The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-25
WHO KILLED DIR. CR0NIN +?
SOME STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS.
Lawyers For the Defense Said 20 be Pre-.
pared to Introduce Sensational Testi-
mony at the Proper Time--FOur
Jurors Finally Selected.

yers for the defense claim to be IN pos
session of evidence showing that the muir
derers of DR.. Cronin were paid represent
atives of the English government, which
had been duped by Cronin, who was sup
posed by the British authorities to be one
of their American spies.
The form this evidence has taken and
in which it will be presented at the trial
on behalf of the defense is a number of
letters written by Miss e Caron,
daughter of the notorious witness in
the London Times-Parnell case, to her
affianced husband, who Is a we'll
known and prominent young Irish-Ameri-
can of Chicago. These letters have been
written by Miss lie Caron from London
ct brief intervals ever since she joined
her father in that city last winter after he
had appeared as a witness before the Par
nell commission.
The letters from Miss lie Caron, after
the disappearance of DR.. Cronin, alluded
frequently to him and intimated that the
writer knew that the doctor was victim
of vile conspiracy, of which she knew
the particulars. But she never gave any
detailed account of the information, which
she meant to be inferred she had OBJ
tanned from her father, till after the arrest
of Coughlin, 0'Sullivan and Beggs. Then
she became more definite. lie Caron,
after his arrival in London, had warned
Cronin and advised him to save himself
bv complying with what was expected of
him lie Caron was cautious. In his let
tiers he did not indicate from whom this
danger TO Cronin was to come. Miss lie
Caron, in her confidential communica-
tions to her lover, was not so discreet. In
one of them she writes: There is one
man who got away and whom they should
have arrested Why did they not arrest
Birmingham? They might have learned
a great deal from him"
The story outlined in the series of let
ters, of which there are very many, is to
the effect that lie Caron and Birmingham
were both British spies; that DR.. Cronin
in his intimacy with them soon learned
their real character, and IN order to obtain
from them fuller insight into their plans
and duplicity, and designs of the English
government, he permitted them to think
that he also was venal and could be hired
by their employers. They made the propo-
sition that he enter the American branch
of the secret service OF Scotland Yard. He
apparently accepted. He obtained all their
information without giving any in return.
They became suspicious, and sought to
obtain from him certain papers which
they had given him In his supposed char
acter of spy. He refused to give them up.
Meanwhile lie Caron was summoned to
England to testify against Parnell. 1t was
suggested to Cronin that he would be
called upon later for the same purpose
Birmingham, the other representative of
the British service In Chicago, was told to
look out for Cronin and obtain, at any
price, the documents which would have
revealed the close connection between
certain high American officials and the
London detective system. Cronin refused
TO yield, and threatened the exposure of
the English practices in America. The
Scotland Yard people grew desperate 1t
was resolved to rob him of the papers, and
it was in that attempt that the doctor was
killed, the conspirators believing that he
always carried the much-wanted papers
on his person. Birmingham, who, it is
alleged IN these letters, should be watched,
sold out his drugstore at North Clark and
0ak-sts, for a very low price and disap-
peared.
The Ereaillg Journal has the same story
in substance, and adds: In opposition to
the above ii is claimed that az the proper
stage of the Cronin trial the prosecution
will produce as witnesses 7. J. Kirby,
Thomas lie Caron and Patrick Cooney.
This, 1T is said, has been made possible by
the efforts of Messrs. Hynes and Mills,
council for the state, with the aid OF the
Pinkerton detectives Kirby, as agent of
the British government, was in Chicago
for months before the murder Of DR..
Cronin, prylng into the secrets of the
Clan-na-Gaei. He was very successful,
and returned to London full OF
L u
OF the order, but with full particulars of
the plot against DR.. CrOnin and the man
ner in which it was carried out. II was
the intention of the British authorities to
put Kirby on the stand in the Parnell
case, but it was concluded that the evil
dence OF lie Caron Cor Beach, would be
strong enough, and that no good would
come of disclosing Kirby's identity and
the nature OF his errand to America until
absolutely necessary. By keeping Kirby
off the stand the British authorities would
be able to use him to good advantage in
other cases.
After the trial Kirby went to Canada
and was lost sight of until located a few
days ago by the detectives. He was told
what was wanted Of him and for a long
time refused to have any thing to do with
the case. Finally the matter was put to
him in such light that he consented to
come to Chicago and appear as a witness
for the prosecution when required
lie Caron has revealed to the American
detectives the names of certain men on
whom suspicion has not heretofore rested
and like Kirby, will be on hand to testify
when wanted. II may be well to state
that in order to avoid any mistake about
Kirby and lie Caron showing up when
wanted, they have constant companions
in the shape of some OF Pinkerton's most
argus-eyed employees.
Industrious researches to-day by Times
reporter produced the young gentleman
correspondent of Miss lie Caron. His name
is George L. May He is a clerk
IN a sporting goods establishment
and was an intimate friend of
the lie Carons while they lived on
Iasalie-ave. After a good deal of re-
luctance Mr.. May finally admitted that he
had been the recipient OF letters from
Gertrude lie Caron.
''I have received in all four or five let
ers from Miss lie Caron," said he this
evening. Three while shey lived in New
York, the rest since they have been on
the continent. / hate to have my name
brought into this thing, but pledge you
my word that there is not even a refer
enee made to DIR. Cronin in all the let
ters."
May claims that the family left Chicago
some time in March and then
lived in Naw York Cifv until