The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-03
ORRGON'S CRoNIN SUSPECT.
Thomas Coleman, Alias Geoghegan, An
All-Round Crook, Denies Completely.

ORRGON'S CR0N1N SUSPECT.
Thomas Coleman. Alias Geoghegnn. an
All-Round Crook, Denies Completely.
SALEM. Or, Oct 2.-The dispatch last
night from Chicago which stated that
Thomas Coleman, or Geoghegan, who is
now confined in the penitentiary here, is
supposed to have been connected with the
murder of Dr. Cron II. was news to the
prison officials. who state they have had
no communication with the Chicago Of
,ficials about the matter. They claim to
have heard rumor that Coleman was con-
nected with the crime. but put no faith in
the story. Coleman vas sent here from
Portland in March, 1891, to serve two
year term for the crime of assault with a
dangerous weapon. He had been trusty
up to two months ago, when bench war
rant for his arrest came from Portland,
where he is wanted to answer to the charge
of robbery and assault Coleman is slick,
and has the appearances of being an all
around crook. When he heard of the dis
patch this morning connecting him with
DIR. Cronin's murder. he said that he
would have no trouble in clearing himself
of the charge.
He formerly lived in Chicago, where he
has a brother and three sisters living. He
says that in the past FIVE years he has been
in Oklahoma, Puget so1.nd and San Fran
cisco. He seemed ners1ls when speaking
about Chicago, and when he was permitted
to read the Chicago dispatch his hand
qulvered and tears came to his eyes. Two
months ago when Colen man had his trusty-
ship taken away he asked the reason, and
said he presumed it was on account of
'that CronIn matter" At that time he
said nothing further about the crime, but
has since told convicts that he could easily
prove an alibi. Colemas says he has never
gone by the name of Geoghegan. 1t is
said he was formerly k,,own by the name
of Carlson. He states that he was married
during the excitement over CrOnin's
murder.
Thomas Coleman, alas Carlson, is 40
years old and of medium height, with
heavy masses of soft dark hair tinged
with gray, full sandy beard and mustache,
eyes blue and far apart, snd broad forehead.
The two-year term he is serving for the
crime OF assault expires soon. but the
prison officials have the warrant for his
arrest. One of his prison friends, who
was a trusty with him, says Coleman's
description tallies closely with that of
"Cooney the Fox" who drove the white
horse and took Cronin 70 the Carlson cot
tage, where the murder was committed.
Coleman says he knew Dan Coughlan, the
detective who was sentenced to prison at
Joliet for life for she murder of
Cronin. 1t will be remembered it was
Coughlan who ordered ;he vehicle for his
friend. and it was this vehicle that carried
Cronin to the cottage the prison officials
say they know nothing of Coleman's con-
nection with the Cronin case, and say they
have no warrant for his arrest from Chi
cago. They are inclined to believe that
there is nothing in the story. Two months
ago, when Coleman was locked up and
asked for the reason he remarked that ''it
was probably on accoant of the Cronin
matter" but prison officials thought moth
ing of it and made no Investigation. Cole
man denies ever having said he was
arrested in Oklahoma for the murder of
Cronin, hut said he had been in
oklahoma. He was arrested the very dav
he arrived in Portland and sentenced for
two years for the crime of assault
with deadly weapon cGf1mitted upon a
policeman at the Union depot. lie admits
't4'A.S1E VIC mat ne guessed le
was on account of that cronin matter ~
hat says he made that rergzark because he
did not know what else t. say, and wanted
10 account for il in soszie way. He is n
cigarmaker, and lived in chicago, and said
he used To work in the Chicago Times
press room in the days 81 Story. He in
Inmates that Thomas Carlson is his real
name. IN Associated Pres reporter as sked
HIM: Were YOU in Chicago when Cronin
Was murdered ?" Colemaa replied: "Yor,
ask pretty direct guestio1zs. He evadetl
the answer. finally saying he lived al Chi.
cage with his wife, but sa:l he was not a,
home then.
THE circumstances Of the 6eata Of Or Croujn
members o5 tae Claa-na -Gszl :o- the crime
have not been forgotten. DR. sronia was d &
turblng element in that orgs Sz,tion and at .
. secret meeting ii was decide that he shonld
die. committee was appoissei 10 carry on,
this order, and il was done eEfsctually II Wa.
noj without difficulty that tke assassins ye,.
brought to justice There wa4 money as well a,
influence back OF the Clan-Iks-Cael, and to.t
were Used 10 the utmost e1tete, The trial Wa
one ot the most sensational that the co,in,r,
ever witnessed. II lasted lo5 Gays and through
the efforts OF J. NJ. Lougnecker. the district a.
to.ney of Cook county. Ill., In lace Of al. the OBJ
stac.es thrown in his way. thfse of the murder
ers were convicted aud sent = the penitent.ary
One OF these, O'SuIiiysn, tie 4ceman d.el re-
Gently 10 tie Jolier prisonl