Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-02-26
AN IMPORTANT ARREST.

|
ST. Louis, Feb. 10. -"Smith," tho
man who drove the buggy in which DIR.
Cronin rode to his death at the Carlson
cottage, is under arrest here. Lieu
tenant Clark and officer Collins of the
Chicago police force who have arrived
here have positively identified him.
The arrest of Smith or Kelly, as tho
man calls himself-was made Monday
night at 10 o'clock by Detective Thomas,
of Chicago, assisted by two local de-
tectives.
Thomas went at once to the Western
Union Telegraph Company and wired
| the Chicago authorities that he had
| captured the man who has been so ear
nestly sought after ever since the MUIR
der of DIR. p. II. Cronin, in that city, and
asking that officers be sent here to more
fully identify the prisoner.
Tuesday morning, when it leaked out
that the arrest meant that the mystery
surrounding the murder of DIR. Cronin
could be completely cleared up by the
man under arrest, provided he proved to
be the proper party and would confess,
there was great sensation. 1t was at
first thought that the suspect must be
"Cooney, the Fox" but later on it was
learned that the prisoner was supposed
to be Smith, Dan Coughlin's friend,
who drove the buggy in which DIR. Gro
min was conveyed from his home to the
Carlson cottage to be murdered. The
prisoner gave the name of j. b. Kelly,
and admitted that he was the man
for whom the Chicago authorities have
been looking for some time, but denied
that he was Smith, and further denied
all completely in the murder. Detective
Thomas said that his prisoner was
known in Chicago as j. b. Kelly, but
was the man supposed to have been
known as Smith in the Cronin case
Detective Thomas had long talk
with the suspect Tuesday afternoon,
and when he emerged from the cell he
said that while the prisoner denied be-
ing Dan Coughlin's friend Smith he
was sure he had the right man. He had
been watching him for three or four
weeks.
Mr.. and Mrs. Conklin, Dinan, the liv-
cry stable man, and others described
the man who came in the buggy as
feet ~ or inches tall weighing $50
pounds, with dark-brown mustache,
sharp, piercing eye, quick in
movement, and shabbily dressed in
faded brown overcoat, faded pants,
slouch hat and muddy boots. The man
under arrest answers this description in
all essential particulars. The Chicago
authorities long ago located a man
whom they believed to be Smith, and
the one under arrest is the person.
The prisoner was interviewed in his
cell yesterday. He said:
MY name is John B. Kelly. / had nothing to
do with the murder of DIR. Cronin 1 admitted
to the chief of police last night, how
ever, that 1 am the party the Chicago
police are looking for. 1t is case of mistaken
identity. 1 first visited Chicago February
| 15 1889. / left there the latter part of
June the same year. have never belonged to
the Clan.na-Gael or any other Irish organiza-
| tion. know none OF the people accused of
numbering Dr. Cronin. The only Irish agitator
1 know is Thomas Desmond, of San Francisco
| / came to st. Louis August ID last. and have
boarded at the Peoples House, corner Fourth
and Lucas avenue, ever since"
The prisoner appeared i'll at ease and
tried to evade all direct questions. He
denied knowing Alexander Sullivan.
He stated that he was clerk, but re-
fused to say where he had been en-
ployed.
| When asked as to his presence in Chi
cago when Dr. Cronin was assassinated,
he said that he was in that city from
February to June, 1889. In the evening
Kelly or Smith became more communi-
cative. He said:
81 will tell you how they came to connect me
with the Cronin murder. About two months, 1
think, before the Cronin murder my room
/ M thn
Irish Citizen, In this paper I saw
notice OF Thomas Desmond, of
San Francisco, being in Chicago ] had known
Desmond in the West, and went to the Citizen
Office where asked Mr. Finerty, the editor
about Desmond. He answered me very gruffy
| and left. l made several visits on the same
mission and my anxiety to see him may have
cast suspicion on me. have not attempted to
| hide while here, and am perfectly willing to
return to Chicago without requisition."
When the Chicago &5 Alton train
pulled into the Union depot Lieutenant
Clark and Officer Collins of the Chicago
police department, who knew Kelly,
alighted, and, accompanied by Detective
Thomas, repaired to the Four Courts.
They at first gave fictitious names, but
later were recognized. When Kelly
was brought out both Clark and Collins
odded their heads and said: "Yes, he
Is the man."
Kelly was seen after being identified
and said: 'If ever these men made a
mistake in their lives it is now. They
do not know me and do not know
them"
Later Kelly sent telegram to friends
in Little Rock notifying them that he
had been arrested for completely in the
Cronin murder. He also signed papers
agreeing to return to Chicago without
requisition.
chicago, Feb. 19.-The man Kelly
arrested in st. Louis for alleged connec
tion with the Cronin murder, is said to
be brother of Rev. Father Kelly, of
the Church of the Holy Family in this
city. The roster of the notorious Clan
na-Gael Camp 20 gives the name o,
"James B. Kelly" This name appears