton, Wis, who has so far been refused
permission to see his client. 1t was returIi-
able at O'Clock this afternoon, but was is
sued with the understanding that if the
officials permitted Kennedy to see Burke
before that hour the matter should Dc
dropped.
The point on behalf of the prisoner was
the allegation that Burke was confined in
"sweat,bo while being indicted, he
should have been at once taken to Jail and
confined there until sentenced or released
by due process of law.
Late this afternoon, before Judge Baker,
Chief Hubbard, through Corporation Coun.
sci Hutchinson, replied to the writ OF
habeas corpus issued this morning by Judge
Baker for the release of Martin Burke. HIS
answer was to the effect that he had not
now, nor did he at any time have. the GUS
tody of the prisoner; that the prisoner was
in the hands of one John Collins, who held
him on requisitiOn from the United States
on the government of Manitoba and Great
Britain; that Collins was acting as messen-
ger for the President of the United States,
and that his prisoner was completely out OF
his Chief Hubbard's) control. The attorneys
for the prisoner Immediately drew up new
petition asking that writ of habeas corpus
be directed to Collins on the ground that
that officer was bound under his commits
sion as messenger to bring his prisoner into
Illinois and turn him over to the proper
authorities This he had not done. but had
placed him in a police station in the city OF
Chicago under the jurisdiction of Chief
Hubbard. The petition alleges that Hub
bard was heard to say that he would not
send Burke to jail before noon of Aug. II.
as he had a purpose of his own in Keeping
him out. Judge Baker issued an order for
writ as prayed for, returnable at noon to-
Chief of Police Hubbard, Assistant Post
master Stunning and MORTIMER Seaman
together entered the corridor in the ArmOry,
upon which Burke's cell opens, and stood
before the grated door. Burke" said the
Chief, 'we have letter here sent to you
ming, of the North-side postoffice, has had
the letter for some time. Now, as it is post
marked so many days back, it probably
contains nothing of any. interest to any;
open it and read it to you, but this is OPP
tiOnal."
Let me read it, said Burke.
Seaman and Stunning retired a few feet,
and the chief handed Burke his mothers
letter. The prisoner tremblingly opened
the letter and perused it. As he read on.
his frame shook violently, and he cried ike
a child. When Burke had finished, he
threw himself upon the floor of the cell,
and the trio of visitors left him to his
70
in the station. and it had been intended to
let them see the prisoner for purposes of
Identification, but, seeing his grief-stricken
condition after reading his mothers letter.
1T was decided to postpone the confronta-
ton. An afternoon paper says that Chief
McRae, of Winnipeg, will be one of the
witnesses at Burke's trial; that McRae won
Burke's confidence, and. at Burke's re-
quest, accompanied him to the United
States boundary on the journey from
Winnipeg to Chicago; that, at his further
request, he was left alone with McRae for
fifteen minutes, during which he made inn
portant admissions.
The authorities here are confident that he
will eventually confess. Said States At
torney LOngenecker, to-day: Il do not
think he can hold out against the unavoid-
able prospect of execution for this murder.
l think he will confess. / am certain that
Burke is one of the men who actually killed
CrOnin, and nothing in the world can save
him from the gallOws-except juror who
would not hang anybody. With all the
evidence we have against Burke land there
is no escape for him. And he will drag
| down the others with him also. When You
| take the part Burke played in the conspira-
CIV, and the part Coughlin took, and what
| Beggs did. and how OSullivan helped. there
There is no escape. We have evidence
is isa' so guilty, " and we h have such h
absolute proof of his being one of the men
who butchered Cronin. that we are loath to
| accept any confession from him if it in
vOlved any leniency for him. He deserves
| to hang and think he ought to be hanged.
| unless his evidence should be absolutely
necessary TO convict more important
The murder of DR.. Cronin is not the first
| crime of that nature with which Martin
| Burke has been charged. In 1887 he was
| arrested on suspicion of having been con-
nected with the death of a man named
Tony GALLAGHER. but for want of prSof the
disappeared after having been elected
| by Burke and another man from house
| III which he was making consider
able noise, and some time afterward
| his body was fished out of the river. 1t
bore evidences of violence, and there was a
| rope around the neck. Evidence was dis
covered to-day tending to show that the
money with which Burke made his fight
1 against came
from this city. On Saturday evening last,
the following telegram was sent from the
| Grand Pacific Hotel. this city:
]. Hough. Barrster, winnipeg. Manitoba, Canada:
Furnish him with basket food and fruit: eau
| ton him against Collins who viii pretend friend
| ship.
The sender declined to give his name O,
address. The ~. Hough, Barrister" tc
| whom this telegram was addressed, is the
business partner of attorney Campbell, who
defended Burke in Winnipeg, and it /.
| now made clear why 1t was that Campbell
was not assisted publicly by Hough, but
that Perdue was brought into the case a.
an assistant. HOugh was to stand in thu
background and act as the secret channe
| of correspondence. Moreover, light is now
thrown on the source of Senator Kennedy
emoluments, for the instructions contained
in the kilograms must have been conveyed
to Burke by him. He it was who instructed
Burke to eat out of his basket on his way
to Chicago, and not to eat anything til,
officers might give him; and the basket wa
handed to Burke on his way to the train
exactly as ordered in the telegram and rec
commended by Kennedy.
Late tonight il was being reported will
great positiveness that Burke had con
fessed. The story was that the prisone
was much affected after talk with State
Attorney LOngenecker, and subsequent,
sent for that official and the chief of police
An interview lasting an hour was partici
pated in by the trio. The assertion is mad
that letter signed by Burke will be pro
duced In court tomorrow morning, repudi
ating Senator Kennedy as his representa-
| tive. Details of the prisoners alleged con