River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-11-09
DAN cousHLIx.

been retained as special counsel.
The defense was in the charge
of Daniel Donahoe and ex-Judge
Russell NJ. Wing. The defendant was
not brought into court until the law
yers were ready TO proceed. He was
brought over from the Jail by Bailiffs
Curley and Cool Coughlin looked in
splendid physical condition.
When the court adjourned at ~
o'clock ten talesmen had been exam
ined by the states attorney, of whom
nine were excused for cause, each hav-
ing admitted that he held an opinion
amounting to a prejudice as To the
guilt or innocence Of the accused, to
whom he could not give a fair and
impartial hearing. One juror, John f..
Parr, painter. OF iO7 Morgan street,
an Englishman by birth, answered
Mr. Bottum's questions satisfactorily
and was accepted temporarily by the
state A notable feature of the session
was the fact that of the ten talesmen
examined five were Irishmen, all of
whom confessed to a prejudice so
strong as to disqualify them as jurors.
In view of the answers given by the
talesmen the prospect Is that the trial
will be long. The regular jury panel
was exhausted at IL o'clock and Judge
Tuthill issued special venire for $50
jurors, returnable at 10 O'clock Satur-
day.
The trial will be very tame COM
pared with the exciting event of four
years ago. SO crippled is the prosecu-
ton In the matter of witnesses and ev-
idence that when the state closes the
court may take the case from the jury
and order an acquittal. Such result is
looked for by the defense and would
not surprise the state.
Many of the important witnesses for
the state in the former trial are dead
and the whereabouts of others are un-
known, and the difficulty of securing a
conviction is recognized. Their testi-
mony, of course, remains in the
record, and this will be put
in by the state by placing the
official stenographers on the stand
and having them identify the
documents containing the testimony as
the official record of the case. but this
at the best will be unsatisfactory. The
few witnesses who are available will
be sworn and examined. Not a single
new witness will be examined. however.
States Attorney Kern being absolutely
without particle of additional proof
to that presented by the state at the
previous trial. The ruling of the sus
preme court in granting the new trial
will also seriously embarrass the state
In its presentation of the case.
THE crime for which Daniel Coughlin Is
again placed on trial was the murder of Dr.
p H. Cronin DR.. Cronin was prominent in
Irish societies and had incurred the en-
nifty OF Camp 90 Clan-na-Gale, OF which
Coughlln was member. On the night OF
Nav g. 1882 DR.. Cronin was enticed from his
home on North Clark street by message that
q man had been injured in Patrick O'Sullivau's
icehouse in Lake View. Prior TO this time
o. sullivan had made contract with DIR. Cron-
in to attend any of bis men who we're injured
IL was Saturday evening when Or. CrOnin en-
tered the buggy drawn by white horse. Not
having returned b. the following morning, T.
T. Conklin. with whom DR. Cronin lived. not-
fled the police and "a search for the missing
man was begun A few days later the police
discovered the blood -smeared cottage AZ 1872
North Ashland avenue, which was only few
steps from o. sullivan residence
The search for DIR Cronin's body was con
tinued and on the afternoon of May 81 sewer
workmen found the body OF the muir
dured doctor doubled up and damned in
a manhole at the northeast corner OF
Fifty-nintb place. and Evanston syenne,
Lake View. About this time Il was discov-
cred that the white horse which had
driven Dr. Cr0nin TO HE death had been Sc
cured from p. D;nan's livery stable on North
C!urk street, near East Chicago avenue. and
only few steps from the police station where
Coughlin was attached as detective II wss
also learned that Coughlin had made arrange
ments for the horse, which was supposed 20
have been driven by Cooney, the Fox who
has never been arrested.
Daniel Coughin Patrick OSullivan and
Martin Burke we're finally tried and convicted
OF numbering DIR. Cronin I'm the Carlson cot
tage and were sentenced 10 life imprisonment
81 Joliet O'Sullivan and Burke died IN
confinement and Coughhu was finally
granted o new trial John F. Beggs, John +.
Kunze. who we're also tried for murder. were
acquitted and Beggs died q short time later.
Kuuze is still living IN Lake View AMI, aside
from Coughlin IS about the only prominent
actor in the great crime who has not died OF
Left he ri ~