Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-02
The States Attorney is Con-
fident of COnvic-
ton.
Possibility of His Escaping
Makes the Dead Mans Friends
Bestir Themselves.

CHICAGO, ED. 20.-Ddn COu8nt1n " IL
be arraigned for a new trial for the
murder of DR.. Cronin next week. and
unless the defendant takes a cOntinu-
ance, States Attorney Kern will i'll
mediately try the case, and having
new evidence, he is confident he can
obtain a conviction.
While Coug Ain's friends are work
ing energetically for his release and
raising funds for his defense in case he
is brought to trial, the friends of Dr.
Cronin are laboring diligently to Sc
cure evidence which will convict Dan.
Tor they believe that if the ex-detectise
is sentenced to death for completely IL
the brutal murder he will tell the story
OF the alleged conspiracy to save his
neck.
States Attorney Kern was under
stood to have said that the meat was
taken out OF the case by reason of the
tardy decision of the Supreme Court III
Coughlins case, and that it would be
difficult to secure a conviction unless
new evidence was secured. This state
ment alarmed Cronin's friends and
fearing the States Attorney would not
press the case, allowing the Dris-
oner to escape under the three-term
statute, the body known as the Cronin
Committee appeared early this 1nOrnl- &
at Mr.. Kern's office. In the party were:
James Z. Boland, John Dewey, Patrick
McGarry, John f. Scanlan and Maurice
Morris. The committee was closeted
with the States Attorney icr an hour
and gave him information which he is
confident will insure the conviction of
Coughlin when the case comes to trial.
John Dewey was seen by a report
as he left Mr.. Kern's Office. At first he
was averse to speaking about the con-
ference, but finally said: 1--WE are only
friends Of DR.. Cronin, that is all. This
IS no committee. We understood that
Mr.. Kern was dubious as to securing a
conviction and in the press Of business
might allow Coughlin to escape under
the three-term law. He assured us that
he should press the case and that there
was no danger Of Coughlin escaping
under that statute. We had new evil
which we presented to him, and it is
probable Hickman Seaman will be
called to assist him.
''Do you expect conviction?''
1--WE do: and I'll tell you what's
more, Dan Coughlin will never go back
to Joliet;
''What co you mean by that?'
81 mean by that Dan Coughlin will
be convicted, and to save his own neck
he will tell the story of the crime. He
is the only man who knows all about
it, and these tough policemen are not
in the habit of giving their lives for
other persons"
Dan Coughlin was enjoying himself
as best he could in the jail this morn
ing. He had nothing to say, except
that he was ready for trial and should
not ask for continuance.
When States Attorney Kern heard
of Dams position, he said: Cali right
This will be a case of showdown.
I don't want to press the case at
this time" Mr.. Kern continued. 'Fas
there are forty-two persons confined in
the jail on murder charges and I want
to clean up things before I start in on
this Coughlin matter. had hoped to
have it come up in about two months
when everything would be in good
shape. 1 shall certainty arraign Dan
next week. If he does not ask for
continuance, shall immediately pro-
ceed to trial AS yet he has no attor-
ney, so far as this Office knows, as Mr..
Forrest has withdrawn from the case.
Mr.. Battum has charge of the Cough
lin case and it will be called before
Judge Brentano."