The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-26
THE DIR. CRONIN MYSTERY.
The Warden OF Joliet Prison Says
Dan Coughiln Has Something to
Tell

The Chicago Times of the 10th inst ,
says: "Dan COughlin is the only one
of the Cronin murderers upon whom
confinement seems to rest heavily, "
said Deputy Warden Merrill, of the
penitentiary of Joliet, a few days ago.
''He is fretting himself to death. He
is but a shadow of his former self, and
| If a new trial is not granted him before
long there will be a funeral or a big
| sensation"
This statement was made to a re-
porter for the Times, whom the dep
uty warden conducted through the
prison. II was occasioned by the fail
ure OF the reporter to recognize Cough
lin, with whom he was well acquaint-
ed. Coughlin's appearance was some
what changed by his convict clothes
| The main change, however, was i'm his
face. His cheeks were pale and sunk
| Ell. The expression was careworn and
melancholy. One would be impressed
instantly with the thought that con
finement had practically undermined
his health and left him little more
than q physical wreck. He was in
| dustriously chiseling large block of
| stone in one of the work rooms, bend
ing over it intently and refusing to
| look up at the visitors. - ..A- zs...
at is all worry" continued the dep
uty warden. He seems to have some
thing on his mind continually. He is
Industrious and willing, and evidently
tries to be cheerful, but he does not
bear confinement, as most of the 9th
er prisoners do. OF course, he has
more to worry over than O'Sullivan
| and Burke. He has his wife and a
child, who cometo see him as often as
the rules of the prison allow Ii may
be mere anxiety for their welfare that
is gradually breaking him down, but |
| am inclined to question that. At any
| rate there have been few prisoners
here in whose appearance there has
been such a change IN 80 short a time.
"You spoke OF possible sensation. /"
eyes, / have watched Coughlin
pretty closely and have formed a de
cided opinion. know that he has
built great hopes on having n new
trial and that it will be terrible blow
to him if he does not get it, | believe
he is brooding over the fact that he
and his two companions are suffering
punishment for crime in which they
were doubtless implicated, but IN
which they were after all only subor-
dinates. The inroads made on his
health am satisfied are due wholly
to mental trouble. There is no other
assignable cause, and am inclined TO
think that il would not take great
deal TO induce him TO break down and
tell all he knows of the murder. The
decisive moment, think, will be when
it is known definitely whether or not
a new trial will be granted
Have you had any intimation di.
rectly from him that would lead you
to think he was weakening?'
"No; / can hardly say so. He is not
very communicative. He never has
been since he came here. / base my
| opinion in this instance, as | have i'm
the case OF many another convict, on
the manifest signs OF an overburden-
ed, care-worn mind. Dams got some
thing to tell. He may have strength
of will enough TO keep it to himself,
but question it. The decision as TO
a new trial may be a new epoch. i'm the
Cronin murder.