The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-26
ANOTHER VALUABLE GIFT.
THE STORY OF THE TIN BOX.
John F. fBeggs' Part in the Cronin
Mystery.

JOA4u T. ED6SgS EarC IN JQG CFOnln
Mystery.
CHICAGO, Aug 22.-The story of the tan
box in which it is supposed the clothes of
DR.. Cronin were to have been transported
to England has brought to the surface new
and startling evidence. The disclosure is
startling because of the exactness with
which it fits to the leading facts in the
great Croniu murder mystery, and because
of the fact that it is the first time that an
inkling OF the main points ia the case which
the state has mado against john It. Beggs
has leaked out. 1t was known that John
f. Beggs was senior guardian Of Camp 20,
that he was the friend and protege of
Alexander Sullivan, that he disliked
DR.. Cronin, and it was rumored that he ap-
pointed a committee of Camp 90 to try
Cronin for treason to the cause OF Ire and
But all of this was not alone sufficient to
procure the conviction of Beggs as an ac-
cessory in the murder OF Cronin. The main
features in the case against Beggs are these:
Just one week before DR.. Cronin's body was
found. John +. Beggs and Dennis Ward,
prominent member Of the Irish Republican
Club, started on tour east, and reached
New York. Ia Nav York one of the first
men who had a consultation with Beggs
was bill" Starkey, the absconding Chi
cago lawyer. Beggs didn't know that his
movements were watched, but they were
"Dick" Powers, Of Chicago, accident
ally learned that Beggs and Starkey
were consulting with each other, and
had the men shadowed. Inspector
Byrnes telegraphed to States Attorney
Longenecker, asking whether he wanted
Starkey arrested IN connection with the
Cronin case, and there being no connection
between Starkey aud the case known to
any one outside the conspirators at the
time, Mr.. Longenecker replied in the mega
tive The shadowing was stopped after
this, but there happened to be another
man in New York just about this time who
knew both Beggs ana Starkey, and he is in
O position to declare on oath, if he is not
intimidated or prevented by considerations
of personal safety, that Beggs aid Starkey
had made every necessary preparation to
tade an ocean liner for Paris the very day
that DIR. Cronin's dead body was discovered
in the Lake View sewer
The theory of the pro ,ecution is that the
tin box soldered up by order of Martin
Burke, on North Clark street, contained the
clothes of the murdered man and these
clothes, box and all, were am ng the lug
gage of the two men who were about to
sail for Europe. All attempts to trace that
luggage from New York have proved futile
thus far, but the search has not yet been
given up. The theory Of the prosecution is
That Cronin was to have been ''seen" in
Paris by Beggs, and shortly after his clothes
were to have been found on the banks Of
tho Thames in London, and the story then
given to the world that he was on his way
to testify before the Times commission, for
which he was removed as a traitor and
spy. Day by day the proof in confirmation
Of this theory is being picked up. The
story Of the tin box is the latest link In the
chain Of evidence, and ii brings the proof
stronger than ever home to Beggs as a tool
of the great conspiracy.