Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-26
A DETECTIVE IN The PLOT.
One of Chicago's Police Implicated
In Cronin's Taking or
coueHLlN's STRANGE ACTIONS.
He Hired a White Horse On tho Night
of the Murder, but Tried to
Keep the Matter
Quiet.
Another Clue Discovered.

the Chicago police force in the taking off Of
DIR. Croniu. The officer In question Is De-
tcciive Daniel Coughlin. The story pub
lishcd is to the effect that on the morning OF
tho day on which DIR. Cronin disappeared,
Coughlin engaged, at q livery stable. not far
from where DIR. Cronin lived, q horse and
buggy which he said a friend of his would
call for that evening; that the man did call
and was given white horse similar to the
one attached to the buggy in which DR.. Gro
min was decoyed away; that the time OF his
going and the description of the man corre-
sponded minutely, both with the time when
the man came for DIR. Cronin and with the
appearance of the man himself; that Cough
lin subsequently cautioned the livery stable
keeper to say nothing about the matter
Force is added to these revelations from
the fact that Coughlin was u member of one
or more societies of which Cronin was
member, and that they were enemies The
matter was finally brought to the attention
Of Chief Of Police Hubbard, who promised
TO probe the matter to the bottom.
Further investigation into the matter to-
DAY only adds to the evidence Of tho stupid
ity, II nothing worse, with which the case
has been handled by some of the police OIL
cials. Captain Setback, under whose orders
DSJeCb1Ve SUuRutlu dCtS, says b'ido Wuou ouc
livery stable keeper told him the story, he at
once called Coughhn to account; that
Coughln told him he had hired the rig for
friend of his who lived in northern Michigan,
near where Coughlin's people live, and who
had come to Chicago to see the sights.
Captain Setback says he then directed De-
tectives Coughlin and Whaen to go out
and find this man; that they went out
and soon afterwards, reported that they mad
found him and that he had given satisfac-
tory a6oount of himself The captain ad-
mits that he accepted this statement as suf-
t1cient, and did not require that the man be
brought before him. Captain Setback goes
on 10 say that he took the white horse and
drove to Conklin's house under conditions
similar to those under which Cronin was
decoyed away, and that Mrs. Conklin
said it was not the same animal Mrs. Conk
lin contradicts this statement and says that
she told Captain Setback that it resembled
from hard driving Dinan, the livery
stable keeper, says the horse was
has hsro sna from night sbs
effects Of it since then. Dinan further says
Coughlin told him he had walked his shoes
off in search Of his Michigan friend, but had
been unable to find him. This directly con-
| Captain. Setback. Detective Coughlin de-
clines to make any statement about the mat
ter.
Detective Coughlin has not been arrested,
but Chief of Police Hubbard says that pend
! ing further investigation into his alleged
connection with the man who decoyed Dr.
| Cronin away, he will keep Coughln under
| surveillance.
| held at which Mayor Cregier, States Attor-
| ney Longnecker Chief Hubbard, Chief De:
| tective Eliot and other officers were present
| Its object has not been learned. Arrange
ments for DIR. Cronin's funeral have been
completed and the procession promises to be
| an imposing one.
Superintendent aof Police Hubbard said
this evening that the explanation Coughlin
| gave in connection with his hiring horse on
the day on which DR.. Cronin disappeared,
| was substantially rs follows: A few days
before May 4 a man called at the East Chi
cago avenue police station and introduced
| himself as Thomas Smith, of Hancock, Mich,
| a friend of Coughlin's brother, who keeps a
| livery stable in that town. Smith claimed
to be on his way TO New Mexico. Detective
| Coughlin showed Smith the points of interest
| he would like to take buggy ride, but was
| afraid the livery stable keepers would not
trust a stranger with horse. Coughlin told
| him he would fix the matter with the livery
| man. Oman. Smith got the white horse rig,
and Coughlin didn't see him again for week
| or more, when he met him and asked
Smith why he, had not paid for
the use Of the rig, Smith gave
other SO later. Coughlin met him for the
last time one day last week, and Smith said
he would start for New Mexico the next day.
| DIR. Cronin's friends met this afternoon and
| completed the arrangements for the funeral.
| IL is thought that at least 900 men will
march and that probably 10000 people will
| go by train to the cemetery.
| 1t is denied that DIR. Cronin's clothes were
,.. 4 4tal tfnar afnt Tod
| terday. An evening paper says the letter
| that was turned over to the police as coming
from one Of the mysterious tenants of the
| blood stained cottage, Is considered OF great
| Importance. 1t is postmarked Hammond.
| Ind. and was received May 20, Enclosed
was found sl2 for another months rent.
The writer attempted to explain their hasty
exit and the pant daubed on the floor. He
| said the floor was painted to save his sister
| the trouble of scrubbing the floor He neg
lected to say anything about the foot prints
and the blood stains.
This afternoon Mayor Cregier had two
honr conference with the superintendent of
| police and the corporation counsel. He said
empnatically that extraordinary efforts must
be made to bring the perpetrators
Of the crime to justice and that that
rather than not active enough Where
there Is donbt as to whether severe action
should be taken, take advantage Of the doubt
and act. The mayor said he would rather
Importance like this than give the murder
ers q cnance to escape
| Detective Coughlin was brought before
the mayor this afternoon, the superintendent
OF police, the corporation counsel and two
friends of Cronin being present. Coughlin
| was allowed to tell his story and was then
| severely crOss-examined. 1t Is understood
that he became furried and nervous. but
said nothing that could be used against him.
I When the conference broke up none Of its
members would talk. Coughln, however
was taken away by detective and plased
| under arrest
More discrepancies have come to light this
| evening. 1t seems that the description Of
| the man who hired the horse now given by
| Liveryman Dinman and the description he
| gave Captain Setback several days ago are
widely different and the police are looking
into the matter.
A free examination of the interior of the
| cottage where the murder was committed
was allowed to-day by the police. Evil
dences OF terrible struggle are seen on the
south wall of the parlOr, where there are
great splotches of blood. These are besides
those on the floor. A portion Of the leg of
washingstand and dressing case had been
broken off, and the armrest on rocking
chair was also broken and the pieces scat
| tered on the io ir. There is every indication