Evening journal., 1889-10-25
A FAMOUS TRIAL BEGUN
The Alleged Slayers of Cronin
in Court.
JUDGE LONGENEcKER's SPEECH.


Reviewing the History of the Cnse--AIlu-
sions 60 the Cian-na-Gaei Resented by
the Defense-The First witness Is ON
the Stand.
CHICAGO. Oct. e5-After long weeks Of
struggle for jury the trial OF the alleged
slayers Of DR.. Cronin has at last been begun.
After the prisoners were seated in the box
and the list Of jurors had been called, Judge
Longenecker, the states attorney, begun his
address In the course Of his speech no said
You have said here that you would not
convict these men unless the state proved its
case, and you have declared that you will
presume these men innocent until they are
shown to be guilty, but presumption II not
evidence When il il shown by conclusive
proof that these men on trial are guilty, then
that presumption h wiped away. These men
are accused Of the orime of murder, In kill
ing Or. p. H. Cronin. Up expect to show
that Dr. Cronin was kiffed and that these
defendants killed him"
Reviewing the st~ry of the Crime.
The state attorney then defined circum-
stantial evidence. circumstances are facts,
are truths, he said, ''and, although the evil
donce In this case Is circumstantial, we pro-
poso to show 10 you beyond all reasonable
doubt that Dr. Cronin was murdered, and
that these men killed him" Judge Lcnge-
necker then reviewed the story of the crime
and said he would show It 10 be the result Of
a conspiracy, and prove that the accused
men were in the conspiracy. To uncover the
motive, the states attorney said be must 20
into the history OF the United Brotherhood
or Clan-na- Gael, but the jury were not 70
consider this organization in its delibera-
tions. The Clan-na-Gael has not on trial.
After brief outline OF its history and pur-
pose, the states attorney referred 10 the re-
duction of the executive board In 1881 TO
three members Sullivan. Fely and Boland),
and said the constitution and oath were
changed.
Workings Of the Clan.
Implicit obedience was demanded. "If a
member was told TO kill man, said Judge
Longenecker, with emphasis, "he had 20 dc
it, Mr. Forrest objected to any further
illusions 20 the triangle at this stage OF the
proceeding, but the court would not inter.
fere. Forrest asked that the record show
that the defense excepted 70 the courts rul
ing and b every similar sentence in Judg,
Longnecker's speech.
No Speeches for the Defense.
The states attorney concluded his address
after the noon recess. In his peroration h
said that II after hearing the evidence th
jury had the slightest doubt OF the guilt Of thl
prisoners they should be given their freedom
bnt il on the other hand they were sntisfiel
that they were the murderers, then Ne shoul,
demand that the highest penalty Of the Law
be inflicted Counsel for the defendant
waived their opening speeches and the ex
animation Of witnesses was commenced with
out delay.
The First Witnesses Examined.
Capt. Villiers, Of the Lake View police
told Of the finding Of the bloody trunk, anc
the identity Of the body was sworn 10 by
Joseph O. Keefe, james Holland, reporter
Stephen Connolly OF the board of director.
OF the Ancient Order Of Foresters; II. A
Wisch, the deceased's barber, and Morrii
Morris, a retired manufacturer, all Of whom
were among Cronin's most intimate acquaint
ances. T.. Roesch, the employeof the depart
ment of public works, who discovered tn.
body in the catch basin, gave his testimony
He was sharply cross-examined by Mr.. For
est FOR the defense with the view Of scoring
an admission that the cuts and bruises on tn,
body might have been occasioned by rough
treatment while taking it out of the catcl
basin. The effort, however, was futile Al
the other witnesses were dismissed with nomi
nal cross-examinations, the defense appar
entity having decided 70 admit that the body
was that Of the physician
AT 4;4O o'clock the court adjourned