Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-27
Frnrn the New YORK Inurnal.
William Nieman.
-

H. Owen OConnor-
The last OF these whose names have been
added to the list was Henry Owen OCon-
nor who committed suicide in Chicago De-
cember g. He was a friend of DR.. Cronin,
and testified in the trial of Daniel Cough
lin to remarks which he overheard at
meeting of Camp 20. Of the Clan-na-G Gael
Many people believe he was led to kill him
self by remorse.
Others believe that all those connected
with the trial rest under curse. A strange
mystery surrounds the ending OF some OIL
these witnesses, and more than one is sus-
pected Of having been the victim OF Ioul
play.
Some of those who are yet alive dread
n violent death, ard strange terror pos
sesses their superstitious friends. The facts
show that even while the Cronin trial was
in progress death began to claim It's VIC
Tins among the witnesses.
Peter McGeehan, who was accosted on
the street by DR.. Cronin in April 1889, ana
charged with being in plot TO murder
him, died a raving maniac in the county
hospital three months after DR.. Cronin S
DEATH While in the hospital McGeehan
was constantly attended by members OF
the Clan-na-Gael for the purpose OF pre-
venting any possible confession. HIS burial
place.. as that of Cannon. has always Deen
a mystery, except to certain members OIL
Camp 20.
Michael Cannon, a bartender in Patrick
Dolan's saloon. a resort of the anti-cronin-
ties. died of pneumonia, resulting from
cold contracted while intoxicated, during
the trial in November. 1889
Frank Shea, whose part in the Cronin
trial was drilling aIibf witnesses for the de-
fense died of pneumonia in 1890.
Robert Gibbons, an alibi witness for Mar
tin Burke, and ex-Alderman MCCORMICK
picked a quarrel in the Lake View ex-
change, Chicago, in November, 1880, with
Captain Herman Schuettler, of the police
force, who was active in running down DR..
Cronin's murderers. Schuettler shot Glib
bons. who died few days later Schuett-
Ter was fully exonerated.
The Misses Agnes and Sarah McNearney,
who were in DR.. Cronin's room when the
mysterious stranger summons I'd him TO
Carlson's cottage, both died in 1891. They
testified for the state in the Cronin trial.
Edward Spelman, the wealthy distiller of
Peoria, whose evidence on the stand
stamped him bitter enemy of DR.. Cronin,
was killed in 1891 by falling from a lad
der.
Luke Jordan, one of the Cronin conspira-
tors against whom little legal evidence
could be secured, died in 1891.
z Patrick Dinan, the North side hveryn1an.
who rented the white horse and buggy in
which DR.. Cronin was driven from his
North Clark street office ostensibly to at
tend one of Patrick O'Sulliyan's employees,
but really 10 his death, died March q,
1892.
DT. Lewis, In6 Qe0IlSL. WHO "dS FAttlb
on Dr. Cronin's teeth the day before his
murder, and who identified the body by
fitting the plate in his mouth, died. in
Denver, Col. of consumption, in April,
1882
John F. Beggs. senior guardian, of Camp
20. Clan-na-Gael, tried for the murder of
DR. Cronin and acquitted, died April o.
1892
Patrick o'sulIivan, the ioeman, by the
use of whose business card DR.. Cronin was
decoyed to the Carlson cottage, died IN
Joliet prison. May 5, 1897
William Nieman. who testified for inc
state that at 10:30 O'Clock of the night OF
NAV 4 1883. Just after DR.. Cronin was
lilled O'Sullivan, Coughlin, hunze ana
arotfler man came into his saloon at Lin
colin avenue and Roscoe street, died in 1877.
Frank ]. Woodruff the first Cronin sus-
meet arrested died while serving a sem
tence for horse stealing in Kansas prison
in 1892
Martin Burke. one of the convicted muir
dcrers of DR.. Croninj died in Joliet prison
December 9, 1892.
Mari Dannehy. a member of Camp 20,
Kept a saloon on Chicago avenue which
was 4 resort for members of the Gamma
Gael He was an alibi witness for the
defense. Shortly after the trial he disap-
oeated and has not since been heard OF,
and n is generally believed he is dead.
Henry o. O'Connor. one of the witnesses
for the prosecution in the Cronin trial, has
now committed suicide at his home, No.
45g7 Wabash avenue, Chicago.
Another death which some claim is trace
nble TO the Cronin case is that of Thomas
w. MulvihiI. 19-year-old son of Thomas
Mulvihiil bailiff in the Chicago criminal
court About l o'clock of the morning of
Nav iast--the anniversary of DR.. Cronin's
rnurder-he disappeared from his home, in
company with two young men, named John
Shea and Patrick Flynn.
The morning of May 10 Mulvihilfs body
was found floating in a pool at the Union
stock yards, south OF Forty-third street.
Shea and Flynn were held to the criminal
court by, a coroner's jury which charged
them with having guilty knowledge Of
the death of Mulvihill. but May q the
men were discharged by Judge Baker on
the recommendation OF Z. S. Bottum, as
sistant states attorney.
Young Mulvihin often violently denounc-
ed the murderers OF DIR. Cronin, and, 1t is
fhe belief of his friends, this cost his life
on the anniversary of DR.. Cronin's death.