The record-union., 1893-12-23
MURDER OF CR0NIN.
MRS. FOY ON THE WITNEss-sTAND
IN THE COUGHLIN TRIAL.
Her Testimony Very Damaging
Against the Accused-Meeting of
Conspirators at Her Home.
snecial to the REcoRp-uN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNION.
CHICAGO, Dec. 22.-Pale and evidently
in great fear, Mrs. Andrew Foy appeared
on the witness-stand at the opening of
the Coughlin trial this morning with
policeman near to guard her against the
harm which had been darkly threatened.
The defense objected to her testimony,
on the ground that evidence by wife cal
culated to implcate her husband in crime
is incompetent. The understanding was
she would tell of the series of meetings at
her house, at which Coughlin was recog-
nized by all as the leader, and that her
husband afterward confessed at these
meetings the plot was formed which led
to DR.. Cronin's murder, and that her hus-
band took part in the plot and was
present shortly after the murder was
committed.
Judge Tuthill finally decided to admit
Mrs. Foy's testimony, her evidence to be
confined to what she saw and to what she
said to any of the conspirators.
The examination was then proceeded
with amid the most profound attention
on the part of the audience, which filled
the room, and with constant objections
from the defense.
Her story, in substance. was as follows:
She knew Coughlin, Martin Burke and
Patrick Cooney all of whom had been at
her house. Coughlin appeared there first
in March or April, 1889. He first visited
her husband several times and they
talked in whispers. During one of these
visits she surprised her husband and
Coughlin. The latter was reading letter
aloud, and she caught the words, "re-
move him at all hazards, but use your
discretion" Witness then told OF two
visits of Cooney, at which he and her
husband held whispered conversations,
always with the door closed. Burke also
visited her husband and talked with him
in private. He came again on the night
OF May 5, 1889, two days after the Cronin
murder
The admittance of this was bitterly
fought by the defense, but the court de-
cided to admit it, saying he would in
struct the jury that it merely tended to
show a conspiracy, but did not bear on
Coughlin's guilt.
Continuing, witness said Coughlin
called May 18th ana asked for her hus-
band. She told him she was afraid her
husband had been arrested. Coughlin
replied, 'Oh, there's no proof against
Andy; he's all right" II said" contin-
ued Mrs. Foy, 'Coughlin, this is an awful
thing you have done. Dir. Cronin will do
you more harm dead than alive" He
laughed and said l need not worry.
There's no DANGER" said he, but that
you will be taken care of anyway; don't
worry" / asked him who was to take
care of me and my little children. "Oh,'
he said, don't mind about that. Alex
ander Sullivan is a good friend of your
husband and of mine, and he will take
care Of you."
The deep silence in court at this point
was broken by the Prosecuting Attorney
resuming his examination, and tnen there
was buzz OF comment among the specta-
tors at this startling statement. Witness
continued: "Coughlin came once before
that time and told my husband what luck
he had in fooling Captain Setback and
Schuettler about Or. Cronin's body and
where they put it,"
This ended the direct examination and
cross-examination was begun, going min
utely into details of the relations OF Mrs.
Foy with L. 2. Conklin. wife of the man
with whom DR.. Cronin boarded.
The cross-eXamination of Mrs. Foy
continued throughout the afternoon ses-
sion. She bore up to the end without
once losing command of her faculties.
Her story seemed truthful. She proved
a person of more than average intelli-
eence. All talk of her alleged insanity
seems unfounded. An unprejudiced OBJ
server would not think her other than
sane. The damaging evidence she gave
grew stronger under cross-eXanlination
1t was another instance OF the case Mrs.
Hoertel repeated for the benefit of the
State. The story told by each witness
was made more effective sby the efforts
of the defense to break its force.