Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-28
SENSATIONS FILL THE AIR
Developments In the Cronin Case
Follow Fast and Faster.
DETECTIVE coueHLlN ARRESTED
Locked Up in Cell and Not Even His
Lawyer Allowed to Converse
with Him-King Goes
Free.
Mayor Creirer Embarrassed.


sensational rumors regarding developments
In the Cronin case, which have been floating
about to-day, it is stated, this evening, that
high police official, whose name can not be
mentioned at present. gave a reporter some
startling information concerning number
of prominent Irshmen, who have practically
been placed under arrest unknown to their
friends. The Importance of the develop
ments in the Cronin murder case has been
increasing so alarmingly fast that even
Mayor Cregier and Corporation Counsel
Hutchinson are dazed and almost at q loss to
know just what steps it is proper
to take In reference to the suspected persons.
Prudence forbds the throwing into cells Of q
dozen prominent Irish citizens, whose names
are daily discussed by the public, for fear OF
making serious mistakes. This is the reason
that Dan Coughlin was at first held las a
witness" and not ''under suspicion of hav-
ing been an accessory to the crime" But
there are men. leaders, whose names are
not only prominent in Chicago. but through
out Ireland, that are plainly SUSPECTED of
being implicated, and these are the men in
regard to whom the police hesitate before
aging the strong hand of the law on them.
W hat has made the police still more alarmed
is the fact that hundreds of anonymous
letters are being received from people
calling themselves ''near friends" Of these
suspected ones These letters purport to
give facts which, If they could be relied
upon, would almost justify going out with q
drag net and gathering in enough Irish citl
Zens to crowd the dungeon cells beneath the
city hall building. This is not conjecture;
it is the truth related to reporter to-day.
Mayor Cregier and his legal advisers were
in consultation for two hours, this morning,
discussing the legal rights of the city in the
question of making indiscriminate arrests.
There is said to be demand for numerous
orr natprtiupQ haUn
bers of suspected people, who, it is thought,
could give much information if they only
would: But the people refuse, and it is
agreed that the information necessary
can be obtained only by letting a
number of these get a look
at the inside of cold cell. Some one is
sure to squeal If the right man only can be
secured. This is the opinlon OF the police.
.Have there been any new arrestsl" was
the question put to the police official who
volunteered to define what was being done,
and who, let 1t be known, is person in
authority.
"Well, you see," he replied, tive have
more than one way to arrest man. A man
doesn't have to be brought in and locked up
t o be under arrest in times like these. Do
you understands"
The reporter nodded.
''Well then, If you ask whether there are
any new arrests l will say no one has been
locked up"
Cief of Police Hubbard was asked this
evening what he would do with Willard j.
Smith, Coughlin's friend from Houghton,
Mich
''Well, 1 want to see him first'' replied he.
az must have talk with him myself"
do you think he is the Smith to whom
Coughlin had reference"
Hubbard did not reply, but he gave the
impression that he thought Coughlin never
saw any Smith at all. Will Thomas sales
man, spends seven months of each year In
Houghton, Mich. He has volunteered the
information to the police that such a man
as Tom Smith lives in that country
town. Willard Smith wrote letter. which
was received by Detective Lieutenant
Elliott to-day In the letter Smith admits
the truth of the Interview published In the
morning papers. He seems anxious to i'm
press the police with the idea tnat it could
not have been he who drove the white horse
and buggy from Dinan's livery stables on
the evening of Maya.
CoUGHLIN ARRESTED.
There was sensational and rather unex-
pected development in the Cronin case at
l0.I5 tonight when Detective Daniel Cough
lin was formally arrested in the police station
cell, where he has beer detained on suspic-
ion An examination by the justice was held
INN ediately within the stone walls OF the
dungeon. few moments later the magis-
trate ordered his commitment and Coughlin
was hurried out on the way to the county
jail I he warrant was sworn out by John
Cronia. q brother of the dead doctor. Cough
lin is charged directly with the murder.
It's learned that Coughln was to-day sub
1ected to q severe course IN the ''sweat box "
He IL said to have been one of the brightest
officers on the force, and was one Of Captain
Schaak's best men during the time of the an
archst trouble. The outcome of the pump
ing process would be a matter of interest, but
tho police refuse to talk. No one was allowed
to see Coughlin all day not even an attorney
who had been hired by his friends.
Tho young man King, arrested on the
strength of Woodruf's story, was released
this evening, the police believing him all
right.
The story to the effect that Mcclellan was
the man who called for and drove Cronin
away the night OF the murder was exploded
tonight by the positive statement from a
friend of Cronin's. who saw the two in the
buggy, that McGehan is not the man.
The air to-day, has been filed with rune rs
of important developments, arrests, etc, in
connection with the Cronin case, but with
one or two exceptions 1t was next to impossi-
BILE to confirm or disproye them. owing to the
extreme retic6nce of the police authorities
Although the police, today denied that T..
o. sullivan. the ice dealer, whose name has
been connected with the mysterious case
from the first had been arrested, 1t IS as
serted this evening that he has not been
seen abort his home or place of business all
day,
day denied that McGehan, the man who it Is
asserted came here from Philadelphia 10 aid
} in the removal" of DIR. Cronin, is under
arrest there seems to be no doubt they have
him in charge, and that important evidence
of some nature has been secured agains!
hlm.
This afternoon Harry Jordan, the man
who came from Philadelphia some time ago,
aud who is said to have been an intimate
friend of Mcclellan, was placed under ar
rest, ITO be held as Witness" 1t is sus
pected he knows something of McGehan'
movements that may prove of value. He is
said TO have belonged to the Clan-na-Ga o.
faction, which was opposed to Cronin, and it
Is charged he had frequently denounced the
doctor IN public.
Detective Whalen, who accompanied
Coughlln in hls search for the man for whom
Coughlin hired the horse on May 4, has been
suspended from duty pending an investiga'
tion.
The report that Tierney,. one of the EN-
ployes of Sullivan, the ice man, had disap
peared, is denied in an evening paper, which
asserts that one OF its reporters saw him TO
day.
Luke Dillon VINO came here from Phila
delphia 70 assist in ferreting out the muir
derers, Gays he has received q telegram say
ing the Clan-na Gael of Philadelphia have
sent hun 81, ,(0l TO forward the work.
Woodruff was to-day shown picture o
XII lg, but did not identity il. The opinion
gains ground that Noodruffs first story wa