The Oskaloosa herald., 1892-12-15
MARTIN BURKE.

manned there until last summer, when
he contracted a severe cold which
steadily grew worse and necessitated
his change to lighter work. After a
short period in the shoe shop he went
to the idle room" for three weeks, and
afterward was removed to the hospital,
quick consumption having developed.
Had Steadily Declined.
Since his entry to the hospital Burke
has steadily declined, and DR., Fred
erick, the prison surgeon, who made
an examination Friday of the mans
condition, expressed the opinion that
he could not live more than a week.
His end, however, came rati-er unex-
pectedly.
Burke was we'll aware that his end
was near at hand, and being an ardent
Catholic, asked that Father Daniel, of
Joliet, come to see him. Father Daniel
went early Friday morning, and after
talking with the surgeon and with
Burke administered the last sacramento
of the church to the dying man.
The End.
As he was sitting in chair Friday
evening talking to the convict nurse
about his case he referred to the last
examination made by DR.. Frederick
and said: well, guess it is all up;
it's all right, anyway" After some
further conversation he reverted to his
approaching death and said: IF die
l want Forrest to come down and take
my body to my folks" He referred to
w. S. Forrest, who conducted his case
and has since been busy in carrying
the Cronin case to the supreme court.
Burke had hardly made this refer
ence to Forrest before his whole frame
was shaken by a sort of convulsion.
His head fell forward. There was a
gasp or two and he was dead There
was no hemOrrhage and death came
comparatively easy.
Would Not Talk.
The prison officials say that, to their
knowledge, Burke has never spoken q
word about the Cronin case since he
has been in the prison. He not only
never mentioned it of his own accord,
but would decline to discuss it when it
was brought up. He was on friendly
terms with the attendants and talked
freely on all other subjects.
His Connection with the Murder.
Burke's connection with the Cronin murder
WAS believed 10 be that OF a hired mar. He
aeVer stood high in the councils Of the C1nsplr-
Ators, but took his orders from Dan" Cough
Hn 1t was he who assisted in hitting up the
Carlson cottage and making arrangements for
the killing. According to a partial con-
fession, said to H~-9 been made by Iceman
O'Sulitvan, Burke waited inside the doorway
Of the Carlson cottage on the night Of the muir
der armed with club. O'Sullivan, who did
not know that murder was TO be done, hurried
from the house and stsnding outside heard the
blows and DR.. Croniu shrek. This story cor
rsborated the theory Of the prosecution. Itwas
supposed that Burke struck the fatal blows.
Burke appeared early In the conspiracy and
was seen by Hakan Martinson, the express
driver, when the furniture purchased by the
mysterious u. B. Simonds" or Williams"
arrived at the cottage March 2, 1880 1t was
Ilaimed on the trial that Burke had previously
been seen at the rooms that were prepared at
III Clark street and afterward vacated Burke,
from all accounts, was an ignorant working
man, unscrupOlous and preiudiced, entirely un-
Der the influence OF the shreW der members OF
Camp 20 When the cottage had been rented
Burke was seen by the Carlsons, who lived next
door, and he told them his brother, who was an
Invalid, was coming to occupy the rented house
Was Arrested IA Winnipeg.
After the murder and the finding OF DR.. Gro
uin's body Burke did not figure rs : suspect
until he had been described by the 'CarlsonA
and MArtinSon, the expressman. Descriptions
Of him were sent broadcast and on Juno
IL he was arrested at Winnipeg, Manitoba.
When taken into custody he threatened thst
some one would suffer for his arrest On June
q he was fully indetined by Martinson and
On1cer Collins There was some trouble in Sc
curing extradition papers and Burke was held
by the dominion authorities TO wait further evil
denee On June % Burke and six others were
Indicted by the grand jury. On June 50 tho
court At Winnipeg ordered his extraditioD,
| further Identification having been made by
Charles Carlson On July "a Burke's lawyers
made "a unsuccessful attempt 10 secure his re-
lease Not until August did the prisoner reach
Chicago. He was kept under guard at the pO-
| lice stations until August 9, when he was
moved to the county jail
he Pleaded Not Guilty"
The next day he was arraigned and pleaded
mot guilty" The trial began August 30 Every
| web Of evidence drew Burke deeper into the
| dark conspiracy. 1t was shown that he pre-
pared the cottage was there on the night of
| the murder with Coughlin and others, with
| whom he had been drinking, and that previous
| to the killing he had INDUCED in threats Of .
violent nature. During the long trial he re-
manned stubbornly Indifferent and received his
life sentence with no show of emotion The
prosecution never had much hope OF securing
| confession from him. O'Sullivan being the one
whom they thought might "sQuear' after Q
| year or two Of imprisonment
Twelve Years for Murderesa.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. l2.-Josephine
Madison, the murderer of John Hobbs,
whom she shot at the Powellton ave-
nue. station on April 10, has been sem
\. Il \