Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-12-22
MARTIN BURKE DEAD.
Tragedy Ends Life Sentence by Dying
in Joliet Penitentiary

JOLIET, ILL.,, Dec. 9.-Martln Burke,
one OF the men convicted of completely
in the murder of DIR. Cronin, died in
the penitentiary here tonight of con-
sumption. He was sentenced for life.
Burke was arrested in Winnipeg June
l6, 1883, while on his way to England.
His extradition followed after a long
legal tussle and he was tried in Chicago
in company with Beggs, Dan Coughlin,
p. O'Sullivan and Kunze. Beggs was
acquitted and Kunze was sentenced to
three years in the penitentiary, but
meyer served the term. The others
went down for life. 1t was alleged in
the trial that Burke and Coughiin
struck the blows which killed DIR. Cro-
min. Burke made no confession before
death. His death was not unexpected,
as he had been sinking rapidly for
some time. When Burke first entered
the penitentiary in January, 1890, he
was placed in the cooper shop. He
remained there until last summer,
when he contracted a severe cold
which steadily grew worse and necessi-
tated his change to lighter work. After
a short period in the shop he went to
the "idle room" for three weeks
and afterwards was removed to the
hospital, quick consumption having
developed. The prison officials say
hat RI rh.aip Ennty ln6 pta
since his Imprisonment has Burke
spoken one word in regard to the
Cronin murder. He has been uniform
ly friendly with all the attendants and
talked freely on all points except that
one. When attempt would be made
to open that subject he would reso-
lutely decline to talk.
Remarkable has been the unhappy
fate of several of the alleged actors IN
the Cronin murder. Eight OF them are
now dead and one is a helpless cripple.
Edward Spelman, the wealthy brewer
OF Peoria, whose evidence on the stand
stamped him as a bitter enemy OF the
doctor, died about "a year ago, literal
ly losing his head in a frightful fall
from a ladder. Tom Desmond, OF
San Francisco, another Clan-na-Gaelr
is a permanent cripple, being injured
while on his way to II secret meeting
OF Camp 20. Matt Dapnehy, OF Camp
20, never prospered after the trial, his
saloon being finally closed up and ht
left the city.
Micnael Cannon was a bartender II
Pat Dolan's saloon, another resort o
| the order. After the murder he car
ried his arm in a sling. During thu
trial he caught severe cold one night
while intoxicated. 1t quickly devel
oped into pneumonia, and while in {
fit OF coughing he choked to death
Frank Shaw was another pneumonia
victim. A horrible death was that O
Peter McGeehan, OF Philadelphia. III
fell into a pit, sustaining severe inlu
ries. He was taken to the count.
hospital and died a maniac. The fat
of Robe Gibbons, who was an alit
witness for Burke, was tragic. He go
into quarrel with Capt. Shut Ter, c
the police force. Shutter shot Git
bons, who died a few days later. Shut
| ler was fully exhonorated.
In addition several other death
have occurred among the anti-Croni
ssgang," among them being Luke Jol
, dan, brother of Harry Jordan, VIII
was strongly suspected, and ma
nan ed Sullivan. Pat O'Sullivan, th
ice man, died in Joliet last May. Jus
month before, Joseph Beggs, tn
; senior guardian of the infamous Cam
20, died.
OF those sent to Joliet for compli
ity in the Cronin murder only one no
remains-Dan Coughlin, the ex-dete
1 tive OF Chicago. Heis hale and heart.
, and is working hard every day. L
> was visibly affected when informed
Burke's death following so soon upo
that of O'Sullivan, the partner
i crime, but made no comment. III
t fate OF nearly all the prominent me
3 in the murder to which the latest ~
dition is the death to night OF Burk
form in itself a weirdly remarkab
I chapter in the history of the crime.