St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-10
DIED IN PRISON.
Martin Burke, One Of the Cronin
Prisoners. Expires at Joliet
From Quick Consumption.
During His Imprisonment He
Never Spoke One Word Regard
ing the Cronin Murder.

JOLIET, ILL.,, Dec. 9.-Martin Burke,
one of the men sent to Joliet prison for
completely in the famous murder of DR..
Patrick Cronin, of Chicago. died at the
penitentiary in this city this evening of
quick consumption. His death was not
unexpected, as he had been sinking rap
idly of late. When Burke first entered
the penitentiary in January, 1890, he
was placed Ill the cooper shop. He re-
manned there until last summer, when
he contracted a severe cold, which
steadily grew worse and neceSSiIated
his change to lighter work. After a
short period in the shoe shop
three weeks, and afterward was
removed to the hospital, quick
consumption having developed. Since
his entry to the hospital Burke has
steadily declined, and DIR. Fredericks,
the prison surgeon, who made all exam
nation yesterday Of the mans cOndl-
ton, expressed the opinion that he
could not live more than week. His
end, however, came rather uneXpect-
eddy.
As he was sitting in chair this even
ing talking to convict nurse about his
case. he referred to the lust eXamina-
ton made by DR.. Frederick, and said:
"Well, guess it is all up; it's alright
anyway" After some further converse
ton, he reverted TO his approaching
death, and said: eff die, want Forrest
to come down and take my body to my
folk" Forrest is the attorney who
conducted Burke's defense, and has
since his Incarceration in prison kept
up work Oh appeals to the supreme
court. Burke had hardly uttered the
words given above when his head
fell forward. and, after one or
two gasps, life was extinct. There
was no hemorrhage, no struggle;
the vital spark simply went out. Burke
was we'll aware that his end was near
at hand, and being an ardent Catholic,
asked yesterday that Father Daniel, of
this city, come to see him. Father
Daniel came early this morning., and
after talking with the surgeon and with
Burke, administered the last SacramentS
of the church to the dying man.
The prison officials say tonight that
never to their knowledge since his i'm :
priSOnment has Burke spoken one word
in regard to the Cronin murder. lie has
been uniformly friendly with all the at
PENDANTS, and talked freely on all points
except that one. When attempt would
UE IUdut W OpCH tlidt OubJCCG
he would reSolutely decline to
talk. He has had but few
visitors. His attorney, Forrest, has
been down several times, and his
brother-in-Ia ", Conway, of Chicago, has
visited him regularly. Mr. Conway was
notified of the death, which occurred at
SIT this evening, and came down on
the late train. He will take the body to
Chicago tomorrow.
When the news of his comirg death
was first made public last month every
known means was reSOrted to secure a
confession from which would lift the
bloOd-Stained curtain frem the Cronln
mystery and reveal the innerwOrkingS
of the deadly conspiracy in all their hid
Gus detail. He had always maintained
however, that his sentence was an I'M
just one, and that it did not lie in his
power to place the crime upon those
VINO should be burdened with it. He
was frequently visited by Father Dan
iels who was greatly interested in his
case. He, however, asserts that never
in his hearing did the deceased refer to
the Cronin case. ~.
OF those sent to Joliet for completely
T in the Cronin muraer, only one now re-
mains-Dan Coughlin, the eX-detectiye,
of Chicago. He IS hale and hearty and
is working hard every day. He was
visibiy affected when Informed of
Burke's death following so soon upon
that of O'Sullivan. the partner i'll CRIME,
but made no comment. 5s
Remarkable has been the unhappy
fate of several of the alleged actors in
the Cronin murder. Eight of them are
now dead; one is helpless cripple.
OF those who have passed from life four
McInerny girls, William Nieman and
Pat Oman. al. zs..