The morning call., 1893-01-21
FRIENDS OF CRONIN.
Preparing for Vigorous ProseCu-
ton of the Case Once More.
The Tremendous Power of the Triangle
Has Been Shown in Granting
Coughlin New Trial.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

CHICAGO, Jan. 20.-Friends of the late
DR.. Cronin are considerably exercised over
the recent decision of the Supreme Court,
which reyerses the verdict Of the jury that
tried the Cronin murderers, and grants Dan
Coughlin, the only surviving convicted mur-
derer, new trial.
The headquarters of the old Cronin CON-
mittee. over w. +. Rend's coal Office In the
Major block, were crowded all day. They
have suddenly assumed an air OF liveliness
and excitement that has not been seen about
them since the famous trial ended
The CronInites all over the country are
greatly indignant, and letters and kilograms
have been pouring in upon the committee.
One came from Luke Dillon, in Phila-
delphia. expressing the hope that the prose-
cution of the second trial would be as vigor-
Gus as was that OF the first. and Offering
financial assistance.
THAT BontecOu and Clark should be
made the basis upon which the reversal is
made is the most singular thing in the
world" said Patrick Dunn to THE CALL
correspondent. "These two men suffered
large business losses by going on the Cronin
jury, and the fact that they suffered these
losses rather than perjure themselves, as
hundreds Of other busy men did, by declar-
ing themselves prejudiced against the de-
PENDANTS. proved conclusiyely at the time
and ought still 10 be proof that they were
honest men. Now the Supreme Court says
1t was error to accept these men on the jury
because they confessed 10 having an opinion
On the case, based entirely upon newspaper
reading.
1.-The fact Of the matter Is Just this: Dan
C0ughlin has grown desperate and has
boldly threatened to confess from whom he
secured his instructions and for whom the
foul deed was committed unless released.
Such confession would make the lives Of
more than one very prominent man In this
country worth but little. And his threat
has had the effect he desired.
"Some tremendous pressure has been
brought to bear against the higher court and
the result is this decision. No. l do not
charge nor intimate corruption or bribery In
any form as generally underst0ad; but the
Triangle has repeatedly shown its power as
greater than any other power in the State
and this Is another example of it. Why was
the decision so long In coming? How is it
that nearly three years have elapsed since
Dan C0ughlin was sentenced and the new
trial only now granted? Why could 1t not
have come year or two sooner then O'Sul-
livan and Burke, who died in prison, could
have prohled by it? Why did they wait till
all but one OF the murderers were dead TO
liberate the worst one Of all2 Murder cases
are always given preference over the other
business Of the court so that full calendar
Is no excuse.
"Of course The CrOnin committee can do
nothing now, only prepare for the new trial
and see that the prosecution is as aggressive
as heretofore. You may expect good deal
of new evidence, too, when the case is called
again"
Dan C0ughlin's connection with the plot
to murder Dr. Cronin is supposed to have
existed from It's very inception and lasted
till his own hands were stee ped In the blood
of the Irish patriot He was detective at
the East Chcago-avenue station and lead
ing member of the inner circle of Camp 20.
1t was testified at the trial that he hired the
white horse and rig which conveyed DR..
Cronin to his death at the Carlson cottage.
1t was shown, too. that he was in frequent
consultation with the other plotters and
that he made many visits to certain room
in the Opera-house block and to certain
house on Oak street. And evidence was
also adduced to prove that he was in the
Carlson cottage when the murder was CON-
mitted and that he helped dispose Of in
fact. directed the disposal of the body into
the sewer. Afterward, when 1t became his
duty, as a subalIern officer. 10 have every
sewer In that part Of the city searched, he
made sure that every one was searched ey,-
cept that in which the body OF his vict. =
lay rottng.
The public generally are very indlgna ant
over the Supreme Courts action, and many
persons point significantly to the fact that
the revoking Justices did not find single
error In all the material evidence. but had
to base their revision on such fmsy
grounds as the disqualification of two we'll
known business men, who only served on
the jury because they were too honest to say
they were prejudiced beforehand, when
they were not.
Judge Magruder. one of the two Justices
who disscnts from the decision. and says
the examination of the two jurors showed
their opinions were only grounded on news
paper reading, is the one who wrote the
lengthy opinion dissenting from the confir-
nation OF the anarchists verdict. at time
when such course rendered him very un-