Omaha daily bee., 1889-11-05
The Peoria Man Retracts His Testi-
mony About Coughlin.
OPENING UP OLD SORES.
A Letter From Mr.. Bcggs Which
Seems to Have Had the Desired
Effecs-Mrs. Addie j. Far
rar's Testimony.


of the Great Eastern Distilling company.
"Are you member Of the Clan ma Gael or
United Brotherhoodl' he was asked.
"f am member of the United Brother.
hood" he replied.
"Commonly called the Clan-na-Gael9"
~ know nothing about that. do not know
what you call it,"
"Wcll, you have heard it called thatl"
II have heard good deal said about it
IN that way since this trial Degan.'
'.You have heard of the Clan ma Gael
guardsl"
"Yes."
"And to be member of the Clan-na- Gael
guards you must be a member of the United
brotherhood"
81 do not know anything about that"
The witness then went on to testify that
he was the district officer of district No. 10,
embracing Illinois and Michigan. He
said he was the highest officer
in that district, and that
his duties We're laid down by the coustitu-
ton. The Executives is body IN itself,
and its duties are provided by the constitu
ton.
"Do you know who constitutes that body
now7''
Forrest, for the defense, here entered an
objection to all this testimony respecting the
executive board and it's officers.
The court allowed him to take an exception.
Spellman then proceeded to answer the
question and said that he knew the names of
q number of them. Mortimer Scanlan was
one, Lawrence Buckley another, and Ron
ayne of Newark another. The witness then
identified certain correspondence which
passed between himself and Beggs in regard
to the business of the order.
AS the examination of Spellman proceeded
it became evident that he was an unwilling
witness and that his testimony was different
from that he gave before the grand jury and
from what the prosecution expected. lie
that the matter referred to in
their correspondence, viz: that the
proceedings of the trial committee
had been held In certain camp in violation
of the rules, had been amicaby settled, The
witness then said he knew Coughlin, who,
with man named Kunze, visited Peoria a
year ago, and presented letter of introduc.
ton. He said he had no conversation with
Coughlin about Dr. Cronin. This was in
direct contradiction of Spellman's previous
testimony, ana he was asked by Longnecker
if he had not said that Coughlin
spoke to HIM about DIR. Cronin: There was
q long wrangle over this question which was
finally allowed and Spellman answered.
II said before the grand jury, that in con-
versation with Coughln in Peoria, he said
reflection on consultation with ten
other men present. l sent
my attorney to Chicago to notify the district
attorney that was mistaken. My attorney
was unable to find Judge Longenecker and
came myself specially to Chicago and noti-
fled judge Longenecker and other counsel
that if they asked me that question on the
stand should have to deny it in order to do
justice to my ownself and to the facts.
'After left the grand jury room and went
home and slept. felt altered and troubled.
l felt l had possibly done wrong to Coughin,
and went Immediately to MIR. Pattons and
l had sworn to before the grand
jury and that l was bothered about it. They
said MIR. Spellman, you have made mis-
take; no such conversation took place."
that he had seen Alexander Sullivan before
going to the states attorneys Office, but he
went there because he had been informed
that Sullivan was talking very harshly
about HIM and that his visit was not in con-
vection with the case. The correspondence
between Beggs and Spellman was then read.
February IS, Beggs wrote: "Why, in Gods
name, If men are sincere, will
they insist upon opening old soress
The majority of our men believe the parties
charged are innocent of criminal wrong, and
to have charges made continuallythat they are
guilty creates bitterness and ill-feeling, and
the man or men who continue to make
charges are not friends of Irish unity. v
IN time realize the methods of those who are
continually breeding disorder in their ranks,
and the day of punishment will come"
After the reading of the correspondence,
of which extracts only are given above, a
long examination was conducted by MIR. For
rest.
During the crOss-eXamination, MIR. Spell
man was asked If Beggs ever spoke to him
about the charges against Cronln. He re-
piled that great deal was said about Gro
Mi hlt tn mar 10
couldn't do at this time.
'Was it not because of his organization of
other campss"
mo" replied Spellman, "because he was
always anxious to prefer charges He was
kind of agitator. He was an honest man,
not bad fellow If he could have his own
way. If mott
MIR. Hynes here objected to any such statei
ments, as Cronln is dead and could not
respond.
Spellman said no charges were made by
Beggs against any individual, in his official
position as senior guardian.
The defense moved to exclude from the re-
cords all questions and answers in regard to
what was testified to before the grand jury.
a lengthy debate ensued on this point in the
course of which it was stated that Spellman
subscribed $500 towards the arrest and con-
victlon of the murderers of Dr. Cronin, and
that he had paid 500 of this. II was lntI-
mated that his testimony before the grand
jury was given when he was in one frame of
mind, and that his present attitude resulted
from consultation with friends. The court
finally said the authorities might be brought
in on the point at the afternoon session.
The eros examination was resumed and
the witness answered number of questions
regarding the object of the visit of KuRze to
Peoria with Coughlin, and as to whether il
had any connection with Cronin. Spallman
said it had not as far as he knew, though he
had no conversation with Kunze there
Coughlin's VISIT had no connection with Gro
min, and reference OF counsel led to the ill.,
ference that it was in connection with the
fight between Chicago distllle:y and the
whisky trust.
John A. Mahoney, justice of the peace,
testified that he was present at Coon's hail.
Lake View, in March last when Cronn in
stituted camp of the { lan-na- Gael. After
the meeting lceman O'Sullvan asked the
witness about Cronin's standing us a physi-
cian, and receiving favorable reply arranged
for the witness To visit Cronin with him and
make arrangements for the latter TO care for
O'Sulllvan's men. This arrangement was
made about the middle of April, and O'Sulli-
van gave Cronln some OF his business cards,
saying IL the doctor was wanted when he
| 20 Sullivan) was out of town or sick one of
these cards would be presented.
Al the afternoon session Judge Mcconnell
said he considered the testimony of Spellman
in controversy and decided 10 exclude it,
Mrs. Addie j. Farrar testified as to con-
yersation between herself and OSullivan
after CrOnin's body was found,