The San Francisco call., 1897-06-05
FIRST MURDER IN
THE NEW TOWN
The Dead Constable Leaves
a Child Three Weeks
Old.
Dennis Cronin Lived a Week
With a Bullet in His
Spinal Cord.
The Ante.Mortem Statement Gives a
Gear Account of thu F tai
Affcay.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCIsoo CALL,
~, Il Liza &

9O6 Broadway, June 4.
Deputy Constable Dennis Cronin died at
the Receiving Hospital this morning
from the effect of the bullet fired al him q
week ago by James Bryan, a lad who
frequented the racetrack. This is the
first murder that has occurred in the new
town of Emeryville
Fer whole week the suffeungs of the
wounded man had been intense. Only
when asleep or unconscious had he had
any respite from the fearful pain. All
this time he had been unable 10 move
limb, being completely paralyzed on &C
count of the position of the bullet.
This morning Cronin was visibly
weaker. His brother asked him If he
knew who was speaking. The dying man
made little sound that indicated that he
did, but he never spoke again.
An autopsy was held this afternoon and
the doctors were surprised at the amount
of vitality shown by the deceased, as the
bullet was found in the spinal cord, be
tween the fifth and sixth vertebre The
fatal lead was found where it was dag
nosed as being Immediately after the
shooting but as it was clear that the
wound would prove fatal no attempt was
made to extract it. Deputy District AT
lOIHSy SuuICu was present aJ the autopsy,
and as he also took Cronin's an:e-mortem
statement he will probably have charge
OF the prosecution.
When informed that his victim was
dead James Bryan was completely over
come.
My God" be said, "this is too bad 1t
would never have occurred if I had not
been drinking. l do not know what l
shall 10 now. l have no money and no
friends here. My mother and two broth
ers live in Illinois, where my brothers
own farms. Ny mother recently inner
lied some money and if she does not send
me some do not know what l shall do"
The murdered man was "a years of age,
and was bern in San Francisco, although
he had lived in Oakland nearly all his
lie. He graduated from the high school
when little more an 10 years of age. and
was a very promising young man. He
married lew years ago, and has two lit
lie children, both girls. One is years old
and the other is only 3 weeks.
The fatal sh 0oting occurred on the even
Ing OF May y near The racetrac6. As soon
as death occurred Bryan was charged with
murder.
The statement OF the deceased tells the
following story OF the murder, after stat
ing that he believed he about 10 die:
was at EmeryvilIe on the evening OF May
y, 1897 l was then on duty as night
Waterman and deputy constable at Emery
vile. l know Jim Bryan ana I saw him on
the evening Cf May p, 1897, about ha f-past
10 in 'front.' OF Soule's saloon at Emervyi1le
was then going into Soue's saloon and BRYAN
was standing outside the sa,oon with another
person who ! think was Gu Wilson. I
passed Into The saloon within two feet o.
Bryan. Nothing was said by either BRYAN or
myself al this time. l went into the saloon
and spoke to the barkeeper and turned around
and went out. went out through the front
door onto the sidewalk. The Sidewalk in
front OF the saloon is of wood. I stepped off
from the wooden side walk onto the earth, GO
az IL ~
one say, Il want you" / swung around and
BS I did so I saw Bryan with his gun on me
made an effort 10 draw my gun, but before I
could raise II and fire Bryan shot me. l tell
70 the ground. recognized The voice as that
OF Jim Bryan.
At the time BRYAN shot me he was about
three feet from me. AS I lay on the ground
with my hands IA the air, he said, u Will give
you another at the same time pointing MS
pistol al me. He then reached down and
RULED my club ont OF my pocket. He then
started away, saying, None of you fel !ows
follow me-" At The time he shot me l guess l
was about loot and q half lower than he was
l think ! threw nv head to one side as he
fired, and may have been slightly leaning
over. think Bryan pointed the pistol at
Soule who came ont Of the saloon after BRYAN
shot me. A. the time of the shooting there
was present a young fellow who slept with
Bryan the night before. l think his name is
Gus wilson About three weeks before this
shooting arrested Jim Bryan for disturbing
the peace. He resisted me and | had 10 use
my C. ub on him. The next morning after this
arrest Bryan told me that he would get even
win me. on two or three different occasions
after his arrtst, and before the shooting he
told me he would get even with me-
The man just brought into the room by Jeck
Croniu is the man who was with Bryan al the
time he shot me. thought before I saw tn
man this morning that the man who was with
Bryan was Gus Wilson. After seeing the man
who was brought in this morning I recognized
HIM as the man who was with Bryan at the
time of the shooting. As l was going into the
saloon this maU said TO Bryan, There he is
Jimmy" and then walked away 6 bout fifteen
feet and stood there. The only reason have
to think hat this man who was with Rrvan
was Gus wilson was that l had been told Gu,
Wilson was going TO leave Emeryville with
Bryan and that had seen him in company
with Bryan often.
w. McGlnnis, the man who. it is al
Legged, encouraged Bryan to do the shoot
ing, and who is also under arrest has also
heen Chnrrad NJ r,n1,,.inr